“Evil Spirits”

Mk. 5:1-20  How difficult is is for us to drive out “evil spirits”-because evil spirits bring us comfort, security, and wealth. We can let people starve, die, be abused because of the need to provide for our own comfort–we say it is better for a few to suffer than the many.  My grandmother was right when she said “the devil need not entice people to go to hell because people easily do this with one another.

Trust

Mark 4:35-41 Jesus’ sleep is not indifference; it is trust in God’s assurance (Heb. 11:1 NRSV) even in the midst of chaos–which can often lead ot harmony, “a new order within the shell of the old”. Such confidence can only be contained by faith. I see and feel the pain of homeless people daily; I feel my own fears and insecurity–and I must trust in Jesus, purely and simply

“Being Myself”

St. Thomas Aquinas Matt. 23:8-12  Thomas Aquinas and his Franciscan counterpart Bonaventue brought great energy to dialogue between faith and reason–I can not choose between being intellignent and being a person of faith. I thank God for who I am.  I have been criticized for the way I dress, and for getting my hands dirty in ministry–I just do not fit the clergy image-well oh well I give thanks to God for allowing me the privilege of ministering

“Friendship With Jesus”

Mark 4:21-25 The lamp to be placed on the lampstand is Jesus. We are to be his lamps in the world–witnessing through our actions and our lives. I choose to live a life of simplilcity, feeding the hungry, others choose different ways–but we are are all called to be the light of Jesus in this world. I spent yesterday doing office stuff and outreach.

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“A Friend Accepts You Where You Are”

Mark 4:1-8  The sower sows the seed he has no expectatons–he trusts in God to bring to fruition. In the same way I have learned that I can not change lives, I can not make someone drink from the water–but what I can do is be a present, and plant the seed, and leave the rest to God. In each meal we served last night, in each blanket we gave out, and socks we gave out–and each word we said–we planted the Word.

“A New Beginning”

Acts 22:4-11 “Conversion of St. Paul”  Paul came met Jesus in his inner being and that conversion was a growing process.  My conversion  has been a growing process.. I really do not like thinking about what I was like as a twenty year old ministerial student, or even sixteen years ago, I am growing. Like Mother Teresa I find my conversion simply “never worrying about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” I continue the journey of growth.

“Friends to All”

Mark 3:22-30  We judge so often through our ignorance.  We should be open to the needs of people, to hear what they are saying, rather then judging. I have a volunteer who sees young people not working or going to school and judges them for being lazy etc.  I see them simply as kids who are on a journey–some are simply struggling, others have menatl illness and other problems.  When we start judging we lose all sense of credibility and helpfulness.

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“Friends Of All”

Matt. 4:12-17  Faith is born in community, Jesus came preaching the reign of God–and the reign of God is not just for those who call themselves Christian. Anyone who who serves humanity follow Jesus–whether they name him or not–all religions come from the same God–just differnt expressions. Last night I fed a kid who says he is a Buddhist, another Hindu–but all are my brothers.

“Friends are Family”

Mk. 3:20-21  The family of Jesus thought he was out of his mind.  My sister will not speak to me, my cousins are all distant, largely because of the life that I have chosen to live.They have no understanding. I have to be true to myself and walk the path God had lead me down. My family are those who love me, walk with me, and care for me. Jesus has said to me loudly :”Follow me”. And I follow

“Friendship With Jesus”

Mark 3:13-19 I look at my own life and see my failings, and actually what a fuck up I am, and yet I also see Jesus calling me to ministry because like all of us there are people we can reach, that others can not. The street kids are and adults are the one’s that gravitate towards me, and I reach them–simply because they see my imperfections, my fuck up ness, and they see God working through me to love them.