Be Doers of the Word~

James 1:26-27

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Matthew 6:21: "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

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Several nights ago I received a phone call from "Shane" a friend in Portland, a father with two children; I met him over twenty years ago through another friend who was here on a mission trip. Through the years our friendship has been close, one of a relationship of walking with one another in our struggles.

??? In the early years of our friendship junior high through college, he and his mother loved, really loved trying to convince me there was no god; Throughout these years I was his "Story Catcher", always there; this time in his struggle of deep despair my buddy came across as a man of deep faith. He was stressed out, over a serious problem in his family! I smiled to myself, as I remembered our struggles over faith, and how at times I found myself depressed and frankly alone, but I remained the? "Story Catcher". I thanked God in these moments and listened once again as his "Story Catcher".

??? "Shane" shared a Scripture that sustained him,? "Whatever you treasure there the desires of your heart will? be (Matthew 6:21). Reminding me with God at the center, our journey is a journey of awareness, a journey of love, for ourselves, for others, and all of creation.

James reminds us:

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

????Our one call is "too look after orphans, and widows (the poor) and simply love each one as a child of? God.

??? I remember an old "Star Trek", 1995, entitled "Past Tense recently rewatched, where the city leaders have decided to show tough love.

??? Unhoused residents are forced into shelters, setting up "Sanctuary Districts" where they are told they can find a room and apply for jobs. The city's wealthiest residents are driving political decisions supporting political sweeps that clear tents from city streets. And with fewer visible homeless, officials declare the mission accomplished.

??? What sounds like rhetoric from a recent mayoral debate, or one of Governor Gavin Newsom's euphemism-filled plans to tackle poverty, is a 29-year-old dystopian plot from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine".

??? Our journey to full awareness as human beings is found in loving each person as we love ourselves. And we will be hurt, we will suffer, in becoming fully aware, but the reward of meaning, oh the reward of joy always far exceeds the pain.

????The larger focus we find in Matthew 6:25-27 is that we fully trust God, regardless of the outcome.??

????? We settle into the rhythms of God’s great love, and seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. This poem sums it all up:

In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety And the gray promises that sameness whispered, Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent, Wondered if would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled, And out you stepped onto new ground, Your eyes are young again with energy and dreams, A path of plenitude opens before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear You can trust the promise of this opening; Unfurl yourself into the grace of the beginning That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure; Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will be home in a new rhythm, For your soul senses the world that awaits you. — John O’Donohue, “Blessings for a New Beginning”.

Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Temenos Catholic Worker

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

Dr. River Sims, D.Min, D.S.T.

Prayer:

..

May the work of

“figuring people out”

Never replace the work of knowing people

And loving people

And giving them room

To confound

And inspire

And surprise me. Amen.

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