LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP

Picture this scene if you will from Matthew (20: 20-28) ; it is an unusual gathering with Jesus, the twelve apostles and members of their families and other followers.  Maybe it’s a party. We know Jesus loved parties.  Jesus is not on a throne being adored, but simply part of the family, talking, laughing and eating perhaps. The relaxed atmosphere is obvious given the self-assurance of the mother of James and John who is not shy around Jesus.  In her mother’s pride she asks him, in all seriousness, to give her sons the honor of being on His right and left in the kingdom.  After all, they were called the Sons of Thunder for their strength of character and devotion and she felt they deserved the honor.  Jesus’ answer is gentle, possibly because he knew how mother’s are about their sons. He tells her she doesn’t know what she is asking.  He cautions that what will be required of them as his followers between those days and the kingdom, will not be glorious or easy and this honor she wants for them comes with a big price tag, but she and her sons are convinced they can handle it. (Incidentally, here is another strong woman in Jesus’ company.) Jesus then tells them the honor is not his to bestow but only determined by the Father.  Then, as it is with most families when they get together, jealousy reared its ugly head and the other ten disciples complained that James and John are getting special treatment.

Jesus stops them in their tracks.  He makes them see how trivial the discussion is. In his inimitable fashion he changes the focus entirely to further educate them in the path they are to follow:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority felt.  But it shall not be so with you.  Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you, will be your servant, and whoever wishes to to be first among you shall be your slave.”

We have a living example of what Jesus described in Pope Francis.  From the start he shunned pomp and exaltation in favor of humility and love.  He has set a tone for the Church, which has gotten very far from this ideal.  The message of Christ is so simple.  Loving people means always regarding others as part of the family.  We know it isn’t easy, just look at the Disciples, but we also know it is our duty.  Remember the story of the proud man who was so enamored of himself he actually bragged to God about how good he was while he looked with disdain on the poor man in the back?  That’s how the world is, but we are called to a different attitude. Jesus set the example of loving humility and Pope Francis lives it for all to see.  Saying; “I am a Christian” has no value unless you live like one. That is, one who truly follows that example. 

Blessings everyone,

Carol Lemelin OPA

FAMILIES

FAMILY

I’ve been spending a week with some of my family on Lake Michigan.  It’s an annual vacation, which we have had the privilege of taking for over 50 years.  During that time the cast of characters has undergone a lot of changes but the core has held steady.  The love between us holds us together through all the challenges and thinking about this has made me grateful beyond measure.  We are just one kind of family, but I’ve been musing about just what constitutes a family.

For centuries family always meant people related by birth.  People did foster or adopt children but that child was always identified as ‘not actually a blood relation’ and excluded from inheritance, etc. because they did not share blood.  As we have progressed through time and knowledge, we know that blood is just blood and the only difference between mine and yours would be the type.  Still, people cling to the idea that only blood makes a family. 

In an Orchard it is possible for one tree to bear more than one kind of apple. It’s possible to graft a Jonathan branch to a McIntosh tree or, with an understanding of species, it’s possible to have one tree with multiple grafts producing a wide variety of fruit.  In the case of people, it’s what is called ‘a blended family’

But, Jesus himself changed the meaning of the word family forever. When told that his mother and brothers were outside, he asked: “ Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”  Then pointing to his disciples, which included all present, said: “These are my mother and brothers!”  (Mt 12:46-50) But, like so much of what Jesus said, the focus is often on the wrong thing.  Instead of wondering how Jesus could appear to dismiss his own family, we should be sensing the impact of his words on our own perceptions of the meaning of family. What truly binds people together is love.

It is truly God’s will that we learn to live together in peace with love as the adhesive holding it all together.  We know with certainty that Jesus did not say anything he didn’t mean.  We also know, or at least we should, that whatever Jesus said to enlighten his listeners was meant for our ears as well.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin , OPA

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE

JOHN LENNON

When Jesus traveled through Judea going from town to town to spread the Good News, he received mixed reviews.  Some, especially the poor, embraced him with enthusiasm, others, not so much.  There were threats to the status quo in his words, which frightened many.  After these journeys, Jesus returned to his home on the Sea of Galilee at Capernaum.  If he hoped for a respite from the constant round of pleas for help, he was disappointed.  As soon as the townspeople knew he was there the cry went up; “Jesus is back!” On one particular day a group of men whose friend was bedridden came to their friend and said, “He’s here, Jesus is back.  We’re taking you to him.  No arguments, we’re going! “  While Jesus miraculously healed the man, at the same time he could not have missed the love these men had for one another.  They were so bold; they tore the roof off the house to make sure Jesus could not avoid their friend.  I can imagine Jesus smiling!  That is the kind of love he wants for everyone.

From the very first, God called on the human race to love. He decried useless blood sacrifices and called for peace among us.  Jesus is the image of the unseen Father (Col 1:15) and since Jesus is all love, it follows that the Father is all love.  Each of us, created by God, has the ability to love within ourselves and from the very first God calls us to love one another.  We do.  Examine closely the worst events in this country in the last year.  You will see that following or during the event, the love of people for one another is startling real.  The problem is that evil is so noisy and good is so quiet. Be that as it may, we mustn’t doubt our love for one another is strong, but as always, if we don’t express it who will know?  We must make love louder.

Recently at Mass, Fr. Jim Andres prayed;  “Lord, forgive us for our lack of enthusiasm for your Word.”  Is that the problem?  Are we complacent and interested only in our own spiritual life and take it all for granted?  Have we become so used to the Crucifix that the incredible show of love behind it has lost its power to motivate us?  Do we drowse during the readings and come away with nothing?  Our faith needs reinvigorating if the answer to any of those questions is ‘yes’. We ought never to have to pray Fr. Jim’s prayer.  Enthusiasm for Christ’s message of genuine love is critical if we are to make a difference.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE

JOHN LENNON

When Jesus traveled through Judea going from town to town to spread the Good News, he received mixed reviews.  Some, especially the poor, embraced him with enthusiasm, others, not so much.  There were threats to the status quo in his words, which frightened many.  After these journeys, Jesus returned to his home on the Sea of Galilee at Capernaum.  If he hoped for a respite from the constant round of pleas for help, he was disappointed.  As soon as the townspeople knew he was there the cry went up; “Jesus is back!” On one particular day a group of men whose friend was bedridden came to their friend and said, “He’s here, Jesus is back.  We’re taking you to him.  No arguments, we’re going! “  While Jesus miraculously healed the man, at the same time he could not have missed the love these men had for one another.  They were so bold; they tore the roof off the house to make sure Jesus could not avoid their friend.  I can imagine Jesus smiling!  That is the kind of love he wants for everyone.

From the very first, God called on the human race to love. He decried useless blood sacrifices and called for peace among us.  Jesus is the image of the unseen Father (Col 1:15) and since Jesus is all love, it follows that the Father is all love.  Each of us, created by God, has the ability to love within ourselves and from the very first God calls us to love one another.  We do.  Examine closely the worst events in this country in the last year.  You will see that following or during the event, the love of people for one another is startling real.  The problem is that evil is so noisy and good is so quiet. Be that as it may, we mustn’t doubt our love for one another is strong, but as always, if we don’t express it who will know?  We must make good louder.

Recently at Mass, Fr. Jim Andres prayed;  “Lord, forgive us for our lack of enthusiasm for your Word.”  Is that the problem?  Are we complacent and interested only in our own spiritual life and take it all for granted?  Have we become so used to the Crucifix that the incredible show of love behind it has lost its power to motivate us?  Do we drowse during the readings and come away with nothing?  Our faith needs reinvigorating if the answer to any of those questions is ‘yes’. We ought never to have to pray Fr. Jim’s prayer.  Enthusiasm for Christ’s message of genuine love is critical if we are to make a difference.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

“JESUS GAVE THEM AUTHORITY…”

This chapter, (MT: 10:1) tells how Jesus sent the disciples out to preach in his name.  It also identifies the twelve Apostles by name and among them is Simon of Cana.  Who? Never heard of him.  Was he at the wedding?  Was he the wine steward?  These are unanswerable questions.  In Luke 8:1-3 where  he names the women in Jesus’ company, there is mention of Joanna, wife of Herod’s Chief Steward. How did that happen? Wouldn’t you love to know her story?  Again, we never will.  But the fact that they existed and are numbered among the earliest disciples of Jesus should give us heart.

We too, are his disciples and no one has ever heard of any of us either, but that is the best part.  We, like they, are the seeds of the faith for the future. Just because we never heard of them does not mean they were not responsible for the faith of many.   Since the Holy Spirit saw to it that their names are not forgotten we can be sure they were.  Peter, Mark, Timothy, Luke, John and Paul did not do it alone.  Everyone who was inspired to follow Christ had a role in spreading the Good News.

That inspiration of the Spirit exists today with all the power it ever had.  The Spirit never gives up, tires or loses interest.  Every follower of Jesus is urged by the Spirit to share the message. The problem is that we have learned to be immune to the call.  We have built up a wall of excuses behind which we hide. But somewhere, lost in antiquity, are the people who first fell in love with Jesus and from them we have our faith.  It’s tragic really, that we have the knowledge which could make lives worth living, which can help people know how much God loves them, which can strengthen them to face the future, but we hold back.  We think; “Who am I? I’m nobody. No one would listen to me”.

When you do think that, remember the names, Simon of Cana and Joanna of Jerusalem. Know that you have the same authority to preach in Jesus name as they had and most important is to believe that the Spirit, which urges you on, will remain with you to strengthen you no matter the outcome.

Blessings on you and on your summer.

Carol Lemelin  OPA