The Society of Franciscan Workers

“Choosing the Good”

Father River Sims — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:26:46 +0000

Mt. 13:47-53

Our journey does not demand that we hide from life in order not to be tempted by it. The journey demands that we learn to choose between good and evil, but sometimes even good from good. People say I am “single focused” in the way I live my life and work–but for me it is a matter of choosing and being centered on my faith and working with people. My friend Louie works in peace and justice; others work on different issues–we simply have to make our choice and be centered in that choice. I am centered in the people I work with, I feed them, walk with them, and that is my path. I am single focused, I am intent–on the work to which I am called. Cooked meal and will serve tonight. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

“The Reign of God”

Father River Sims — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:05:48 +0000

Mt. 13:44-46 When we get to the point where we choose what is valuable in life over what is not then we have found true happiness, then we have found God, then we have found heaven right now. For me what is valuable is serving God through serving the poorest of the poor, being one with them, living simply, giving my all for the reign of God, not judging others, but leaving the judgment up to God. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!

“Failure is Causing People To Sin”

Father River Sims — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:39:58 +0000

Mt. 13:36-43 Part of what it means to be human is that we all struggle to be our best selves. And often we fail. The real sin, then is not that we fail. The real sin lies in seducing others to do the things that destroy them spiritually. For me the real sin is in imposing my wishes, my goals on others–for we all have to make our own choices. Prepared and served meal today. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God”

“Seeing God–Even In the Darkness”

Father River Sims — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:02:29 +0000

Mt. 13:16-17 To grow spiritually means that we must learn to see and hear the signs of the presence of God in our lives. Then, nothing is bad; everything is life giving. I have been in a dark place these past days, and I do see the signs of God’s presence, and so everything, even the darkness is life giving. That I place my life on. I am getting ready to go serve a meal in the Haight. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

“Faith”

Father River Sims — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:19:12 +0000

Mt. 13:18-23–”Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul”. No amount of physical suffering can ruin life unless we allow it to do so. But loss of faith in dark times, the refusal to trust that God is with us in it, can sour the soul and crush the spirit. For me there are really dark times, and fears, but I as long as I hold on to my faith I get through it. I see much suffering, much pain, I struggle so hard, yet my faith sustains me.

To have faith is to rely upon Christ, the Person, with the whole
heart. It is not the understanding of the mind, not the theological
opinion, not creed, not organization, not ritual. It is the
koinonia of the whole personality with God and Christ. This
experience of communion with Christ is itself the continual
attitude of dependence on the Saviour which we call faith.
- Kokichi Kurosaki (1886-1970), “One Body in Christ”

“The Vagaries of Life”

Father River Sims — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:08:05 +0000

Jer. 1:, 4-10, Mt. 13:1-9

We read of Jeremiah’s call, and I think of my call. Like him it is not something that I could turn away from. I was called to ministry and through the years my ministry has taken many turns–but always I have been lead to do ministry. What I have learned is that the circumstances of life are that and that only: Circumstances are not signs of the punishment of God. We are meant to live live with trust and faith knowing that God does not make life miserable. On the contrary is is God who carries us through it. Our choices often make us miserable, but God is always there. I have spent the day working on a letter to ministers in Vallejo, I spent time with “Willie’ a 19 year old who is barely making it, with Jay, and doing outreach to fifty more. I am getting the meal ready for tomorrow. Again as I look at life–circumstance are a part of life. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

“Family”

Father River Sims — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:28:19 +0000

Mt. 12:46-50 Today has been really my typical day–working on office stuff, doing outreach. I saw forty five people tonight. The young ones were bright eyed and hopeful, the older ones are beaten down by life. They are high, some not functioning at all–and yet for me they are Jesus, broken and hurt. There are times I wish I had a family–but if I had a family I would not be able to work with these guys–they are my family–they take all of my time and energy, For me to follow Christ means to go through life as he went through life without attachment to a kin familly–like him I asked the question: “Who are my mother? who are my brothers? and I meet them each day. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

“The Right Thing”

Father River Sims — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:00:51 +0000

Lk. 10:38-42 “Mary has chosen the right thing and it will not be taken from her.”

Mary is criticized for not being “busy”. Jesus points out she has chosen the “right thing”. People always criticize me and are puzzled by what I do. . I am asked “what service do you do?” “how many people do you serve?” “what do you actually do?” After awhile I get irritated, rather then just shrugging my shoulders, for you see like Mary in the eyes of Jesus I am doing the “right thing.” Tonight I have given food, blankets, and socks to over fifty people, I have spent time talking and visiting with them–does it get them off the streets? well “it is the right thing.” Rather then look at numbers and characterize people by numbers, I would rather see them as people on the journey, and simply walk with them. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

“Moving Forward”

Father River Sims — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:50:31 +0000

Matt. 12:14-21 “When Jesus heard about the plot against him, he went away from that place and large crowds followed him. He healed all the sick.. ”

For me the mark of Christian courage is to go on, doing good, doing justice, whatever the cost to myself. I see the life of Jesus is about completing his mission, and that is my life–to complete my mission. That is why I push forward in season and out of season. I spent yesterday going to the food bank and then i took the rest of the day off, watched T.V. and rested. Today I had breakfast with David, went to a volunteer celebration at Pride, and will do outreach tonight. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

“Love Is What Counts”

Father River Sims — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:57:25 +0000

Mt. 11: 28-30-”For the yoke I will give you is easy and the load I will put on you is light.” Love God and your neighbor Jesus says. That is the load we are expected to carry through life. Great asceticism is of our own making but good as it may be only love is the yoke that counts in the end. Mt. 12:1-8: “It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.: Doing rituals and keeping rules is easy–they can make us feel so religious, but the core of religion–loving kindness and care for others. The heart of faith, the heart of religion is love–not how well you do the liturgy, not how you interpret the Scriptures–it is the act of love–even to people who are not lovable. Last night we served the meal, we gave those guys love, each day I touch the lives of young men and women, and they asked me what I really want–for I asked nothing from them. We are called to love without expecting anything. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!