Meditations – To Jesus Sincerely

The Shock Value of the Backwards Beatitudes

Published on February 17, 2019February 17, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Guys, Jesus is trying to provoke us with the Beatitudes.

Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way.
Luke 6:20-26

The Beatitudes aren’t something that are supposed to make us feel good. They’re not comfortable or safe.

The Beatitudes are intentionally counter-intuitive. Their worth begins with their shock value.

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The Burden of Blessing: Why So Many Fish, Jesus?

Published on February 10, 2019February 10, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

I found myself shaking my head at Jesus (once again…) during today’s Gospel reading.

Those poor fishermen had been out fishing all night and caught nothing. Jesus (a carpenter, you guys) told them to go out and try again.

Simon put up mild resistance, but did what Jesus asked anyways. To his great astonishment, Jesus miraculously filled their nets with fish.

Jesus didn’t just fill the nets – he filled them so much that the boats almost sank.

Now why did he go and do that? Couldn’t he give them a normal amount of fish? Why so many fish, Jesus?

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Love is the Excellent Way of Life

Published on February 3, 2019February 4, 2019 by tojesussincerely4 Comments

#MyMassTakeaway for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Wow! – what an amazing segue from last week’s reading to this week’s.

Last week we heard about all the different spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ.

It’s edifying and powerful to think about our gifts, discover them, and use them to serve the Church. I cried like a baby when I did the discernment of charisms.

This week’s second reading pick up there.

It starts by saying: Yes, pursue all spiritual gifts.

Then it changes course: But I will show you a still more excellent way.

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It’s Time to Stop the War Within the Body of Christ

Published on January 27, 2019January 27, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

#MyMassTakeaway

Sometimes we treat our differences as excuses to pit ourselves against each other.

Homeschoolers against traditional schoolers. Stay at home moms against working moms. NOs against traddies.

The list goes on. Oily, crunchy, babywearers, breastfeeders, formula feeders, feminists, big families, small families – STOP.

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What do You Know About the Catholic Three?

Published on January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 by tojesussincerely5 Comments

We play Catholic Trivia over on Instagram each month. These are the questions and answers to this month’s #4thFridayTrivia game.

In the Bible, numbers often (though not always) carry great significance.

The number three often signifies wholeness, completeness, and perfection.

The central mystery of the Catholic faith involves the number three – the mystery of the Trinity: three persons in one God.

In honor of the Trinity, these Catholic Trivia questions revolve around the theme of the number three.

How much do you know about the threes in the Catholic faith?

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When You Bring the Water, Jesus Works the Miracle

Published on January 20, 2019January 20, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for The 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Water is the most common thing on earth.

Plain, clear, boring water. It’s not something we would call miraculous. Not something we would think is very special.

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Get in Line with All the Other Sinners

Published on January 15, 2019 by tojesussincerely3 Comments

#MyMassTakeaway for The Baptism of the Lord.

Jesus lined up with the rest of the sinners.

He wasn’t concerned about his image. He wasn’t afraid what other people thought of him.

He didn’t stand up and announce, “Just so you know, guys, I’ve never sinned.”

Jesus was willing to sacrifice his self-image out of love for us, to give us the gift of baptism, to make the waters holy for us.

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Epiphany: The Journey Has Just Begun

Published on January 7, 2019January 7, 2019 by tojesussincerely3 Comments

On Epiphany, we celebrate the day the Magi found Christ. Even though this was their first encounter with the Lord, I doubt it was the end of their journey.

A true encounter with Christ initiates a lifetime of seeking and following him. I have no doubt that the Magi returned to their homeland, inspired to orient their lives to service of Christ the King.

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Send Down Your Spirit Like the Dewfall

Published on December 23, 2018December 23, 2018 by tojesussincerely1 Comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 23, 2018. Find the Mass readings here.

Something struck me when I heard the priest pray these words at the consecration during Mass today: “Make holy therefore these gifts by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall.”

Images flooded my mind.

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