Month: August 2017

I teach social welfare policy and because of that, I have to keep up with all of the politics in our country. I have taught this subject for over 20 years and have never seen more strife, anger and hurt than in the last year. The current Administration, whether intentionally or not, has given rise to great divides and rifts between the people of this country.

I am not going to go “all  political” and have a rant. I just don’t do that. What I want to address is the failure of people in all of this. I was on a panel in a town hall meeting at my college. At that meeting, I expressed the notion that if we do not like the way our country is right now, it is our fault. Most especially, I hold all of us a followers of Christ most responsible

Why would I say this? It is simple, when did we as a Church decide to buy into free enterprise and  capitalist values? We no longer think we are our brother’s (or sister’s) keeper. We do not show any concern for “the least of his children”. Instead we abdicate our role in all of this by letting government take care of it so that we don’t have to see it or address it. In the model prayer, “give us this day our daily bread” should be followed by” and remind me of those who have no bread”.

The evil, hateful and hurtful things going on in our country these days can do one of two things. It can basically make a shambles of our democracy and our constitution. It can create riots, violence, and great hurt. Or, we can seize this moment in time. We can each decide as Christian and collectively as the Church to use these times as the turning point. The point at which we go back to the values we claim to believe. This moment in time when we take care of each other, forces government to listen to us, and most of all we care for the least of his children again.

TMM

 

I don’t know about you but I am at an age where I try to practice gratitude as often as I can. It hasn’t always been that way with me. In earlier years, it was not that I wasn’t grateful, it was just that it didn’t enter my awareness. I think many of us are this way, we just don’t notice or we are too busy. But be careful in thinking about this, saying thank you is not really gratitude.

True gratitude comes from the heart, with full intent to express love. God’s sort of love that is, you know, the kind you never earn and don’t deserve. Fr. Ronald Rolheiser  goes so far as to say that gratitude is the basis for all holiness. Now, consider that…..to be holy is to be grateful. The model prayer teaches us that if we will listen. We live in God’s kingdom as full citizens, grateful for our place in the kingdom and mindful that we have enough to eat and we have forgiveness.

Do we need a better reason to be grateful? Throughout the life of Jesus, we see him expressing true and deep gratitude: a cup of water, a donkey to ride, a few loaves of bread and  a fish or two. Every time, he gave thanks, deep gratitude. I sometimes think he was most grateful for every person that listened to him and every person who wanted to follow him. God was “well pleased” with Jesus and that truly is gratitude.

Does it dawn on you (and me) that the Eternal is grateful for us? That we are beloved? At this moment are you thinking no way that applies to me? Please don’t because it is God’s truth. He delights in us and is grateful because He enjoys our company, our very presence. We matter to the Creator of all, we are born with the Spirit of the living God within us.

What bothers me today about millennials is that there is very little gratitude on their part. I know they often feel entitled, they demand that you accept them just like they are, without any judgement at all. If that generation is bereft of gratitude, guess who is to blame? All of us as parents, church members, teachers and yes, even pastors. In fact, the many ministers who preach a prosperity gospel have contributed greatly to and fostered this lack of gratefulness.

So, I have decided to be grateful every time I possibly can. Grateful that my college students took my class, grateful for their great discussions, grateful when my wife does even the smallest thing for me. Grateful to have a daughter who is a minister of the gospel. Grateful for another daughter who never had to accept me into her life…..and did it anyway. Grateful for the food on my plate, the car I own and so much more. And what about you dear friend, what opportunities for gratefulness are you missing? At every moment, there is an opportunity, what  say we agree to seek them out.

TMM