Love never dies

The following has been graciously shared with Tiger Lilies by Thaddeus who gave his homily Sunday, Nov. 18 in St. Joseph University Parish, Buffalo, NY. 

"Heaven and earth shall pass away

but my words will never pass away."

(Matt 24:35)

What are those words?

Jesus said all the law, prophets and writings are based upon the Great Commandment: love God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.

Love is what we are called to search for in our hearts. The classic stories of the season highlight that, whether Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Horace P. Bogardus in The Bells of St. Mary or George Bailey, an ordinary person who discovers that this is truly a Wonderful Life!!!

Augustine said, "If you see love, you see the Trinity." Blake wrote, "I sought my soul, a soul I could not see; I sought my God, but my God eluded me; I sought my neighbor and there found all three."

And so I end with this little poetic reflection:

Our cars will rust and fall apart,
condos crumble to the ground,
and even our football team will every year

miss the playoffs.
Everything will go: investments,
worries, honors, pains.
Yet,
“My words will not pass away,”
you say to us.
Jesus, please fill us with your words

which will never pass away.

You are love and love never dies.

A New Earth?

... from Space.com:

HD 85512b is another super Earth, one that's thought to be 3.6 times as massive as our planet. The alien world is found about 35 light-years from us, in the direction of the constellation Vela (The Sail).

Astronomers announced the discovery of HD 85512b in September 2011. The planet's estimated surface temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius).

This artist’s impression shows the planet HD 85512b orbiting the Sun-like star HD 85512 about 35 light-years from Earth. This planet is about 3.6 times as massive as the Earth is at the edge of the habitable zone around the star, where liquid water, and perhaps even life, could potentially exist. 
Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser




Is it really a surprise that astronomers have found Earth-like planets throughout the Galaxy and even into the far reaches of the universe?  Are we alone out there?  The chances are highly unlikely.  

As I look at the artist's rendition of what another (one of five on Space.com) Earth would look like - continents and all - oceans and mountains I can't help wondering about the possibility of life on it? 

Would there be animals, bugs and hippopotamuses, people?  What would their people be like, if there were people?  Would they have solved humanity's war problem that threatens our own Earth today - even this minute in the Middle East?

What would they say to us, if we would listen?  

If they had the technology to find their way across these 33 light-years to visit us, surely they would have found a way to live peacefully together.  Would their science and technology outgrow a stunted spiritual evolution with political, social and even economic consequences as ours seems to have done.

As I look at this image of another Earth somewhere out there, my imagination sees it as clean, peaceful, habitable with doves and fish, and lions and bears, and people living in love with each other, creatively using their spiritual mindfulness to travel, communicate, and build planet-friendly homes.  

I imagine them living in peace, spending much more of their time singing, dancing, praying, and living lives of unconditional love, honoring their differences - even more than accepting - not trying to change or control another's views and ideas but honoring, valuing their differences, and knowing that the collective growth is in that honoring.  The whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Would they have a religion?  I wonder.  If they are spiritually mature, they might have accessed the power of the divine unity which is a power beyond that which we have globally accessed thus far.

There is so much more for us.  There is so much potential in each of us, so much yet to discover and build upon.  We could reach out to each other and try to renew our Earth, clean up our global act here, before company arrives from a neighboring planet.  

And then, if we were able to get there - using a technology that is yet to be discovered - it would take thousands of years, unless we could travel at the speed of light. Then, one wonders might it be possible to transcend our material natures in order to vibrate off the planet, so to speak, to raise our vibrational density at will so that we could "fax" ourselves there.  

Then I thought of Jesus walking on the water, and of Buddhist monks levitating.  So maybe we can do this, afterall.  But, there is one thing I know for sure.  We can't elevate our physical vibration if we're immersed in the saddest, most horrific terrors that our media and world is currently drowning in.

We need to stop everything right now - turn off the television and choose to change.  We need laughter, again, we need love, again.  We need to hold each other under a beautiful full moon, or play in the snow, throwing ourselves onto snow banks and laughing until it hurts. We all need to be like children at play again.  We need to step outside under the night sky and see with awe what we are all part of - this vast mysterious other who is out there.  It is staggering and beautiful, ineffably awesome.  It is there, waiting for us, to come alive, again. 

Then, just for fun, take a peek at this:

or, get carried even further away ...

Science admits Heaven exists

For ages science and theology have butted heads over their respective claims about the authenticity of the spiritual world.  Karl Marx once claimed religion was the "opiate of the people" while Charles Darwin disputed the Bible's creation myth as either irrelevant or incorrect in his evolutionary thesis of life on Earth.  Meanwhile, the Church herself has been guilty of discrimination against scientists in the past.  

As we as a global species have grappled with the greatest question of all time - what happens when we die? - we may have found the question was circular, the answer illusive.  We sought the answer with our intellect but found it in our heart - our soul and mind - which so far exceed the consciousness of our limited intellect. Attempting to answer this age old question with science - as Darwin and others have attempted - is like looking for the Garden of Eden or Noah's Ark on the map.

Myth probes the far reaches of our limitless singular human soul beyond the telescope or microscope. The realm of the spirit is best explained and understood through myth. Science still may not yet comprehend it at this point of our collective awareness. So, it must be - as it always was -  experiential.  

Today there seems to be a considerable agreement among physicists in the new quantum understanding of the universe as well as the marvelous power potential in the human being's ability to affect materiality through focused, intentional thought.

And, yet, even with all that commonality among scientists and theologians, there has been a strong reluctance for medicine to admit the existence of "heaven" or a realm of spiritual reality beyond our mortal / material lives. 

Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon, once held a reductionist view about life after death, claiming that it was caused by an electrical firing of the brain at the time of death.  However, when he came down with meningitis and himself entered into a coma with a brain dead diagnosis, his own experience was so pervasive that he couldn't deny what others have experienced spiritually.  When he came out of the coma, with a fully functioning brain, he reported a life changing experience so profound, so beautiful and breaktaking. 

Last Monday, I ran a video about Jeff's life after death experience. Jeff was already a religious person, but Dr. Alexander was not.  His story is awesome. 

Maybe we need a new storyline

This short, powerful, two-minute video was shared with me by a friend.  It is powerful history - worth reviewing as is.  Sadly, the plot in this film - our earth story - doesn't change. Only the faces and places and circumstances have changed. It's the same old story - century after century. the same old violence.  Why are we able to develop space age technology but still act like cavemen?  

When will we learn?  What will it take?  Unlike Katrina, the news of how some people treated each other during Sandy - with the obvious exception of the many kind and loving neighbors and firefighters who faced incredible danger to put out fires and help people - there are some sad stories of people's loveless actions to each other.  

I wish I could tell you otherwise, but I am struck by a story reported on CNN that pierced my heart.  A mother with two young boys got her car stuck and when she was able to finally get herself and her two sons out of it, they found themselves caught in Sandy's full gale 90 mph winds.  She fled to a nearby house, knocked to ask if they could wait out the storm. She was turned away by the homeowner.  Her two little boys were consequently blown away and drowned.  Their little bodies were found later.  I know there are other stories of great heroism, compassion and selflessness, but that one brought me to tears.  

Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these your brothers (and sisters) you do to me.  We have been told time after time. The human race is only as strong as the weakest link, only as good and noble as the least noble and most heinous.  Everything - every single thought, word or action - we think or do is not done in private.  It is done to the whole world.  If we want a better world, we need to practice mindfulness, think about what we're thinking about, eliminate our fear and open our hearts to compassion and be very, exceedingly, careful and intentional about our actions.  Are they actions based on fear and cowardice or on love and generosity.  Are we masters of magnanimity or servants of selfishness?  

Another nor'easter is poised to hit in the wake of sandy.  I pray we'll be better prepared and have our lights on and front doors unlocked to welcome the stranger.

Life after death encounter with God

(The following story and video are not an endorsement of any particular religion or television station on which it was broadcast but rather is being offered as an authentic experience with God. I just happened to come across this interview - while checking the news for a weather report about the storm on the east coast. So, I share it with you.)

Patient Raised From the Dead

Jeff and his wife, Madeline, are successful lawyers. Jeff had been with a large, successful law firm for seven years where he represented some very wealthy companies. He had been a Christian since he was 17. Although Jeff loved the Lord, he let his lucrative and successful career consume him and as a result, God was second and sometimes a distant third in Jeff's priorities. He wasn't doing “bad things” but doing “other things” that diverted his attention away from God and slowly other things took priority. The pace and the stress of his job eventually took a toll on his body. He began having severe stomach pains. Eventually, he discovered he had diverticulitis. He tried months of natural treatments but they didn't work.

Jeff's condition became so serious in late 2006, that it required surgery in December 2007, removing 18 inches of his colon. The surgery appeared to be successful, however Jeff bled internally for more than 24 hours before it was noticed. By the time doctors found it, his stomach was so full of blood that he looked pregnant. He awoke to a surgeon pulling a sheet off of his stomach. Jeff knew something was wrong and he looked up and saw the concern in the surgeon's face. Without warning, his arms and legs went numb and he knew that he was dying. He was going into hypovolemic shock causing cardiac arrest. Jeff realized he only had a few seconds of consciousness left. He grabbed Madeline's hand wanting to tell her how much he loved her and that he was getting ready to leave her. Right after he took her hand, Jeff was gone.

Suddenly, Jeff says, he felt like his life had come to his center torso. He left his body and rose towards the ceiling. He saw the urgency that was going on down below him. As he looked down at his body, a beautiful light slowly filled the room. The light spread as his thinking and senses became clearer than they'd ever been before.

Suddenly, Jeff could see everything in that room as if it was crystal clear, there was no more peripheral vision; he had 360° vision. Jeff says Madeline was wearing a blue-gray sweater and it almost glowed. The whites were incredibly white. The colors were so vibrant and everything was crystal clear. Jeff started hearing sounds in and around that floor that he had not been able to hear before. He could hear people talking and walking. There was air coming out of an air vent that he could suddenly hear. He was observing all of this while the incredible light slowly continued filling the room. As the light filled the room, God revealed Himself to Jeff, poured Himself into Jeff’s soul and penetrated it. 

Jeff says it was absolutely overwhelming. He had an overpowering sense of God’s presence, love, peace, joy, and acceptance...like nothing he had ever experienced on this earth. While God filled Jeff’s soul, several thoughts came to him. One of them was that God truly knew the number of hairs on his head. Another was that God knew him more than he knew himself. Jeff was excited to see God, but what was more incredible to Jeff was that God was excited to see him! Jeff remembers thinking about the parable of the prodigal son who had gone out and strayed and when the son came back his father was coming out to love him and welcome him back. 

Also, Jeff recalls all of his burdens flashed before him and God lifted them off of him. Jeff breathed a deep sigh of relief and was thinking he had nothing to worry about. No more fear, worry, sorrow, nothing to be concerned about. In the air looking down on his body, the surgeon, his wife and seeing everything going on, Jeff thought he should be concerned about this. However, Jeff says he did not have the ability to worry. He felt no pain or fear, just an overwhelming sense of God's love and presence. Below in the room, he watched the activity become frantic and the doctor yelled, “We’re losing him!” They were working on him, trying to revive him and stop the hemorrhaging. 

But, as he watched, the presence of God penetrated his soul and consumed Jeff. He could feel Him. It was the sweetest, most peaceful, and blissful moment he ever experienced. The light of God’s presence grew brighter and more intense and Jeff basked in it. God was excited to see Jeff and Jeff was excited to see God. It was incredibly personal. He told God that he was ready to go with Him, but also thought about what was going to happen to his wife and son. After a moment's silence, God told Jeff that he was going back. Jeff immediately jolted back into his body. He remembers opening his eyes and the surgeon telling the surgical team to get Jeff back into surgery. Everything became dark. Jeff regained consciousness in ICU with a new understanding of God's love and presence in his life.  

He looked over and saw his wife, he said, “You won’t believe what happened to me!” It completely changed his relationship with the Lord. Instead of waking up every day with a knot in his stomach from the worry and stress of his job, and life in general, now he wakes up “joyful . . . I realize what is truly important today. I have more confidence than ever before. I think of enjoying the day that God made rather than worrying about tomorrow.”

After the incident, it was a long recovery process but Jeff had God’s love, peace, and joy that he discovered when he had died. Jeff completely rethought his life. He realized he let his career over take and control him. When he was released from the hospital, he thought he’d be a street preacher. For months he struggled over whether or not to go into ministry full-time. He finally saw that he had a unique opportunity to share God’s love in the business world with people who may not have a chance to hear about it otherwise.

Today, five years after his surgery, Jeff’s approach to life has changed. Jeff still feels God’s presence every day. Nothing can describe or compare to being in the presence of God. Before he died he knew God loved him, now he knows. The first thing he does in the morning now is thank God and ask Him to help him do what He wants him to that day. 

Jeff asks constantly throughout his day, “What is God showing me today?” He says he is a weak vessel who makes mistakes and doesn’t get it right every day. Despite this, his focus is different. Jeff sees how God loves him and those around him. Jeff and Madeline had a strong marriage before his death and the event has drawn them even closer to God. He is closer to his family. Jeff teaches his son, Will, God’s love. One of the hardest things Jeff says has been controlling his emotions after what he went through…he is not the same.

Jeff is still practicing law with the same firm. As a part of his legal practice, he does weekly public speaking. He has the special opportunity to weave God's love in his talks. Jeff also prays with his clients. Outside of the law firm he speaks at churches and anywhere else he is asked to share. He has spoken in churches and inspires people about the reality of God’s love and shares what happens when He comes for us and our time on earth is done. Jeff says the day you die is the sweetest day and God’s love is readily there. He is also asked to share in hospitals and homes with those that are sick or near death and encourage them. Jeff says he has to guard against his own humanity and he is humbled that God would use him.


From: CBN.com

Gentle landing

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 

“Let us go over to the other side.”Leaving the crowd 

behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. 

There were also other boats with him. A furious squall 

came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it 

was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping 

on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 

“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”He got up,

rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” 

Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? 

Do you still have no faith?”

(Mark 4:35-41, New International Version)

In the days preceding the big storm that is spiraling its way toward New York harbor, my heart has been on edge for my son and sister who live in Washington, DC and Virginia.  I've been that hysterical mother who begs her son to just get out of the way and come to Portland or drive to my other sister's home in Detroit. 

Stubbornly, as has always been my precocious, inquisitive and bright young boy's style, he insisted on staying in his apartment in downtown DC for the duration of the storm.  I even suspected he thought it would be fun.  He grew up in Buffalo where winter blizzards and being snowed in for days at a time were just a normal part of the season - even in October once!  But, I feared this would be different.  My sister in Detroit said the winds were already picking up at her house because of an approaching northeaster that was sweeping down from Canada, the very one that weathercasters were saying would turn a typical tropical hurricane into a monster storm.

Our entire family is holding its breath as we watch and wait helplessly, praying that this thing simply blows over and doesn't do the damage that we are being warned it may. Part of our faith is to simply pray for the best, visualize a calm passing over - a kind of pass over - if you can imagine.

We are not the stock of people who interpret storms as divine messages, but we are also aware that the Earth herself is going through a new stage of self healing (to put it mildly) and as I was worrying about my son in DC, a 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of British Columbia north of us, leaving nothing more than a reminder that we are all at the mercy of our restless planet these days.

There is no reason for this - other than that the earth is restless due to climactic changes due partially to our over production of greenhouses gases. The other factor, which is completely out of our control, is the other planets are reported by scientists to be warming up also in our solar system.  

We who so ardently think we can control our lives, can do nothing to change this.  We cannot calm this storm.  We cannot stop an earthquake and that's just a couple of the things we cannot do. We can only stay glued together with our faith and our love.

We can send soothing, loving thoughts to each other.  And, most of all we can be reminded how fragile life is, and maybe in this awareness of our global impotence, we might surrender it all to God - however we understand God.  We are powerless and we have only one choice - well, two, maybe.  One is to realize we are powerless, as an addict is powerless over his/her addiction, and we can only surrender the entire situation over to God.  The other is to thank God for his power and love and in that gratefulness, we can slip into a state of peace and remember how much we love each other.

So, tonight, as I hold out hope that this monster storm will turn away into the Atlantic, away from the eastern coast and settle down to a mere purr rather than the roaring lion it's forecast to be, I am sending love to my precious son and my sweet sister.  May they be safe.  May everyone be safe.  And, may we all remember to wrap each other (and every thought and word and child and friend and family member) in a blanket of  love and light, enveloped as well with the hope of a gentle outcome.

Be safe, my precious ones. 

Art:  Placid Sunset by Mario Perez

I am still with you

Psalm 139* 

O lord, you have searched me, and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up, 

you understand my thought afar off.

You compass my path and my lying down, 

and are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, 

but, see, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You have beset me behind and before, 

and laid your hand on me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high, I cannot attain to it.

Where shall I go from your spirit? 

or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, 

you are there: 

if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.

If I take the wings of the morning, 

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall your hand lead me, 

and your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; 

even the night shall be light about me

Yes, the darkness hides not from you; 

but the night shines as the day: 

the darkness and the light are both alike to you.

For you have possessed my reins: 

you have covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise you; 

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: 

marvelous are your works; 

and that my soul knows right well.

My substance was not hid from you, 

when I was made in secret, 

and curiously worked in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes did see my substance, 

yet being imperfect; 

and in your book all my members were written, 

which in continuance were fashioned, 

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! 

how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, 

they are more in number than the sand: 

when I awake, 

I am still with you.

*American King James Version