Friday, December 10, 2004
Thursday, December 9.
Mt. 11: 11-15
Today has been a restful day, friends cooked the meal, so I had the afternoon to myself to nap. There is a sense of neediness out there. Recent articles on mayors plan and success on homeless is simply a farce. Yea there seem to be fewer pan handlers—but when the police haul ur ass off to jail what do u expect; yea some people have gotten rooms, only to be so dysfunctional to be back on the streets. There are police blockades on golden gate ave, supposedly to prevent drug dealing, when the reality it keeps people from sleeping there, the dealing just goes on further down.
I think that the scripture today speaks loudly to our lives. John the Baptist was the greatest of the prophets, but the “least of these” is “greater”. The least of these are those who are disciples and the poorest of the poor. And they are the one’s who most persecuted.
Today is the Feast of Juan Diego, a peasant to whom God’s presence was revealed in the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It seems that God uses the weakest for his work. I have found in my weakest time that God’s presence is most real and I do my best work.
The past two weeks as I have struggled with “my dark dragon” depression, I find that am more attuned to the needs of others and my dependence on God is much more. That is the paradox of God-he uses weakness over power anytime. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!
Friday, December 10, 2004
Mt. 11:16-19
Jesus is a man with no illusions. He understands that people play to popularity and to social norms and to what feels good. One minute he is –praised, the next hated. So one must keep his or her integrity. Last night one young man was calling me all sorts of names one minute, two hours later I was a saint because I gave him what he wanted. Over and over I am told I don’t dress or act like a priest—well frankly the social norm of priest is rather boring –and so the one thing I have learned these years is to live out my integrity. My reputation rises and falls with the tides of people’s moods, but my faithfulness sustains me and those I serve. I was once told that the what scared many people about me was that I could not be bought.
Well, u know what is strange, I have been bought, sealed, delivered, by Jesus on the cross. I am his. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!
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Wednesday, December 08, 2004
December 8, 2004
Immaculate Conception
Lk. 1:26-38
Rainy day, spent day with a friend, people are hovering wet,will be taking food and socks out.
Mary means a lot to me—she is my mother, new that my own mother is no longer here, she is the one I turn to; she is the mother side of God, the feminine side, the nurturing side; she is an example of complete obedience—a young frightened girl confronted with pregnancy—bows to the will of God without knowing the future. She is so much needed in the Church today:
She can bring the nuturing caring side to the Church, she can bring the feeling side. Holy Mary, be with us this day. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!
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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
December 7—St. Ambrose
Mt. 18:12-24
I spent the weekend taking care of my buddy andrew while his parents were gone. I am really tired. It is rainy, I went out and everyone is desperate and needy—my favorite is scott wanting 60.00 for scabies medicine, which costs 15.00 in the drug store.
There has been a series of articles on the “update” of the mayor’s progress on homelessnesss in the paper. Percentages are quoted, results are quoted, and I think of this scripture. Jesus never looked at percentages, or rates of success, but at relationships and at loving without expecting results. A therpapist once asked me “Why do u even care about those sociaopaths.” Well I care because they are just a human being in need of care and they are Jesus to me. I work with a young man as a payee, who has been kicked out of every payee program in town because of his anger etc. I feel like just hanging him sometimes, but ultimately I know that he is what he is, and he deserves to be loved, as I have been loved at my worst times. Deo Gratis! Thanks
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