A young scholar asked his tailor if he knew the difference between Urim and thummin. The tailor appropriately answered “lights” and “perfection” describing a device the high priest used to determine the will of God. The scholarly fellow was dismayed as he was trying to show off. The tailor continued that he changed a few letters in the two words to USIN’ & THUMBIN’. Those who familiarize themselves with the scriptures find God’s mind, ways, and will. ~ Fr. Matt
God has ultimate authority because he is the author of all life. Jesus gives us a servant – witness authority is for the building up and the maintenance of the church as the People of God and the Body of Christ. ~ Fr. Matt
The scriptures confirm the fact that God’s saving plan has no exclusiveness. The covenantal relationship offered by God has no limitations regarding gender, race, or ethnicity. ~ Fr. Matt
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung had a plaque in his officed inscribed with “Call or not – God is present.” We live in a topsy turvy world. May we be reminded that God is with us in Sacraments, events, and people. Let us be embraced by him in our peace and panic. ~ Fr. Matt
There is no spiritual substitution for lack of bread. We need a proper attitude about sharing. President Woodrow Wilson stated, “Hunger does not breed reform but breeds madness and all the ugly distempers that make an orderly life impossible.” Jesus healed bodies, filled stomachs as well as minds and hearts. ~ Fr. Matt
Thomas Merton, Trappist monk said, “we are shaped by the end we live for.” The buried treasure and pearl of great price in today’s Gospel ask us what is the value we place in the kingdom of heaven? We have to choose he Reign of God over all other alternatives to find true fulfillment. ~ Fr. Matt
From the parable of weeds and the wheat we are offered this wisdom, namely James repudiates elitism, the human community is a mixed bag of good and bad, judgement belongs to God which will come at end of time, until then there is still the opportunity for change and growth in our lives. ~ Fr. Matt
In the Hebrew mind the spoken word is more than the enunciation of an idea. Spoken words are dynamic entities needed to be realized in space and time. Words cannot be revoked. If the human word is so powerful imagine the utterances of God for our present and future. ~ Fr. Matt
Sound bites and slogans are with us again during a national political year. We have to remember that running the country isn’t built on a phrase. One may retort that the church and our faith use many buzzwords. Our belief system encourages us to dig deep into the meaning of God is Love, Christ is Light. Jesus is the heavenly Bread. Jesus invites us to find rest and refreshment in him that every burden and restlessness will be eased if we surrender to his power. ~ Fr. Matt
In the Old Testament to be a holy man of God did not signify a capacity for mystical powers. The holy man carried the word of God which is the truth. Truth not in sense of catechism or doctrine but truth regarding how it effects our personal story on earth. ~ Fr. Matt ~