Baptized Coffee

This is from the website Popes in a Year.  It’s been fun to read short bios of each pope during this past year. Here’s to all the coffee drinkers. See. Even Pope Clement several centuries ago knew that coffee can’t be bad for you. 

Fun Fact: We have Pope Clement VIII to thank for the glorious gift of coffee. Though it had been popular among Islamic peoples for centuries, the unusual beverage was finally brought to Rome during Clement’s papacy. Despite his advisers claiming the drink was the invention of Satan, the pope, after taking a drink, reportedly said: “This devil’s drink is delicious. We should cheat the devil by baptizing it.”

Daily Mass Readings - November 5, 2016 - Giving and Generosity

1. Philippians 4:10-19 - Paul gives thanks for a gift that the Christians in Philippi had given to him in his time of need. He says that he had learned to be content no matter what his circumstance. He also tells them how much he appreciates their concern for him. They love him, and he loves them. Here is what he says.

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

The sacrifice they had made for him was something precious to God -  a fragrant aroma that benefitted him and them.  His thank you note ended like this.:

My God will fully supply whatever you need,in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

2. Psalm 112 talks about being generous and how blessed it is to give to others. Here is a bit of that Psalm. 

 His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.Lavishly he gives to the poor;his generosity shall endure forever;his horn shall be exalted in glory.

3. 2 Corinthians 8:9 is maybe one of the most astounding verses in the whole Bible. God leads by example. 

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,so that by his poverty you might become rich.

4. Luke 16:9-15 talks about using one’s wealth to make friends. Who should we befriend with our money? The world’s way is to give generous gifts to the wealthy and powerful in order to curry favor.   That way someone can accumulate more of this earth’s wealth and power. 

God’s Kingdom isn’t like that. We are to curry the favor of the poor and the needy. We are to be generous with those who may not be able to pay us back or in any way return the favor. Then we will be invited  to sit with them in the Kingdom.  “The poor”  can take on many forms with many different kinds of needs. 

What needs do people typically have? How can I help those who come into my life? I may not have a lot, but I have some time, some abilities, some $, even. I have a listening ear. What do I have that can be shared? What do you have? 

Then there are the destitute. Do we close our hearts to those who have lost everything or maybe never had much to begin with? 

Here is what Jesus says about money. 

No servant can serve two masters.He will either hate one and love the other,or be devoted to one and despise the other.You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Today’s readings are a banquet for the soul. We are being prepared for Advent. 

Jesus and Zacchaeus

 Lk 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature. 
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.” 
And he came down quickly and received him with joy. 
When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” 
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. 
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.”

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This is the Gospel reading from Mass yesterday. Here are some thoughts that come to my mind. What do you think? 

1. The Lord said to this little man, Zacchaeus, that He wanted to go to his house that day. Jesus knew the man’s reputation. Everyone did. Why would Jesus choose to invite Himself over to Zacchaeus’ home to spend the day with him? Pretty amazing.  

2. Spiritually speaking, He says the same thing to each one of us.  “Today I must stay at your house.” 

3. Put youself into the story. You are the one up in the tree trying to get a glimpse of Jesus. He comes right to you. What is your next move?


4. Revelation 3:20, is one of my favorites. The latch of the door is on the inside. It has to be opened from the inside. Think about it. 


5. Both Luke 19:1-10 and Rev. 3:20 are related to the Eucharist,- Christ’s real presence. “Take. Eat. This is my body...” 
1 Corinthians 11:24.
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”


Revelation 3:20
 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Wis 11:22-12:2

Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.
But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;
and you overlook people's sins that they may repent.
For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;
for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.
And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

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This was the first Mass reading yesterday. The phrase that caught my attention was “O LORD and lover of souls.” 

It reminds me of the John Wesley hymn “Jesus Lover of My Soul.” It is often set to the Welsh hymn tune “Aberystwyth”. 

If you feel like no one cares about you, these words and this music is for you, for me, for us. 

The Wisdom passage is breath taking. 

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

1. Jesus, lover of my soul,
   Let me to Thy bosom fly,
   While the nearer waters roll,
   While the tempest still is high.
   Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
   Till the storm of life is past;
   Safe into the haven guide;
   Oh, receive my soul at last.
2. Other refuge have I none,
   Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
   Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
   Still support and comfort me.
   All my trust on Thee is stayed,
   All my help from Thee I bring;
   Cover my defenseless head
   With the shadow of Thy wing.
3. Wilt Thou not regard my call?
   Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
   Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—
   Lo! on Thee I cast my care.
   Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
   While I of Thy strength receive,
   Hoping against hope I stand,
   Dying, and behold, I live.
4. Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
   More than all in Thee I find;
   Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
   Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
   Just and holy is Thy Name,
   Source of all true righteousness;
   Thou art evermore the same,
   Thou art full of truth and grace.
5. Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
   Grace to cover all my sin;
   Let the healing streams abound;
   Make and keep me pure within.
   Thou of life the fountain art,
   Freely let me take of Thee;
   Spring Thou up within my heart;
   Rise to all eternity.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): Household music, three Preludes on Welsh Hymn tunes (1920).

No. 1. Crug-Y-Bar: Fantasia. Andante sostenuto
No. 2. St. Denio: Scherzo. Allegro vivace (Start at 4'.50'')
No. 3. Aberystwyth: Variations. Theme: Lento (Start at 8'.09'').