deacon's corner

From the very beginnings of our nation 236 years ago, religious freedom has been the cornerstone of the American experience. It was written into the fabric of our nation by those who forged its defining documents and established its unique character.

Do you feel the presence of God in your life? Are you open to accepting the presence of God—the Holy Spirit—to becoming a child of God? We are, as followers of Jesus Christ, commanded—commanded to not only live our lives as he demonstrated but commanded to go forth and spread the Good News through our actions as well as our words. We are expected to live our lives as Jesus lived his because we are the body of Christ.

Somehow it seems so fitting, so apropos, that today we celebrate and honor our mothers who despite, or perhaps because of, having suffered through the pains of labor and the agony of childbirth to bring us into this world, still love us. St. John says that “everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God” and Jesus tells us that “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Our mothers are shining examples of the greatest act of love, the self-giving for the sake of another.

I frequently remind my religious education students that God loves us, no matter what happens in our lives. It makes no difference whether we want it, whether we ask for it, or whether we believe that we deserve it, He still loves us. We are His children; He created us in his image. Henri Nouwen once said that “we are not loved by God because we are precious, but we are precious because we are loved by God.”

“My Lord and my God!”It is difficult to imagine the enormity of what Thomas professed with this statement. He was the first person to openly and unequivocally affirm that Jesus was God. Peter had come close when he acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, but even Peter never called Jesus God. Jesus very gently responds by saying “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

A few years ago, during a confirmation class, as we were discussing the Ten Commandments, I remarked that God created each of us in His own image and likeness, that He loved us unconditionally and that because He created us and He loved us, we not only owed him our love in return but that we were obliged to love everyone; they were God’s creation after all. One student, a very bright but often difficult one, leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and with a credulous look on his face stated “Even cops?” I remember responding “Yes, even cops!”

The Gospel for this second Sunday of Lent speaks of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Jesus invites three of his closest friends to hike with him up a mountain where he is transfigured before them. It is clear from the reading that the apostles did not have a clue as to what was happening and I suspect many of us might fall into that very same category.

While Jesus was teaching in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit challenged him, heckled him, disrupted his teaching moment. Most of us can likewise recall instances where a meeting or presentation was disrupted by someone who disagreed with what was being said or who had their own agenda to promote. Few, if any, of us can forget the horrific results of the terrorist attacks on 9-11, the Oklahoma bombings, Columbine, or the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Most of us have received at least one formal invitation in our lives; most likely to some significant event such as a wedding, ordination, banquet, or graduation. Generally these invitations have four letters written on them—RSVP—which stands for “répondez s’il vous plaît” or “please respond.” Common courtesy dictates that when we receive such an invitation we should respond as soon as possible, indicating our acceptance or refusal so that the host can ascertain how many will be attending. God calls each of us by name and invites us to do His will, but I wonder just how many of us ever RSVP to His invitation.

This Monday, January 16^th, is a federal holiday honoring the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was murdered forty-four years ago at the age of 39. His legacy of striving for equal rights and justice for all, his advocacy for non-violent protest and peace, and his marvelous eloquence will undoubtedly live on for generations to come.