31. Sun C / Lk 19.1-10 CONVERSION

Lk shows us a successfull conversion-story - we greet Mr. Zachaeus!
we learn the strategy of Jesus

A) CURIOSITY
if the Church likes to have disciples... she has to flame up curiosity;
it means she has to be present in public  and not at all hidden
present in the Newspaper, Radio, TV, Facebook, Web, Blogs etc...).
Jesus got a public image by his teaching and healing - people beame curious!

B) CHANGE of STANDPOINT
If somebody is not ready to change his/her standpoint, not open for a new view..
if somebody is closed; too convinced to be right, to know all
such people are unable to become a disciple of Jesus.

C) INVITATION
There is no other entrance into the Church than INVITATION - the whole Church
at all time and everywhere and for all must invite (not do nothing + not force)
The Church must elaborate an image of "you are most welcome"
[we like your company, your skill, your contribution: your voice and your ears,
your beauty and your eyes...]

D) ENCOUNTER
This is the most difficult part of today...   to go into a sincere and open and positive "argument": all WHY's + WHAT's, all IF's + bc's are to be put on the table.
That's a long process ... to know each other - until a decision is ripe.

After this four steps...  we are ready for great surprises... wonders are possible..

The problem - the Parishes, the Communities, the Dioceses they have not such groups / teams... educated well for such a work. The most believers believe thats
a duty of the Holy Spirit alone.  And some of them they like to wake up the Holy Spirit, but they do rather  nothing...  it's not my business.

APOSTLES on level ground...

In Mt 28.19 Jesus sent the Apostles to make disciples by baptism.
Now the Apostles of today in Namibia have given this task to 700 young RC-pepole in Namibia on the 25.Aug.2013...

Since this day they are commissioned to be missionary 24/7 to make disciples:
"As you go about your life, make disciples. As you travel in a taxi, make disciples;
as you walk to and from school, make disciples; as you visit with friends, make disciples etc...  etc... every moment of your lives we are called to make disciples."

I hope these new disciples-makers know HOW to do this delicate work... until now
you became in the RCC a disciple by Baptism (ev. by confirmation) but now ?
Maybe there will be a course for these new commissioners about baptism and
how to invite people today to make the Baptism-DECISION!
In Namibia the most Christian-Baptisms are accepted by the great Christian Churches...   the far most people are already catched; if means there are only a few out there to be catched into the Christian nets.
And if you are already a baptised Christian... you know: you are a disciple! or do you want to change your discipleship ? Are we going to start a new competition ?

All about this mega-event you read in "Angelus" No 4 / Aug-Sept 2013

Once, long ago, Jesus came with the Apostels down on level ground...  there was
a larg gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of peole... and ...
all of them cured!   cf. Lk 6.17-19 

So they brought the atmosphere of Rio to Windhoek
                   and the atmosphere of Lk 6.17-19  ?  ?

Rev. Maria Kapere complained: The moral decay are taking place at such unprecedented and frightening propositions...  so that all institutions are begged
to join forces to respond to this challenges.
May I dare to wait for a proposal HOW TO HEAL ?   (to cure all of them).

30 Sun C / Lk 18.9-14 WHO I AM ? ? ?

We may go every Sunday to our Sanctuary to celebrate the Holy Mass...
but today Lk posted the question:  WHO  I  AM  ?
I go to the Celebration as a pious Pharisee or as a confessing Sinner ?
These two are well designed in the parabel...
The Start of the celebration asks:
First: As I go to the Holy Mass, I go as a "member of the Community" or I go
alone for myself only? By Baptism I became a member...   nobody is alone!
We come together to celebrate together!
We as people together with the Saints and with Jesus Christ.
Sec.: In the Celebration I am "still on the Way".  Im going... and Im growing...
Im not yet at the end! Im still struggling...
Im depending on mercy, an grace, on new possibilities... I sing: Lord have mercy
If I see me as perfect; I don't need any mercy.. I don't sing: Lord have mercy
Third: After we got the message: God is for us really merciful ... we have reason to praise HIM:  Gloria in excelsis Deo!
If you like to praise your own great deeds you must sing an other song!

After this START it's clear, we are together as "called Christians"
not any more pious or sinner ...  but now challenged!
The question "Who I am ?" is now answered: I have decided to follow JX.
There is no more the famous differences the world has introduced!

So we receive the WORD...   the GIFTS...    the ACCEPTANCE...
and together with Jesus Christ we give thanks to God (Eucharist)
for the universe, for the nature, for life, for mankind, for diff. people etc...
not as sinners not as pharisees but as "gifted people"!

We receive "the Braed of Life" as people on the way... for "ite missa est"...
to go and to try again...
The differences are good in order to enrich our Unity not to sparate us in
differrent classes...   there is one vocation: once and for all!

29 Sun C / the value of perseverance

Why the widow finally got justice ? because of her perseverance !
Why Jesus finally got justice ? because of his perseverance !
Why the Jesus-movement got finally justice ? bc of perseverance !
Lk 18.1-8 don't ask: what is  justice - but he shows to the new
believers: in our society, in our culture - you will get your just goal
only by perseverance!

There is a time you have to be busy to discover your vocation...
later it's time to clear up your vocation
but finally only by perseverance you will achieve your goal.

What is the method "never to lose heart" ?
1.) Our own experiences and the experiences of many people shows me:
     perseverance will bring fruit.
2.) "to keep the way" or "keep going" - it's good to have a clear and attractive
     picture of your goal.
3.) "go together, not alone". Friends are the best "vitamine" for perseverance.

One glimpse deeper: the cosmos and the nature shows to everybody:
to keep life going, you need a certain balance and the readiness to change!

Tomorrow we will have Baby-Baptism in "Fatima-Church"; we invite baby's
to follow Jesus Christ...   it's only possible as we integrate them into the
Church-Community. We hope they once will get a good spiritual leader
showing them how to go "step by step" ...

As a child I have learnt to go by feet, as a boy I have gone by bicycle, as a young man I drove a car, later I used the aiplane...   great changes - one goal.

28 Sun C - one for all - 10% go on...

Luke is eager to show a realistic view (17.11-19): 50 to 70 years after Jesus, the Profet of Nazareth, Luke got the experience: only a few of the jewish believers
have decided to adhere to the Jesus-Movement. The message of Jesus is seen by many as a renewal, as an inspiration, as a healing, as salvation... but to change the own old way... it's to risky...  never you know where the new way is going...
So only one comes back to Jesus...  and it's a stranger. To praise the Jahwe-God is normal for all, but to give thanks to Jesus is an exception...  as you do so,
you will get a surpraise!

Today we are going to get the same experiences: People are ready to praise God in their daily life, but come together to give thanks to God togehter with Jesus - it means to celebrate the Holy Eucharist - in some parts of the Christian World has gone back to 10%.

What is the real problem? the damage? It's stagnation! ... no development!
The one who goes to the eucharistic celebration (thanksgiving) gets the message:
"Stand up...   go on your way ...    Your faith has saved you!"

Again and again Jesus makes it very clear: your faith has saved you! He shows us the power of faith. It's like a revelation: you who comes back to give thanks to Jesus must know: in reality it's your faith who has cured / saved you. "Faith" as an interesting kind of "acting" is the most effektive power in the human world. Jesus
and the Saints are for us very good examples. They have been convinced the fulness of Life is based on faith; to overcome the banality of Life and the death-
threat - the remedy is faith.

"Go on your way!" Take into consideration all what you know, all your experiences,
all advices and make a hopefull decision - this is the way of faith, step by step.

"Stand up!" In your situation take a stand.The society needs your word, your attitude, your action. Your contribution to the problem-solving is asked for!

To increasse our faith Jesus has no other remedy than his example.

27 Sun C : high level readings...

As I first read the Gospel Lk 17.5-10 I decided: there are two topics:
A) about faith; it's a wish of the Apostles (of the Church) "increase our faith".
Thinking about faith means to see: faith is an energy to live to the full, a force; resource of power to conduct power.The response of Jesus is interesting: He didn't tell them: yes; I like to give you faith. He has given them an example: how faith is effectiv! It seems Jesus encouraged them to care for their own faith;
to find a methode to increase their own faith.
Today we know three methods to increase faith in our own soul: meditation, experiences, imagination. If you like: try...
B) The relationship between master and servant has led me to a study:
How in history have developped the different public forms to execute power -
in the State, in the Church, in the business-world, in the family? From patriarchalism over theocracy to democracy... 
no thanks to the servant, because he has only done his duty...  until today this old
idee: God is master and we are servant - is exercised in our Church (theology).
The impetus of Jesus to change this old realtionship between God and mankind
has failed...until today

Then I jumped to the profet Habakkuk: complaining the situation and the fact: God is doing nothing! It's exactly the same today: the experience: God is doing nothing. At least God has given a vision (it will come):"the evil one will not survive
the right one will live because of his faith". Again: faith as power to live to the full.

And at the end, by Paulus (2Tim 1.6) I read: I am reminding you to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you.    One gift we got is faith; this resource of power to live to the full. Paulus now clears up the situation:
Don't ask: please increase, don't have only a vision for later - fan into a flame!
the gift of faith; it's up to you to improve your faith - fan it into a flame!

"Faith" is one of the most powefull forces, energy in the hand of mankind; there is no human being without this energy. But sure in some people faith is nearly extinguished; the engine is lame. These people are invited to attend a meditation-
course with this three steps: 1. I exercise faith in myself;  2. I learn faith in the
universe   3. I imagine faith in God.
And don't forget: faith is a risky decision.