Into the Sacred Hills of Jade

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Friday, June 8, 2018

And Christ said to His disciples, “I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. – John 17:20-21

In Christ, we are to live as One but not all the same.  Christ’s speaks of the interplay of harmony and in that interplay of harmony a new Beauty is created.  Yet, far too often, we in Christ choose the disharmony of war over the harmony of peace.

The Christian chord involves notes both human and Divine.  Oh, there will be dissonance from time to time must that dissonance must always resolve.  And this endless flow of music, its dissonant chords that then resolve into consonance is the history of a Christian life and the history of the Christian Church.  Dissonance resolving into consonance, to preserve the harmony that is the very definition of who we are in Christ.  Yes, that harmony that makes us one with God, one with Christ, one with Christ among us.

To be in harmony, one must listen to all the other voices.  And all those other voices need to be listening to yours.  And further still, each voice and every voice must be listening to Christ our Lord.

And yet … instead of seeking the concord of the Holy Chord, we took often seek to destroy the harmony by demanding that we all sing in the unison that we ourselves define.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Thursday, June 7, 2018

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness. As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.… – John 12:46-48

More and more I understand the subtle forms of darkness.  Darkness can be thought of as the darkness of the heart.  Darkness can be thought of as the shadowy realm, even the shadowed places within one’s soul.  But of late, I contemplate the darkness as the veiled curtains that blur our vision of reality. Sometimes the veils of darkness are barely there, ever so slightly weakening our vision; sometimes the veils of darkness are quite opaque, blinding us to the reality all the while thinking we see clearly.

We gather the veils of darkness through the years, usually in ways which we fail to even notice.  Veils of past experiences, veils of inherited prejudices, veils of ideology, veils of fears,  veils of wars, veils of values slightly out of synch with the values of the Lord, veils of selective virtue, veils of self-doubt, veils of conjured personas, veils of arrogance, veils of self-righteousness, veils of tainted faith understandings.  And usually the veils slowly gather, layer upon layer, in ways that go unnoticed, in ways we assume must be … and slowly we see the world and ourselves, even the Lord, through the shadows of which we have grown accustomed.

But not all is lost, we are not forever imprisoned in a world of shadowy veils, for Christ came as light.  Christ came to throw open the curtains rending them in two, then over time, helping us to cast them aside … so that we no longer live in a world of condemnation but in a world of vivid clarity.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness… – I John 1:8-9

Self-righteousness is a sin that blinds us to the truth.  When we boast of our own righteousness we imprison ourselves in our hubris, but when we humbly confess that our righteousness is not where it could be or possibly ought to be … then there hope that true righteousness might come upon us.

One man, a man who considered devout, stood in the sanctuary and gave thanks that he was not a sinner like that other man who was praying in the sanctuary.  “Thank you, Lord, that I am not like those sinners.  I pray they get right!”

That other man, the man looked upon by the devout as being obviously a sinner, knelt in the sanctuary and cried out, “God, have mercy on me a sinner!”

Of these two men, the man uttering words of judgment and the man confessing his need, Christ said … “I tell you that this man pleading for mercy, not the man claiming to be righteous, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” – Luke 28:14

There are those who try to judge, control, and condemn others; and there are those who confess, seek mercy, and desire to be transformed.  I believe Christ understood that the penitent had the greater Hope of understanding and living the mercy of God.

Look and listen carefully, my Loved Ones, this drama is being reenacted in our present times.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted. – Matthew 5:4

I find these words of Christ so Beautiful, and then, in an even deeper look, all the more Beautiful.  Nowadays after experiencing so many farewells to Loved Ones, I know what it is like to grieve and what it is like to be comforted.  But even beyond that tender experience of mercy, I find that in my mourning and my being comforted I have learned how to comfort more Beautifully.

Oh so many funerals and memorial services I have conducted over the decades.  Some were the most meaningful moments in my life; but others were somewhat hollow of heart.  I recall all those awkward, rather shallow platitudes of comfort shared by so many well-intended souls to those who were struggling with their loss.  “He is in a better place…”  “Let me know how I can help…” All those phrases we use when we do not know what to say.  But it was noble … that they tried …

Yet, there were those wordless embraces that were filled mercy.  There were those quiet tears that came in the quiet moments.  There were those almost subconscious touches of the hands when the loneliness was deep.  There were those moments when the burden of the grieving was shared.

In experiencing comfort we can learn how to comfort.  In experiencing grief we can learn what the grieving do need.  In being embraced by compassionate angels, we can learn the Divine/human language of compassion.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Monday, June 4, 2018

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.  -Matthew 23:12

Christ far more often than not proclaims new principles rather than new rules.  He chooses not to codify new law for codified law leads to legal complexity that serves both to understand the new law but also to confound the new law.  No, for the most part, He teaches principles that must be lived out by way of a conscience that in itself is the standard of accountability.  We will be held accountable not by the limits of legality but by the full extent of the conscience of Christ within us.

Christ spoke of this standard when He taught that though we may not have murdered anyone we still may have desired to kill someone.  We may not have committed adultery in terms of legal definition we may have begun the thought processes that lead to such transgression.  No, we will are called to a standard of principles well-applied rather than the standard of merely the letter of the law.  Human judiciaries must operate within the confines of the community’s laws, but the Lord looks to the heart.

One such principle is … For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.  How does one write law to fulfill this principle?  One cannot without falling into the old, religious traps of a sophistry of legalism and a self-righteous hypocrisy.  We simply must apply this truth as best we can with the help of the counsel of the Lord.

Christ tried to liberate the Faith from legalism and resultant hypocrisy by commanding the faithful fulfillment of Divine principles.  Yet, century after century we retreat from Christ’s progress and return to the old way of thinking and the old way of failing.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. – Exodus 20:8

How does one keep holy a portion of Time?

You imbue with reverence as if praying alone in a cathedral.  You set it aside from all others for a certain sacred work.  You allow it to be filled with a Holy Hush and a Quiet Peace.  You behold its moments with a devoted eye to reflect upon the depths of matters.  You listen in a more focused manner for the very Breathing of God in contemplative whispers.

The Sabbath by nature ought to have the pace of a kindly stroll.  It ought to be comfortable with lengthy pause.  The Sabbath ought to be both inward looking and outward envisioning.  The Sabbath ought to give gentle time to both self and others.

No, Sabbath is not merely a day off from work.  Sabbath is a day devoted to restoration of the soul.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Saturday, June 2, 2018

The Lord has shown you, O mortal, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you?
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

Though spoken by an Old Testament prophet, even in my Christian understanding, these words most perfectly define the godly life, excepting for emphasis I might add, “and to love in every moment”.

If these qualities are not evident in a mortal soul, then no matter the words or the skills or the charisma that mortal soul is not within the spirit of the good and godly.  Contrary to what certain eager evangelists might claim … “Being a Christian is not merely saying a few magic words in vain claim of promise, but in that genesis a good and godly life merges.  Too many people think in that cliché manner of simply getting your insurance policy signed or your train ticket punched.  No, the first words spoken in the humble and honest manner are but the beginning of what must surely follow.

To do justly … to be fair-minded to all, to be administer even-handed justice, to share fairly the Lord’s Providence, to make right the wrong, to reconcile the conflict and to restore the relationship.

To love mercy … to choose to forgive rather than begrudge, to alleviate the suffering, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide shelter for the sojourner, to provide ways to return to the innocent state, to empathize and to heal.

To walk humbly with your God … to journey with the Lord into the future, to be honest with God and yourself, to be the servant, to be the initiative of grace, to confess one’s failures, to learn new ways, to be sculpted by the Grace of God.

And … in my Christian perspective … to love in every moment.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Friday, June 1, 2018

And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things. – Luke 14:3-6

If you ask me if ethics are absolute or situational, my answer is both.  Why this seemingly contradictory answer?  Because an aspect of the absolute is its proper application to the specific circumstance.  If the intent of the application of the absolute is not heeded, if the justice inherent in the law is crudely administered to the specific situation, then the veracity, integrity, and sufficiency of the absolute has been compromised.

Fundamentalism of all faiths is guilty of this sin, this sin of an ethic insensitively and thoughtlessly applied.  It is the fallacy of literalism to rip the words out of their specific intention.

In the Old Testament, we received the commandment, “You shall not murder.”  Seems clear enough, yet then the scriptures invest many chapters in defining what is murder and what is not.  It is a commandment, yet it worth and value is in it being applied with discerning wisdom.  Christ speaks about the Old Testament Sabbath law … “Do no work on the Sabbath …   yet for the sake of the ox in distress, the Sabbath law must be reasonably and justly applied.

In law school, I taught this maxim … the law is but the bare minimum of morality.  Laws themselves become unlawful when applied in unjust ways to serve unjust purposes.

Christ on a Sabbath healed a man who was under medical distress … for it was the loving exception in order to maintain the integrity of the law.

Always in Christ’ Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Thursday, May 31, 2018

On Palm Sunday, the Jerusalem crowd shouted words of praise … When Christ came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” – Luke 19:37-40

In contrast, on Good Friday, the Jerusalem crowd shouted words of disdain … “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.  “Crucify him!” they shouted. – Mark 15:9-13

How a crowd can be swayed and even more easily a mob!

How many times in history must we observe this phenomenon before we gain insight into the group dynamics of a like-minded crowd?   Slowly the like-minded crowd takes on the personality of its leader, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad.

The followers of Christ, though surely a number were misunderstanding His mission, were filled with hope and exaltation of Divine Mercy.  The followers of the High Priest were coaxed into words of destruction and human condemnation.  The Hosannas of the crowd were songs of hope, the Crucify Him cries were dirges of fear.

Is my life filled with resounding hope, a clarion call to better ways to come?  Or is my life filled with desperate fear, a darkened call to our lesser angels?

I have chosen to become a singer in the gathering of Hosannas, though at times, I find so many urges to not do so.  I will be an angel of hope even when it seems so hopeless.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

DISPATCHES FROM FR. CHARITAS

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

I observed a toddler at the baptism of his baby sister.  The father held the little boy in his arms, possibly a little too close to the baptismal font.  I dipped my hand into the baptismal water to bring a handful to the baby’s head.  And as I spoke those sacred, ancient words of baptism, I noticed a little boy splashing the baptismal waters and doing so with verve and delight.  The father offered an apology, the mother looked distressed, I chuckled and smiled.

I believe it is a good thing, maybe even a necessary sacred rite, to now and then splash with delight in the baptismal waters.

I write these words while sitting on the dock on an inlet.  Here the ducks and the mergansers often dive into the deeper part of the water.  Here the manatee come to lounge and graze, often splashing the water with their broad tails.  Here the mullet leap into the air for just a moment before smacking back down into the water with a splash.  Here I sometimes dangle my toes into those waters.  And when I do so on a hot, humid day here in south Florida, the cooler water has the feel of Mercy.

I find my own soul needs to remember to splash in my baptismal waters, in these waters of Mercy.  Every time I forgive others … I feel like I am splashing once more in the Lord’s Merciful Grace.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz