God’s DNA In Us

I’m amazed at descriptions of our expanding universe with ‘black holes’ and multiple galaxies.  I don’t understand it and I can’t even imagine how all of it works.  What I/we believe is that our God is the God of universes and of all creatures, of time warps and of mysteries not yet known.  Our God is part of everyone and everything. 

  

And because God is the author of all creation, God’s DNA must be written in the genetic codes of all that exists. Another way to say it is that God’s DNA is part of who we are…a fiber running thru us…connecting us to Him and everyone else!    

  

How can someone see God’s DNA at work in you?  Take 2 minutes to just think about that.

What qualities do you have that are God-like? What is Divine in your spouse or in your children or in the neighbor that drives you ‘nuts’? 

Are you familiar with the Hindu greeting “Namaste” which is usually accompanied by a slight bow to the person being greeted? In that context ‘Namaste’ means: “The Divine in me bows to the Divine in you.”

That little ritual concretely celebrates God’s DNA in us. 

                                                           Turmoiled Hearts

Imagine the turmoil in the Upper Room on the day Jesus rose from the dead!  At first, the disciples didn’t believe Mary Magdalene or two others who said the same thing. But the news and experiences grew and everything changed.

    

The riveting moment had to be when Jesus appeared in that Room and said: “Peace be with you!”  At first I imagine stunned silence. Then a gasp of amazement and sheer joy.

   

Jesus’ second “Peace be with you”, must have brought tears to every turmoiled heart in that place. Hearts aching as they recalled running away, when Jesus needed them most. So Jesus said again: “Peace be with you”! Then certainly tears flowed and hugs abounded.

 

How often do you have a turmoiled heart?  Every day I have minor turmoils in my heart. And sometimes I have major ones too.  Hardly ever is there a ‘turmoil free zone’ in me.J

When has Jesus said ‘Peace be with you’ to you? He says it to us at every mass. The words come from another Christ, at the sign of peace, who looks at us and says:“Peace be with you!” And we, in turn, are Christ's voice when we say that to someone else. 

                      Be the voice of Christ this week to someone with a turmoiled heart.

                                                   Mocking, Denying and Loving

Luke’s Passion story contrasts the treachery of Peter’s denials and the meanness of the mocking crowd with Jesus’ loving and compassionate responses. 

Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times. (Lk 22:31-34) And Peter protested.  But in the end Jesus was right.  At the crowing of the cock, Luke says: “Jesus looked at Peter…and Peter remembered what Jesus said.” (Lk 22:60b-61)  Peter quickly regretted what he did and “went out and wept bitterly.” (Lk 22:62)

The crowd, the soldiers and the unrepentant thief mocked Jesus when they shouted “He saved others, now let Him save Himself”. It was a poisonous atmosphere. 

In spite of all that, Jesus healed the High Priest’s slave, whose ear had been cut off by one of Jesus’ followers. And He prayed for the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross saying: “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.”  And He was moved by the faith of the repentant thief, promising that he would be with Him in paradise. 

When Jesus tells us to ‘follow Him’ I think He wants us to replace poisonous atmospheres with love and compassion too.  What a challenge!

                                                   12 Hours of Confessions

Tomorrow, Wednesday April 10th, Sacred Heart Parish in Racine will be open from 8:00am until 8:00pm for anyone in our district who wishes to go to confession. 2-3 priests will be available throughout those 12 hours.

Every District in the Archdiocese has agreed to designate a particular Parish to do this same thing.  And it is especially appropriate to do this during this Lenten Season, in which the Gospels highlight the issues of Repentance, Forgiveness and Mercy.

If you are not sure what to confess, here are some possibilities: Anger, Pride, Lust, Laziness, Envy, Jealousy, Gluttony and Greed. My usual sins include: self-centeredness, lack of self-love, being judgmental, gossiping, and failing to do the good that I could do. 

And there are umpteen other possible sins as well.  So, if it’s been a while or maybe a few years since you’ve gone to confession, here’s a great opportunity to take advantage of this special day of Reconciliation. 

                                                              Bearing Good Fruit

Lent is a season of repentance.  But what does that mean?  We assume it has something to do with turning away from sin.  But according to the little parable in last Sunday’s Gospel, repentance also has something to do with bearing good fruit.

In fact here’s how I would describe it.  True repentance is bearing good fruit.

True repentance isn’t confessing our sins.  True repentance is transforming our sins into good fruit. For example, if your sin is gossiping and speaking ill of others, the remedy isn’t going to confession. The remedy is to see the good qualities of the people you put down and to affirm those qualities.  That changes the pattern.  So the good fruit of affirmation is a sign of true repentance.

Think of the last time you went to confession.  I’ll bet a $20 Culver’s card that most sins you confessed are the same sins you’ve confessed before.  Why am I so confident?  Because that’s what I always do!! It’s time to change the pattern. and we will do that by bearing good fruit.

Please note: This does not mean that we should stop going to confession.  Confession brings us forgiveness and that is a comforting and valuable grace.

                                                         Beloved Children of God

Jesus was tempted in the desert immediately following His baptism. We heard that story this past weekend at mass.  In fact we hear different versions of that same story every year on the first Sunday of Lent. 

 

What empowered Jesus to resist those temptations for 40 days?  I think His resistance came from the voice of His Father at His baptism. His Father said: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  Jesus’ identity as God’s Beloved Son solidified his resistance to every evil.

   

By virtue of our own Baptisms we have also become beloved sons and daughters of God. The more we believe that, the stronger will be our resistance to every evil too. 

Unfortunately many of us don’t really believe that we are God’s beloved children. If I ask you to tell me 3 things that God really loves about you, can you do it?

If you can, that’s wonderful.  If you can’t here’s a suggestion.  Ask someone, whom you trust, to tell you what they think God really loves about you. I’ll bet they’ll can come up with a few things pretty quickly.  Listen to them.

                                        Bearing the Cross of Christ

There’s a great ritual for people in RCIA programs during Lent.  It makes bearing the cross of Christ very concrete. On Ash Wednesday Eve, use this ritual to make the Cross a part of you.  

Make the cross on your forehead. It's Christ who strengthens you with this sign of love.

Make the cross on your ears that you may hear the voice of the Lord.

Make the cross on your eyes that you may see the glory of God.

Make the cross on your lips that you may respond to God’s word.

Make the cross over your heart that Christ will dwell within you.

Make the cross on your shoulders that you may bear the yoke of Christ.

Make the cross on your hands that Christ may be made known in your work.

Make the cross on your feet that you may walk in the way of Christ.

Wherever you go, remember you’re covered with crosses. It’s part of you.