It’s difficult for some people to wrap their mind around the love that God has for us because of the image of the parent. For those whose parents are good, loving, and kind; the idea of a God who loves them unconditionally comes quickly and easily. How about those whose parents abused them? (Click the link to read more)

June 11th, 2017: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Lectionary: 164
EX 34:4B-6, 8-9
DN 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 5
2 COR 13:11-13
JN 3:16-18

It’s difficult for some people to wrap their mind around the love that God has for us because of the image of the parent.  For those whose parents are good, loving, and kind; the idea of a God who loves them unconditionally comes quickly and easily.  How about those whose parents abused them?  Neglected them?  Or even twisted them against their other parent because of a bitter divorce or anger?  How can we reconcile the love of the Father with the father who does not love?  In the inner cities of America alone we have twenty million families living without fathers in the home.  Many of these men have walked away from the responsibility of being a dad and left their children to wonder if they loved them?  Some even wondering who their dad is.  Others angry and hurt because their dads did not love them.

My grandfather was a hard man.   I remember clearly some of the things that at the time I did not understand.   The prohibition of poker cards in his house.   The fact that some of our textbooks had to stay on the porch.   The times he would tell us we weren’t allowed to continue the conversation we were having because it was sinful.   Yet, this man also gave me my first bible.   He spoke to me of the love of God.   Back then I thought if God had a thing against biology and games, if God disliked having fun, why would I want to be a part of that?  These days I understand what my grandfather was trying to show us.   I still don’t agree with his methodology, but I know in his own way he was trying to protect us from things he had seen lead people down the wrong road.

My own father is also sometimes a hard man.  He is quick to anger and slow to forgive.  Growing up we knew that he worked night shift and I can remember learning to walk softly upstairs and that if we were to make too much noise his voice would thunder throughout the house.  He provided for us well.   He worked hard as long as his body would hold out.   He did everything he could to make sure we had what we needed.  The rules were the rules though.   When my brother and I decided at one point to teach dad a lesson, it was he who taught us.  I don’t remember exactly how but my 5’7” father left me upside down in the corner and my brother didn’t fare much better.

These were the images of dads that I had growing up.  So when the preachers in the various churches spoke of God the Father and Jesus the Son, I already had an image of what that was supposed to look like.  Dad makes the rules, and the Son follows them.   When He doesn't dad thunders and the house shakes, and someone has to pay for breaking the rules.  If you don’t get rid of the things that he tells you to, they will either be taken from you forcefully or you get thrown out.  That became sort of an image of God for me for years.   The thundering, stamping angry man in Heaven just looking for a reason to erase my name from the Lamb’s book of Life, yet again.  That’s not to say that either of those men in my life weren’t good men or loving men.  They were.  They were examples of men doing the best they could with what they had, with the education they had been given, and the understanding of what God expected of them that they had received.

They fell short though, just as I fall short, of displaying the love of God in the world.  Today’s Gospel is from John and is one of the best known Gospel verses in the world.  John 3:16 has been quoted by people in every venue, and even used for a popular wrestler at one point.  The thing is this verse shows us the truth about two things.  The depth, breadth, width, and height of God’s love for us; and the sacrifice the Son made and what it truly meant.  As a father now myself, I understand even more the fear that my father and grandfather had about the things of this world.   The moment I saw my daughter born into this world I knew there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her, even to die if I had to in order to protect her.  I feel that way about all four of our girls.  This verse though says that God gave His Son for us, that we too might be saved.  To give the life of your child for those who do not appreciate you?  For those who do not appreciate the child either?  For those who won’t even accept the gift?

I’d be hard pressed to let my child even get her feelings hurt for someone else.  To choose for her to die that others might live?   I don’t know that I have that in me.   God did.   That’s the love of God for us.   A love so pure, so powerful, so complete… that it formed a third divine person.   The Holy Spirit is the living personification, the embodiment of the love of God sent into the world.  That’s because the mystery of God is so deep, so powerful, so complex and profound that God becomes family.   Father and Son love each other so much that the Holy Spirit proceeds forth from them, showering their love to the four corners of the universe.    The gift of the Paraclete is a gift of love!   That’s something we forget so often.

It also shows us how we should interact as a family.  The scriptures today remind us to meditate deeply on this mystery.  On the Father who is “merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”   The Holy Spirit who unites us in peace, joy, and fellowship; guiding us to love one another as a family born out of the sacrifice of the Son.   The Son who is obedient to His Father, accepting even death, death on a cross.  With all of this mystery comes the simple truth that we Christians can count on… that it is in belief and obedience to the life and teachings of Christ that we can find our way to eternal life.  Not because we deserve it.  Not because we have learned to walk quietly to avoid the Father’s anger, but because we have a mediator, an intercessor who stands between us, who died in our place that we too might be a part of that eternal family.

Do you think about that when you think about the Holy Spirit?   The Holy Spirit is the love that flows between the Father and the Son.   Much like the love in our homes makes us family, that it reminds us that even when we aren’t getting along, that we are a unit.   That choice we make to support one another even when we don’t understand one another.   Something more than just a feeling, something more about action and submission, giving and taking.   That the perfected version of that love, the third person of the Holy Spirit, now chooses to reside in us as His Temple?   That love… that pure, unadulterated love… is in us and flows from us to the Father and back, making us a family of God himself?

There are no words to explain how powerful and immense a gift that is, one that was purchased with the blood of a child, a brother, a friend.   A gift that should overwhelm us with joy and gratitude, but is often left dusty on the shelf like the Scriptures themselves.  True love is right here.   It’s among us inspiring us, reminding us of His words, guiding our Church and if we let it, our families.  As I said above, I fail often.  Sometimes my dad comes out of my mouth and my children hear me roar, especially if I’m napping and they stampede through the roof of my room.  Then at other times, my grandfather comes out and I demand this or that be removed from the house.   Yet, God reminds me to love.   To choose the better part.  To be like the father of the prodigal son, ready to run out and embrace them with open arms before they ever get to where I want them to be.   Better yet, to walk with them toward the Father himself and ask His love to continue to flow in our lives, that both of us can experience a glimpse through the veil, past the cloud of unknowing, into the realm of God himself where words no longer have meaning and all that exists is love and mercy itself.

His servant and yours,
Brian Mullins.


"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. - Psalm 19:14

The Ark Maker

Tomorrow is the last Sunday before Christmas.  The Gospel reading is a familiar scene.  Mary has travelled to see her cousin Elizabeth.  When Mary approaches Elizabeth, Elizabeth exclaims "how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"  We Catholics get a lot of flack over the years for referring to Mary as the Mother of God, yet here Elizabeth uses the same word that Luke consistently uses to refer to God, Yahweh.   The mother of the Lord, that's what theotokos is all about.  Not elevating Mary even more, but rather elevating our understanding of who Christ himself is.  Just like at the wedding of Cana, even the title we give Mary does not point to her, but to the child she bore into the world. 

I think Luke also purposely portrays Mary as the Ark of the Covenant.  What do I mean?  I mean that he portrays Mary in a way that indicates he was consciously attempting to link them as one and the same.  To a first century Jew the comparison would have been evident while reading the Gospel.  It would have been even more direct when reading the book of the Apocalypse.  That's where typology comes in to bible study.  Typology is the notion that a person, place or thing foreshadows a future person place or thing.  The future type is always greater than the previous one.  That's an important thing to keep in mind.

So let's compare the story of the Ark, with the story of Mary:

• The Spirit of God overshadowed both Mary and the Ark. Exodus 40:34-35, Luke 1:35
• The Ark contained the tablet of the commandments, the manna from heaven, and Aaron's Rod.  Mary contained the living Law, the bread from heaven, the Branch of David (the High Priest), Jesus Christ   Deuteronomy 10:3-5, Hebrews 9:4, Luke 1:35
• The Ark traveled into the hill country of Judah, Mary travelled to the hill country of Judah 2 Samuel 6:1-11, Luke 1:39
• Dressed as a priest King David approached the Ark of the Covenant and danced for joy, John the Baptist, son of a priest, danced in the womb before the presence of Mary 2 Samuel 6:14, Luke 1:43
• David shouted for joy, Elizabeth exclaimed in joy 2 Samuel 6:15, Luke 1:42
• David asked, How is it that the Ark comes to me?  Elizabeth How is it that the Mother of the Lord comes to me?  2 Samuel 6:9, Luke 1:43
• The Ark remained for three months in the house, Mary remained for 3 months in the house 2 Samuel 6:11, Luke 1:56
• The Ark returns to Jerusalem to the temple, Mary goes to Jersualem to present Jesus in the temple 2 Samuel 6:12, 1 Kings 8:9-11, Luke 1:56, 2:21-22
• God made Aaron's rod come to life, Jesus the Branch was brought back to life Numbers 17:8, Hebrews 4:14
  

Those are just some of the examples.  It would take much longer to actually cover all of it, if that could even be done in a blog post.  I think though there is something to be learned from the story.  John lept in the womb before the Ark.  King David lept for joy and danced with abandon before the Ark.  How are we responding to the Ark?   How are we responding to it's contents?  As we approach Advent these are a few of the questions that can help us ask if we are responding to God.  Are we filled with joy at his presence?  Does Mass cause us to call out with our hearts at the presence of God?  Is Mary a part of our lives? Or do we dismiss her?

What else can we learn?  As Catholics we believe Mary is the first and foremost example of what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.  As Christmas approaches, we look forward to the birth of Christ into the world.  Mary was the living Ark.   She allowed the Spirit of God to overshadow her.  She was so filled with God's love that she became the vessel that Christ would spend nine months in perfect communion with.  He was a part of her.  Inside of her.  In a way that no other human has ever experienced.  Are we being Arks?  In our discipleship are we allowing God to overshadow us, to the point that others feel God's presence through us?  You know those people who are so filled with God's joy and love that when you are in their presence, you can just feel it?  The air is tangible, there is an energy.. something that makes you want it too... something that gives you joy.... Yeah, that's right.. Are you doing that?   Are you allowing God to so consume you, to overshadow you... that you become a joy?  Is your happiness on the surface, your joy overflowing? 

I don't know about you guys, but I've got work to do.  I do know this.  It starts with a Sacramental life.  How can you be an Ark if you don't allow the contents of the Ark to come inside you?  Jesus is there.  He is present in the Eucharist.   You and I need to receive him. That way we can truly go out into the world at the dismissal of the Mass to be Arks... to bring the presence of Christ to a world that very much needs him.  Mass.  The original Ark maker ;)

His servant and yours,

Brian

What crown is this?

This morning I spent an hour in adoration praying for a friend.  During that time I prayed my daily rosary with that intention in my heart while also meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries.  I was struck with a deep sense of love and mercy.  As I began to pray and meditate on the Third Sorrowful Mystery, the crowning of thorns, my heart really went out to my friend.  While it was one of those personal and unspoken prayer requests, the message was clearly for them.  I wanted to share it with all of you as well.

My Lord and Savior, how pitiful a sight it must have been.  Having been scourged and beaten, your body wracked with pain, how did you have the strength to continue on the journey?  As they placed the mocking robe around your shoulders, onto the flayed and fractured skin, oh the pain that must have coursed throughout your existence.  Here the man who is King of all, being made into what to mortal eyes must have seemed a contemptuous parody.  With all the angels at your command your love for us kept you from calling them to your defense.  Ah, how undeserving we are of that love.

As they placed the crown of thorn on your sacred dome, deriding the very nature of your holy and regal being.  The thorns piercing your tender flesh, bleeding profusely across your stately countenance.  You bore this mortification in our place.  Having emptied yourself, you came to this world with this purpose in mind.  You who wore the very fabric of space and time as your robe, took on this tattered and worn garment of purple.   Him who was crowned with so much power and glory that even looking upon his face would bring on the fear of death, was woven a crown of dried, discordant twigs.  From the comfort of your heavenly throne you took on instead the discomfort of the Cross. 

My child, he seemed to say to me, I did this for you.  What you are going through now is a crown of your own thorns.  A crown that seems full of shame and loss.  A decision that makes you tremble on the inside, throwing yourself on the ground in your own garden of Gethsemane and begging God to take this cup from you.  Oh, my child do not let Satan convince you of this.  Satan is your Rome, your opponent.  He wishes to make you seem far away, beaten and destroyed. For you are a child of God, by my work you have become my co-heir and your dignity is that of the royal family.  You have been grafted into the shoot that sprang forth form Jesse's stump.   Your adversary wants you to believe that your shame is your dignity.  That your fear is your robe.  No, embrace this cross no matter how difficult.  Lift up your chin and bear yourself with the regal countenance that comes from being my sibling.   March forth and embrace your cross, and walk towards your Easter.  Do not be resigned but rather like Jesus, rejoice in the Holy Spirit.  Love this burden.  Grasp it in your arms as you would a newborn child.  Carry it as you would your own.   For then your cross will become a cross, without a cross.

His servant and yours,
Brian

Carrying the cross?

As I was walking back from the bus stop this morning, instead of praying the office of readings I decided I would do the Rosary.  This mornings mysteries were the Sorrowful Mysteries.  I began to walk along watching the squirrels running around preparing for winter, watching the parents running to school, the workers to work, the buses to their stops.  I watched as the geese flew over honking and as the leaves fell from the trees.

I began to meditate on the Carrying of the Cross.   Such a long walk it must have been to carry that cross.  As I began the mystery I did as always and said a prayer, one for the particular intent of my heart but in some way related to the mystery itself.  Then I began to pray.  As I did I began to think about the different ways we carry our crosses. But there was this notion that struck me, the cross wasn't carried in private.. it was a very public event.  So public indeed that even Simon of Cyrene was compelled into helping Jesus carry the cross.

All too often we tell people who have serious sins in their lives, oh that's your cross to bear.  We treat it as if those sins, performed in the dark away from us are not our concern, but something that they must learn to live with.  Yet, sin is not a private affair.  If you're hiding a sin from others, then it compounds the problem.  When you commit those sins in private willingly, you aren't carrying your cross.. no.. you're laying it down and walking away from it.


I'm not suggesting that every person out there should come out and begin to say to every person they meet "this is my sin."   I am suggesting though that we as Christians need other men (or women) to talk to. We need a support group to hold us accountable, and with that group we need to be 100% honest.  We need to let someone, a trusted friend, who isn't just going to be complacent and say "that's ok," know what we are struggling with.   We need to carry our cross together, and even at other times to get someone to help us bear that load, because sometimes we can't do it on our own. (I firmly believe that is the true power of the Cursillo movement, in the grouping.)

The Sacred Scriptures tell us that we are one body.  Now a body could function decently without one kidney.. but it isn't working at 100%.  Even more so, if it loses both one might still live, but how difficult does life become?  When one organ has cancer, it often doesn't stay just there.. no it spreads. We are less without you.  Period.  When you are sick? Infected with sin as it were... it makes the rest of the body suffer.  Together though, we can heal.