29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Exodus 17:8-13 | Psalm 120:1-8 | 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 | Luke 18:1-8
Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience – but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
“Just curious: Are you a pastor?”
I was surprised by this question yesterday, from a atheist friend whom I’d not seen in years. I was surprised because we and a few other friends were discussing his own tuition practice; nothing remotely religious crossed our collective lips.
It turned out that something in the way I expressed myself triggered that association. He couldn’t pin it down, but he thought it had to do with the passion of my hand movements: making broad sweeps in random directions, gesticulating upwards a lot, and at one point thumping the lunch table.
I could only say “no”, continue exercising my hands…and bite my tongue to avoid asking: “You mean, like Kong Hee?” ?
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I’m no longer a 25-year-old reluctant Catholic. My love for the Lord is now something to be celebrated in my middle years, and not in a shy way. I thank God for the energy and enthusiasm that He’s given me, to share how He’s affected my life each day.
Even so, there are days where I’m physically drained, when I start writing a few words and then hit a mental and spiritual block. In the early days of my blog, I reacted with “oh no, will I break my daily streak?” Now, I write when the Spirit moves me, and I just happen to get nudged every day.
However, if the day comes when I can no longer write about my relationship with God for some reason…so be it. It’s been a love-filled ride, and I’m truly glad it happened, but there’s a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
In the meantime, I’ll keep on keeping on, like the widow in today’s Gospel. I’ll continue banging away at my keyboard, exploring the depths of my friendship with the Almighty in mortal words, and sharing them with the world.
If these words should inspire you to begin your own journey towards a deeper relationship with God, welcome to the club! Pull up a virtual chair, pour yourself a dram of Glendalough 13 Year, and let’s praise the night away.
If you’ve wanted to do something similar for the longest time, but could never muster the courage or the knowledge to do it, pull up a virtual chair, pour yourself a dram of Glenfiddich for liquid courage, have a chat, then just get started.
If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, pull up a virtual chair…you know the rest.
Coming together as God’s family (St. John’s Cathedral, Limerick)
For we need not be alone in our faith journey; we have never been, and we never will be. That’s the message I’m taking away from today’s first reading.
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Moses is rightfully considered one of the Grand Old Men of our faith, but even he had his failings. He lost his temper with the Israelites out of Egypt, and in Exodus 17, he reveals the limits of his physical strength. But Aaron and Hur were there by his side, shoring up his weakening arms for the House of Israel.
Likewise, none of my entries are solo efforts. At their core lies the Holy Spirit, directing my thoughts in certain directions, and my eyes to certain passages.
Then there is the collective wisdom of the Internet, funneled through various search engines like Google and archives like Wikipedia and vatican.va, that I tap on when I need to gather more information about specific subjects.
? We’ll … ne … ver … walk … a-lone. ? (Lindisfarne)
Finally, there are the people I encounter on a daily basis, whose stories and interactions with me often embellish the words that I write. This particular entry is dedicated to the wonderful folks with whom I toured the United Kingdom in 2016 (if it wasn’t already clear from the photos).
Sláinte mhaith, brothers and sisters, and let us continue journeying in Christ together!
Through our actions, with our words, in our love, O God, Almighty Father, in the unity of Your chosen people, all glory and honour is Yours, now and forever. Amen.