Analise will be dealing with some personal issues during the month of May so Mark Gates will be substituting for her. Since he does not have his own login, I will be posting his reflections on my login. Analise will be fine but she could use some prayers over the next week or two. Thank you to Mark for filling in at the last catholic moment (pun intended).
James 5;1-6 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and
silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will
devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days.
Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are
crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of
hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your
hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the
righteous one; he offers you no resistance.
This reading from the book of James, I have heard often. I also often
thought of sending the part that I had underlined to a few bosses of mine.
Let’s just say, that I’ve worked for more than a couple of ‘misers’ in my day.
The Retail Food Unions that I worked for, weren’t any better. The unions
colluded with the companies to ‘break the union’. The only thing they broke
apart were marriages, families, communities, and the spirits of God-loving
men. But what can poor workers do? Pray, and so we did! “Vengeance is
mine”, saith the Lord.
The Psalm today describes God’s vengeance, in the ‘root’ scripture,
that I underlined, for the often-used adage, that you can’t take it with you!
PS 49:14-20 Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
**This is the way of those whose trust is folly, the end of those contented with
their lot: Like sheep they are herded into the nether world; Death is their shepherd
and the upright rule over them. For when the wicked dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down…
**Quickly their form is consumed; the nether world is their palace.
But God will redeem me from the power of the nether world by receiving me!!
Wow, The Gospel today is a mixed bag of thoughts. Sure, it starts and ends
nicely enough but the middle is loaded with some dark ideas. (Read it in full.
I’ve abbreviated it here). It talks about plucking out your eye and cutting off
hands & feet. Whew!
Gospel Mk 9:41-50, Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup
of water to drink because you belong to Christ, Amen, I say to you, will surely not
lose his reward. ** “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to
sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he
were thrown into the sea! Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt
becomes tasteless, with what will you restore its flavor?
**Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”
Jesus spoke in extreme terms sometimes. I think He did it to shake
people up, to force them to think deeper, more soulfully. We all know people
who are surface-dwellers. They think that just because they haven’t robbed
a bank or murdered anyone… lately, that they are perfectly good people.
They belong to a church. They attend twice a year, all is good!!
Well, How about robbing someone of their dignity or self-worth through
needless criticisms. Another is murdering someone by repeating malicious
gossip, Unverified, of course. Those folks are pure saints who visit God on
Christmas and Easter and barely pay attention. They can’t even muster up a
conversation then?!? But, OH Boy, They’re the first ones to blame God on
the in-between times!! **Employers, you ARE your brother’s keeper.
We may or may not be wealthy with cash or possessions. We ARE
incredibly wealthy in Love, Kindness, Generosity, and all of these are in our
soul and dispensed through our actions and words.
SHALOM, and may All of God’s Love be yours, Mark
I am Mark Gates, your servant. I currently live with my wife in Peosta, Iowa and have retired. I have spent my whole life as a God-fearing Christian, Mass Lector and cradle Catholic. In 1996 after a Charismatic Conference, My spirituality ‘Exploded’. The Holy Spirit has blessed me with personal revelations and events in times of needed admonishment, teaching or encouragement. Having a personal belief and true affection for The Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist and also a very sweet, tender, and special relationship with our Holy Spirit, I believe that our world is in dire need of Good News. I want my spirituality to ‘start conversations’! Please allow these musings to start your own conversations.
