The Rambler

  SEVENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [C] We’ll be able to agree that Jack London knew how to cover both ends of the spectrum. His 1903 novel leads us into the wild; meanwhile, in his 1906 novel, we put the wilderness behind us. The title speaks for itself, with regard to his 1903 novel: The Call of the Wild . Here, we follow the story of a domesticated dog who transitions to the wild. Subsequently, the 1906 novel traces the path of a wolf that becomes domesticated, taking on the name of White-Fang . In each instance, we hear about one set of instincts being exchanged for another set of instincts.  The call that comes from the wild can be described as rather compelling. That being said, we also need to consider the call that comes from within the pages of sacred scripture. When David spares the life of King Saul, we actually find ourselves being implicated (see 1st Sam. 26:1-25). Our own approach needs to parallel the approach of David. In other words, we need to incorporate the ...

  SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [C] Realtors will tell you that it’s all about “location, location, location.”  This would seem to be especially true if you happen to be a tree. Everything depends upon your location; the question of where it is that you’ve been planted. If you’re a tree trying to survive in a bed of dried lava, this amounts to a very serious disadvantage. Meanwhile, if you’re positioned by a running stream, then the disadvantage converts into an actual advantage (see Jer. 17:5-8).  According to St. Paul, you will be gaining the ultimate advantage when you choose to accept Jesus into your life. And yet, you will notice that he’s making a distinction; he’s distinguishing between the complete Jesus and the incomplete Jesus. You’re doing yourself a favor when you make a decision for the complete Jesus: the Jesus who not only knows how to teach, but also knows how to redeem. The complete Jesus knows how to deliver a meaningful sermon (as we hear being presen...

  FIFTH SUNDAY, ORDINARY TIME [C] You might see a “Giving Tree” at your place of worship—especially during the period that leads up to the Christmas season. The concept derives from an old Near Eastern fable about a tree that bears fruit perpetually and never seems to age. Locals partake of the fruit, along with those who are passing through on their travels. However, the day arrives when a greedy merchant announces that he has purchased the parcel of land surrounding the mystical tree. He fences off the property, denying the people from having any access to the tree. And as a result, the tree withers and eventually dies. The tree flourished when it was allowed to share of its abundance. Now that the fruit is being retained, the tree can longer be considered a “Giving Tree.”  The very nature of the tree is being confounded. If it can’t share, then it has no reason to go on living.  Our God can be likened to a tree. He bears a particular kind of fruit; we’ll call it the fr...

  FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION  Normally, we would be observing the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time. However, this year the Fourth Sunday coincides with the Feast of the Presentation (Feb 2nd). Therefore we are being called upon to celebrate the feast day rather than the Sunday. You might be wondering: what makes the Presentation so important? We’ve already commemorated the arrival of Jesus; we did that on December 25th. The arrival in Bethlehem is what really matters. This marks the bridging of a gap between our world and that other world. Jesus belongs to the world of the divine. By being born of a human mother, the world of divinity and the world of humanity are brought together, or we could say “reconciled.”  Therefore, why should we be so concerned about this visit to the temple in Jerusalem?  Simeon recognizes the significance of the occasion. Likewise, Anna recognizes the significance of the occasion (see Luke 2:22-38). They’ve been waiting and waiting; for all pr...