Pages

Friday, June 29, 2018

For Sunday, 7/1/18, "Trust Jesus"

Today, I was asked by a couple journeying through one's partner life threatening illness, "Would you pray for us? We are asking this of anyone concerned for our welfare. Please pass our request on to anyone you can."  Moved nearly to the point of tears by their faith, I replied, "Of course, I have been doing this for you already and I will continue doing so." The pastor's heart in me found no conflict in this response and request as the mission to which I signed on with my current employer, a Catholic Healthcare organization, states, "We continue the healing mission of Jesus Christ..."

Interestingly too, are all the other past moments leading up to such a moment, e.g. the Catholic University that trained me to be an insightful master's level psychologist which gave me courage to do what is right by others.  Leading to such a moment is the faith tradition in which I was raised and employed and ordained and to which five generations of my ancestors committed their lives in mission and tithes that gave me birthright to claim myself as prophetic and a mystic -- even to the point of moving on from that tradition when it limited my soul/spirit/mind more than I could bear.  As God once said to me through a sacrament, "Be faithful and I will be faithful to you. I will lift you up out your seeming obscurity. I will dignify your life with my constant daily care. The light of your life shall shine forth and bless many as you become a sharp and refined instrument for good." All which have come to pass.

Further leading to that moment with the couple is spiritual direction work the past seven years with a university professor for interfaith spirituality, a priceless soul and scholar who confronted me and pressed me during our sessions to accept that I too am a prophet of God's diverse unconditional love and that God has chosen to work with me directly and to embrace that journey alongside many others I know and love -- and those who I don't know yet and who I will come to love -- who are themselves prophets and mystics seeking the soul and being and "Just and Peaceable Reign" of "The One" who is the author of us all.

My heart is full of love for each of you, even if your heart has lost love for me. I understand and accept and respect that. For me, I am who I am, and with that there are these days inexplicable moments of joy beyond my comprehension but not my curiosity -- alongside all that come healing moments when I hold someone close in spirit or close in person -- and pray the healing prayers. 

Brad Shumate
Free of Encumbrance
Eugene, Oregon USA
Friday, 6/29/18
          

Friday, June 22, 2018

For Sunday 6/24/18 - "Who Is This? Even Wind and Sea Obey?"

JESUS MAFA


"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" -- Mark 4:35-41 NRSV 

Reflection on the Scripture:

A great windstorm arose this past week in the US.  It was from the people, the Citizens of the USA.  The windstorm was the Voice of the People, a Voice of the Incarnate Spirit of God.  It came in response to GOP POTUS 45 ripping migrant children from the arms of their parents, putting those crying traumatized children and parents into cages and/or internment camps like the Federal Government did to our Japanese-American citizens during World War II.  All of the current crisis being done in vintage obsessional brutish 45 manner to force his GOP controlled Congress to give 45 his big beautiful border wall -- with which his scripture quoting/justifying Attorney General sardonically grinning ear to ear was only too happy to help.  The Attorney General only stopped to consider the evil of his behavior when a Voice of the Incarnate Spirit of God, spoken through members of his faith tradition, decided to file complaint in church court against the AG's ungodly actions.  Good for them

I wish I knew what to say to the Hispanic woman interviewed on CNN this week who threw her weight behind 45 and the AG and said the migrant crisis was a bunch of "bullshit" and that she supported children being taken from their parents and families being separated.  Her utter lack of compassion for those fleeing countries where violence and death threats reign supreme was quite striking.  There are far too many like her, they see little beyond the end of their nose.  They gladly support the violent traumatization happening to their fellow human beings rather than seeking workable solutions such as a migrant worker program that allow migrants a path to citizenship with adequate support along the way such as safe/secure housing, a quality education, and universal healthcare.

"Who is this" that would foster such compassionate things as a migrant worker program for those fleeing for their lives, for those seeking safety? It is you and me, the Incarnate Voice of the Spirit of God.  Even Wind (POTUS 45) and Sea (45's base & GOP) will in the end obey -- for violence shall not be done to children, violence shall not be done to families.  We are "The Voice" and we shall be obeyed -- for "soon comes the Son of Man and all who believe shall be redeemed."

Brad Shumate
Free of Encumbrance
Eugene, Oregon
USA        




Saturday, June 16, 2018

Kim Jong Un, "Don't worry 45, Vlad and I are working really hard to get ya into...."