Today I went to a small church that is a sister Church of a conglomerate parish in South Scranton, my new home. The pastor is someone I have known for years and I am grateful to be in his parish home!
I am still reflecting on his homily and what a profound gift he gave with his words about the gospel today. I didn't know anything about Caesarea Philippi where Jesus took his disciples after experiencing so many things that Jesus' ministry was about. I came to learn that it had been a very lush place and the home of King Philip who followed one of the Caesars...hence the name! Where Jesus brought the 12 was a hillside that had niches in them where people had placed idols of their various gods. Jesus stands before the disciples, his back to the hillside, and asks, as they look at the various gods, "Who do people say that I am?" and then, more personally, "Who do YOU say that I am?"
I sit at my window of my new room and see the mountains surrounding Scranton. If is lush and green....no niches but -- what niches have I carved out for other gods? ego? self-image? material goods, obsessive looking at e-mails, texts, facebook? engaged in a world of media and consumerism? is it that have fed the god of importance, entitlement, greed? What room do I have for my ONE GOD?
I heard one man exclaim after the homily a comment about the time.....
can we not spend one hour or more a week for God? what about one hour or more a day? Go outside and sit in the air and sunshine! Enjoy the rain that waters our earth! Love the people with whom you are and listen to them whole-heartedly, with love! Be of service to someone in need! This is the God I know....Who is Jesus? Who do I say that you are?
You are spending quality time with You, with myself, with others. You are love. You are friendship and family union. You are all I breathe in. You, Jesus are the Son of the LIVING God (Fr. Mike said that today, too) ....LIVING God....not dead gods that bring us destruction and lies. OUR LIVING, LOVING GOD.....
Take time today to give up any gods you've been worshiping.... worship the one God with smiles, warmth, hugs, a phone call, bake or create a meal, sing, dance, be Jesus for someone today! Show that you know the LIVING God.
Who do you say I AM? Tell Jesus what you think and feel and know.......
Have a good Sunday!
