July 6, 2003
God At Home
Sommer
in the Summer
During
the summer months ahead, I’m offering a chance to get together
in parishioner’s homes to get to know people better and to talk
about whatever issues or questions people have about life, God, the
church, etc.
I’ve been doing this for 20 years and I’ve gotten to know
some really wonderful people and I’ve eaten some really great desserts.
If you’re interested, talk to your friends about when they can
get together and then give me a call or e-mail me to set a date. This
usally works best with around a dozen people. It could be a group of
your neighbors or senior citizens or a group of young people or families
with kids or... you decide.
Then make dessert!
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
June 29: Going in Stages
June 22: Sommer in the Summer
June 15: Our Newest Priest
Ordained
June 8: The Feast of Pentecost
June 1: Beyond First Communion
May 24: Felicidades Manuel
May 18: Twenty Years Later
May 11: Bows for Peace
May 4: Upcoming Ordinations
April 27: One Heart One
Mind
April 20: Amazingly Graced
Days
April 13: Ashes to Palms
April 6:
God Embedded
March 30:
Pastoral Visits
March 23:
Turning Tables
March
16: Transfiguring Imagination
March
9: Beasts and Angels
March 2:
Lent and Imagination
Feb 23: Sorrow
Far and Wide
Feb 16: Saints
Feb 9: Columbia Lessons
Feb2: Giving At A Difficult
Time
Jan 26: Penny Power
& Catholic Schools
Jan19: Yet Another
Year
Jan 12: Stealing Jesus
Jan5: The Wise Still Come
From Afar
Columns from 2002
Jesus had been working as a carpenter for
quite some time in his hometown of Nazareth when he went off, connected
with John the Baptist, went on as 40 day “retreat” in the desert
and then came home to begin his new “career” as a travelling
preacher (not to mention Savior of the world). In fact, that was why God
came into the world in the first place in Jesus. But as we hear in today’s
gospel (Mark 6:1-6) the people of Jesus’ town won’t accept him
in his new role. We shouldn’t be too harsh in our judgment of them.
After all, if our local carpenter, electrician or plumber suddenly switched
careers and came to our house urging us to follow him/her to the kingdom
of God, we might politely smile and say “Not at this time....Thank
you and have a nice day.”
It is familiarity that blinded the folks
from Nazareth from seeing God in their midst and that could be our own
blind spot too. If we really believe that each of us is made in the image
of God; if we really believe that we are temples of the Holy Spirit (therefore
God resides within us), then we need to recognize that God lives among
us in our families at home.
So this summer, as we travel to see relatives
and friends, as we spend countless hours in the car bound to our siblings,
parents and children, perhaps it would be good to notice that God is there
too. Children can help us appreciate the God-like qualities of our relatives.
How often do they easily recognize what’s God-like in their grandparents,
the aunts or uncles (and here of course I speak from experience!!) Children
can have both a special reverence for and intimacy with the elders of
the family that’s not unlike what God calls each of us to in our
relationship with God.
The rejection of Jesus in his hometown can
shock us into noticing his presence among our own family and neighbors
today. Look around! Notice where God lives!
You are Person
