Friday, December 31, 2004
December 31, New Years Eve
Lk. 2:22-40
Jn. 1:1-18
Last night it was cold and rainy as I and one volunteer dished up black eyes peas to a hundred; I found myself with all the tragedy in asia and around me not being able to complain but wanting to share more, and do more, and knowing that all I can do is just one person, one step at a time, and that is simply being a presence.
Several days ago my barber introduced me as “The guy who takes care of the takers” One can look at what we do as that, and sometimes like now I feel drained because of the constant give me, give me, I get.
But the Luke passage from the past two days reminds me that if one looks at Richard, 35,an addict for years, limping like a 80 year old, one can see “the Light”, as one can in all the others who pass through my life: Peter, 19, clean five months, calls me from seattle shares with me his journey, always on the edge, and 20 year old chris who always has a “laundry list” of items no one personally could possibly have—but in each one I have seen the salvation of God revealed, each one who struggles for love, acceptance, and to be wanted. It is the meaning of the John passage in visible form; “And the Word became flesh”. God became flesh, in this body of ours to struggle and suffer, and be with us as we struggle toward finding fulfillment and meaning.
This has been a good year, with its ups and downs, but I have been blessed each day to walk with Jesus in the most unlikely disguises, and for that I give God thanks over and over. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!
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Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Feast of the Holy Innocents
Matt. 2:13-18
Today is the feast of the holy innocents. it is a reminder that the world that jesus came into is still as heartless and cruel, the only difference we have weapons that will destroy the world.
i am exhausted, totally exhausted, not from the physical work, but from the work of the heart, that which wounds my soul.
the pslams tonight reminde me that "you are priest forever in the order of Melchisidek." for me the priesthood has always meant to stand in the whirlwind with the innocents of our society, to be their as a presence, to listen, and to care, to walk with them, and in all probability die with them.
and so what innocents have i spent the last few days with:
the 14 year old young man who told his parents he thought he might be gay and they threatened in the name of Jesus to kick him out, and he became suicidal;
the 20 year old who went home with a "nice man" only to be raped repeatedly.
th 21 year old girl whose mother died, and she had not made peace with her.
the forty plus woman who was homeless two years ago when she was raped and beaten to a pulp who is not in a care facility--and the list goes on and on.
matt paid me the highest complement today: "u are so cool, no matter how low u get, u get up and keep going on." hell yea, what else is there to do. i go on because there is One who has gone into Galilee before me and it is him i follow.
To stand in the whirlwind is the greatest gift, honor that God has given this fuck up, and for that i am thankful. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!
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