The Big Scoop

Jesus said to his disciples: Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Lk 6:36-38)

I enjoy going to the movies. I almost always go alone because it’s “me time”. One of my unwritten rules for going to the movie is that I HAVE to get popcorn. Even if I’ve just eaten I have to have popcorn. Its interesting to observe how some of the employees somewhat fill the bag and place it on the counter; whereas, others fill the bag, shake the bag or pack it down using the scooper in order to fill up the empty spaces and then they fill it up some more. I like that later person – a lot. The Gospel passage above makes it clear that Jesus encountered these people and liked them a lot too.

These generous servers serve others in the measure that they themselves would like to be served. BIG scoops, BIG servings, shaken down, packed together and overflowing. Jesus uses such people as an example to us on how we should love, forgive, give and serve it other. All of these things come in measures. We can love, forgive, give and serve like the employee who somewhat fills the bag with popcorn or we can do them to overflowing.

Use a HUGE scooper! For, the measure with which you measure [God] will in return measure out to you.


Jesus is, as always, the best example. He IS the Big Scoop. God the Father served us with everything he had, his dearly beloved Son, and handed him (served him) over to us. We are invited to give back nothing less than everything.

Our daily lives give us a thousand opportunities to serve others in some measure, frugally or generously. What measure do we return to God in the giving our time and money (livelihood) to our church, what measure do we use in personal and family prayer, in serving our children, spouse, employer, customers, school work, sports, and forgiving one another?

We want to do these things in a way that people will say “wow”! Go crazy. In everything you do use a good measure, pack it together, shake it down, and serve it till it overflows. “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

That’s the big scoop.

EBAY Item for Sale: Two Extra Hours Each Day

How many times have you said “where did the time go”, “time flies”, “I need more time”, or “give me five more minutes”. What if you could buy extra time like you buy other things? How much would you pay for an extra hour of time? What would you do with it?

I know several people who have terminal illnesses and would pay handsomely for some extra time. So back to the question: if time is money so how much money would spend for an extra hour?

A study in 2009 revealed that the average Briton spends two hours and 15 minutes of their day fretting and worrying about things. That adds up to a loss of one month of life every year.

Jesus was – and is – very aware how much we worry. He said:

““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’

All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.” (Mt 6:24:34)

“Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?” No. In fact, not only do we loose valuable time by worrying – which resolves nothing – but stress is also physically and emotionally damaging. Stress takes a toll on the body as well as the mind further decreasing our quality of life and sometimes our length of life.


Just think, if we stopped worrying we’d gain an extra month of life every year. If we entrust our worries – as well as our joys – to God we will also receive the peace and joy that comes with allowing God to be the God of our worries instead of letting our worries become little gods.

Remember this beautiful encounter? “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing” (Lk 10:41) Jesus tells us, “seek first the kingdom of God… and all these things will be given you besides”.

There are several times in the Scriptures when God or an angel is telling someone “do not be afraid”. John Paul II’s first words as Pope were “do not be afraid”. So, do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

However, Jesus did tell us to fear something. Do you remember what it was?

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Mt 10:28). Instead of worrying about corporal things such as food and clothing Jesus tells us to be afraid of what can damage our soul. To be clear, only we can destroy our soul by a lack of faith and by sin. Sin is not something that happens to us. Rather, a sin is something we freely choose to do knowing it is contrary to God’s will.

When was the last time you found yourself worrying about your soul – the one thing Jesus told us to fear loosing? We get things backwards sometimes, we worry about things we should not worry about and do not concern ourselves with what really matters – our soul.

So enjoy your extra two hours of life each day. When worries come – and they will keep coming –ask yourself if they are the worries Jesus told you to worry about or not. If not, give them to Jesus. Tomorrow will take care of itself and God will take care of us.

I'm Back

Like I mentioned in my very first post, I'm not exactly sure what this blog is for. I am not a good writer and writting does not come easy for me. Furthermore, it seems that there is something inherently arrogant about blogs - the thought that I think I have something so important to say that others are going to want to hear it. You be the judge.

Some of you have requested that I get back to blogging so I'm going to give it a try. Please try to overlook all the errors and take from it whatever you like.

Here we go.

"Is it in vain that I have kept my heart clean"?

Living a Christian life isn't easy and, of course, Jesus never said it was. On the contrary he who said "I am the way, the truth and the life" showed us by his own life, death, and resurrection what the Christian Way looks like. However, while we're trying hard to live a good Christian life sometimes we're tempted to look at those who live godless and selfish, and yet apparently rich carefree and we ask ourselves is in vain that I have kept my heart clean?

We're not alone. The psalmist below felt the same way until he gained a little Godly insight.

Psalm 73

1. How good God is to the upright, the Lord, to those who are clean of heart!

2 But, as for me, I lost my balance; my feet all but slipped,

3 Because I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they suffer no pain; their bodies are healthy and sleek.

5 They are free of the burdens of life; they are not afflicted like others.

6 Thus pride adorns them as a necklace; violence clothes them as a robe.

7 Out of their stupidity comes sin; evil thoughts flood their hearts.

8 They scoff and spout their malice; from on high they utter threats.

9 They set their mouths against the heavens, their tongues roam the earth.

10 So my people turn to them and drink deeply of their words.

11 They say, "Does God really know?" "Does the Most High have any knowledge?"

12 Such, then, are the wicked, always carefree, increasing their wealth.

13 Is it in vain that I have kept my heart clean, washed my hands in innocence?

14 For I am afflicted day after day, chastised every morning.

15 Had I thought, "I will speak as they do," I would have betrayed your people.

16 Though I tried to understand all this, it was too difficult for me,

17 Till I entered the sanctuary of God and came to understand their end.

18 You set them, indeed, on a slippery road; you hurl them down to ruin.

19 How suddenly they are devastated; undone by disasters forever!

20 They are like a dream after waking, Lord, dismissed like shadows when you arise.

21 Since my heart was embittered and my soul deeply wounded,

22 I was stupid and could not understand; I was like a brute beast in your presence.

23 Yet I am always with you; you take hold of my right hand.

24 With your counsel you guide me, and at the end receive me with honor.

25 Whom else have I in the heavens? None beside you delights me on earth.

26 Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever.

27 But those who are far from you perish; you destroy those unfaithful to you.

28 As for me, to be near God is my good, to make the Lord GOD my refuge. I shall declare all your works in the gates of daughter Zion.

The Bells of Summer

As the bells of a monastery call its monks to prayer so too does summer call us to leisure. I am glad to report that I headed this call and ran to attention. The bells called me to12 days in Northwestern Ireland. Hidden away in a thatched roofed cottage for four days without a neighbor in sight you might call this extreme leisure. And I loved it.

Some people prefer high intensity, always-on-the-go, come back tired but exhilarated vacations. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, I knew I wanted a vacation I would not need a vacation

from. Sometimes we think of vacation as “disconnecting” from everything. Wireless technology has made it so easy to “connect” anywhere and very difficult to disconnect. My experience of vacation taught me that I am most connected precisely when I am disconnected from everything. True leisure opens us up to receive and enjoy what is around us.

I remember the moments immediately after having LASIX surgery on my eyes several years ago. Everything was amazingly crisp. I could see the pointed edges of the leaves and the rich textures of plants and buildings. I was seeing nothing new but I was seeing everything in a new way – I could things more clearly as they were. This is a good analogy of leisure. True leisure is medicine to the senses. It cleans out the pores, prunes and retunes the senses and helps us to see and appreciate anew the the beautiful things that surround us .

My trip to Ireland was a time of true leisure that took me out of my “bubble”- my world, my culture, ideas, surroundings - and helped me get realigned, reoriented. It also helped fine-tune my internal listening skills – my senses. Nestled away on a green hill I was free from the many things that call my voice and sometimes shout: TV, radio, internet, IPOD, cell phone etc… Yes, this was a bit uncomfortable at first, restlessness quickly came upon me. I was looking for something to do, to do, to do.

Traveling alone to Ireland was more life-giving and fulfilling than you could imagine. I don’t think I’ll forget sitting in the middle of a large field of yellow daisies that surrounded the cottage. Nature is a convincing and entertaining teacher! Being alone and quiet forced me to look at things that I would normally see in much the same way as I see the painted lanes on the freeway. I see them but I certainly don’t look at them. Sitting in that green field with the thick grass and yellow daisies made me understand instantly how poetry comes into being. It not written so much as it’s observed. And when it is written is more of a testimony of what was seen as opposed to something created by words. It is no wonder that Ireland is the land of poets but it is not enough to simply be in Ireland or anywhere else for that matter. One must stop, sit on the ground and observe. The moment you “use” nature as a means to and an end, even for poetry, you’ve lost it.
As I sat there among the grass and daisies with sheep taking notice of me from a neighboring field I couldn’t help but notice that daisies looking up at the sun and smiling. I saw the daisies dance as they followed the lead of the breeze - sometimes graceful, sometimes violent. Through it all the daisies never fell, never turned their yellow faces to the ground but danced. Each flower according to its height bounced up and down as if on springs as the music of the wind grew stronger. As I watched them spring up and down, left and right, each at its own pace, I can could almost hear them giggle. Their strong and unpredictable dance partner led the dance and they followed and they laughed. I imagined myself as one of them yelling at the wind to “keep it down” or, “tell me the next time you’re going to blow hard” or “let me lead”.

Those daisies taught me how to dance that day.

Leisure also helps to me in my proper place. No cell phone no calls to the parish and…the world went on just fine without me. When I return to the business of life tomorrow I will try to remember the good teaching and example of the daisies and God’s other creations: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds! Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your lifespan? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry anymore. All the nations of the world seek for these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides. (Mt12:22-31)

Leisure also gave me time for reading which I enjoy. Like going to a movie theater you need and expect some level of silence. Although this level of quiet is not always possible when reading vacation allowed me this freedom knowing I was safe from distraction and free from work. The turf fire, light rain, and Guinness also helped.

Leisure is not a luxury. When we stop and sit among the daisies we rediscover and experience anew the beautiful gifts of God that surround us, they remind of us of his great care for us and in so doing we glimpse of God.

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Postscript:
So how much time off does a priest get?
It differs among religious orders (such as Jesuits and Dominicans) and diocesan priests. There may also be differences from one diocese to another, however, in my diocese we are allowed:
1. One day off a week
2. Four weeks of vacation (but only 3 weekends)
3. Five weekdays after Christmas and Easter (one of which is our day off)
4. One day a month for a day of recollection/prayer.

What I read on Vacation:
Ann Rice: Out of Egypt
Grisham: (finished) The Appeal
Grisham: The Painted House
Jhumpa Lahiri: Unaccustomed Earth
W.B. Yeats: Collection of Poetry
Caritas in Veritate: Pope Benedict XVI

Lessons from Children

Here are few instances where children have stopped me in my tracks.

The Embrace
Not long ago I was hearing the first confessions of children, mostly seven year olds. Each encounter is as precious as the next but once in a while one "gets ya". After about 15 confessions the next child came forward and, like the others, we greeted one another and he made his first confession. However, immediately after I said "your sins are forgiven. Go in peace" he jumped out of his seat and hugged me. I didn't see that coming. The image of the prodigal son raced to my mind. The "prodigal" son wasn't very prodigal in this case, however, the sacramental "embrace" he received from his heavenly Father seemed no less strong and comforting than the one told in Scriptures. I guess he felt compelled to share that with me. I'm glad I was able to be of assistance.


God Loves A Cheerful Giver
Here's the scene. It is Sunday a few minutes before the one o'clock Mass in Spanish. I am standing at the entrance of the church ready to begin the procession. The song begins and the altar servers process in followed by the lectors. Like a wedding, I give a little room between the lectors and myself and get ready to go when a 4 year old girl runs out of the last pew and stand right in front of me. She is so close to me her head to cocked all the way back with her two pony tails hanging freely in the air. She smiles revealing a few missing teach and holds out her closed hand. I hold out my hand as she proudly enriches it with four pennies. I walked quickly to catch up with the procession far ahead of me as I proudly jingled the four pennies in my hand. As Mass continued the bread and wine were brought forward and blessed. At that point I thanked the girl and assured her that her gift was sitting safely right her on the altar.



On God's Time Zone
I had just spent an an hour with teaching children who are preparing to receive their First Holy Communion. We looked at all the different things we use at Mass inlcuding the chalice, paten, corporal, and vestments. After the class, as the students were leaving a little girl looked at me with a serious face and entrigued with all that we had learned about Jesus she asked: "Father, is there anyone alive now who knew Jesus?" Wow. Then again, don't we pray:

"A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday"

Psalm 90:4

A Natural Remedy for the Gotta-Have-It Moments in Life!

You know the feeling: I gotta have it. Sometimes this overwhelming feeling comes to us at the mall, online, on vacation, watching T.V. - anywhere. It can be a dangerous, enslaving feeling whose very pursuit of obtaining what it seeks gives us a devilish joy. We loose focus of everything else around us as we become fixated on this one thing like a hunter who sees his prey. Fixated. Blessed to live in such an affluent county it is within our means to buy many things or put them on our credit card as we add more weight to our heavy debt.

Having lived in a religious community for six years I know what it is like to live a vow of poverty. As millennia of religious brothers and sisters attest, this temptation to own and accumulate follows one into the convent and rectory. Instead of clothes or cars one is tempted to have more of what one already has, a better one or, better yet, a new one - whatever that thing may be. We seem to have this inordinate desire to own whatever we desire. We are not content with enjoying something. We gotta own it!

I recently bought an IPOD. Now, when I listen to a song on the radio or the internet I gotta have it - I have to buy it, own it, ts mine, my precious. Obviously there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying music. I will continue to do so, however, I think there is a valuable lesson in being aware if this passion within us.

Can we simply enjoy something (or someone) without having to own and possess it? Can we enjoy something and let it go? When I go on vacation I am always tempted to buy stuff that I'll never ever use. I understand some of this passion comes from our desire to remember or memorialize different experiences in life. A tee-shirt reminds of where we bought it and in some way helps us to relive some part of that particular experience. Isn't that true? Even in our Catholic tradition we have relics. We naturally want a physical connection to whatever or whoever we love and desire. This reality is deeply rooted in something very true and beautiful: "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (Jn 1:14) The spiritual and physical, the natural and divine are forever wedded in us.

Our thirst for material things comes from the fact that we have an unquenchable spiritual hunger that will only be satisfied when "on that day we shall see you, our God, as you are. We shall become like you and praise you for ever "(Eucharist Prayer II). Because we are not angels (pure spirit) but human beings (body and soul) we are made to experience reality through our five bodily senses.

Our passions, including the passion to possess, however, must be subject to reason. They need direction, they need to be informed, to be disciplined but never suppressed. Otherwise, we become slaves to desires that at best offer us momentary pleasure but never satisfy.

In a recent trip to Cabo Real, Mexico, I wanted to buy something badly. I don't remember what it was now, however, I remember loving the trip and therefore felt compelled to buy something - anything. I subconsciously wanted to try to perpetualize this joy I was experiencing through something material. Its incredible that sometimes something as simple as a rock or a picture can help bring to "life" moments we rightfully want to relive.

I found my match, however: nature. Nature is the remedy for this gotta have it mentality. When you look over the Grand Canyon or the Cliffs of Moher, you can't own it; all you can do is enjoy it. Sure, if you have enough money perhaps you could buy some of the land but never enough to own all the beauty in the world - the sea, the sky and land. At some point you just have to sit down and be absorbed by the beauty and enjoy it without trying to buy it.

Nature frustrates our desire to own everything that gives us pleasure. It taunts us saying "I know you wan'it but you can't have it" All we can do is sit defeated and forfeit our seek-and-destroy mentality and just enjoy it without taking possession of it. It seems to me that these are precisely the moments that bring us satisfaction and peace.