Boasting in the Lord

~~~ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ 

~~~ Matthew 25:14-30 ~~~

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.

Not many of you were wise by human standards,

not many were powerful,

not many were of noble birth.

Is it worthwhile to consider your own calling?

Do you consider yourself to be a wise person?

Are you motivated by the idea of power?

Is nobility on your family tree?

Time after time God chose the humble person

to spread his message of love.

Here are just a couple Isaiah, Joseph, 

and the Blessed Mother, Mary.

Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,

and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,

and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,

those who count for nothing,

to reduce to nothing those who are something,

God chose the Woman at the Well.

God chose Mary Magdalene.

God chose Moses.

God chose David.

You can probably name many more examples 

of those who were weak and lowly in their community.

...so that no human being might boast before God.

It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,

who became for us wisdom from God,

It is delightful to hear an actor or an athlete

praise God for giving them the talent and ability to excel.

All that is good in us...all of our gifts and talents

would not exist without God's role.

Any boasting we might make 

must be deferred to Christ Jesus.

as well as righteousness, 

sanctification, and redemption,

so that, as it is written,

Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.

Boast if you choose,

 just make sure you boast in the Lord.

All that we have...all that we are

comes directly from the Lord.

Boast in all we are given to reach holiness.

Boast about how the Lord has saved us for all eternity.

Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.

Blessed as we consider our own calling.

The Lord chose you for a reason.

Have you discovered it yet?

~~~Peace~~~

Trimming the Wicks

~~~ 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ Matthew 25:1-13 ~~~

The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins

who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

The components of this story each play an important roll.

The ten virgins...the oil lamp...the oil...and the wick...

Removing one of these would make this 

a completely different story.

The virgins show up. 

They are eager to greet the bridegroom.

However, he is delayed which means they must wait.

This delay forces them to make 

a necessary decision...

do they put out the lamp or keep

 it burning, risking to run out of fuel.

For some this is a huge dilemma.

The ten virgins all carry their lamp with them.

They all appear to be prepared.

We do not see the inside of the lamps.

We soon learn that half of the women 

brought flasks of additional oil.

They came more prepared than the other five.

In our own lives we can be fooled into believing

 that as long as we show up...

as long as we bring our lamp 

it will be sufficient.

Further reading of this story 

proves that is not quite enough.

When the bridegroom arrives

 only the five wise virgins

 have sufficient oil to keep

 their flame burning brightly.

All ten virgins trimmed their wicks.

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 

Trimming the wick in an oil lamp is important.

The wick is designed to draw up the oil from the lamp

in a steady fashion in order for the flame to burn.

The burning takes place just above the wick.

This liquid layer prevents the wick from being burned up.

Oxygen is prevented from reaching the wick itself.

As long as the wick remains saturated in the oil

 it is not consumed by the flame.

The virgins got up and trimmed their wicks...

trimmed wicks burn more brightly.

They were eager to have the brightest

 lamp to light the way for the bridegroom.

I invite you to consider what it means

 to be prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom.

I invite you to consider the lamp.

The lamp holds the precious oil; without 

the oil there is no light.

I also invite you to consider the wick...

the trimming of the wick.

We are like the wick because we must

 be saturated with the oil of God...the grace of God.

If we want to burn brightly we must 

have the oil of God's love and mercy.

Five virgins ran out of oil.

When they ran out of oil their wick dried up.

Without oil and a dry wick you 

loose the potential for light.

They lost their way without their lamp.

...those who were ready went into 

the wedding feast with him. 

Those who were ready...

showed up...brought their lamp...

carried extra fuel...trimmed their wick.

They came prepared. 

The doors were opened and the wise virgins 

were welcomed to wedding feast.

Be prepared.

Trimming your wick insures it will burn brightly.

Blessings of the oil.

~~~Peace~~~

Soul Dish Washing

~~~ 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3A, 14-17 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~

~~~ Matthew 23:23-26 ~~~

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement

and good hope through his grace,

encourage your hearts and strengthen them

in every good deed and word.

We are called to have mercy.

We are called to serve.

We are called to be like Jesus in all ways.

We are called to not just have the heart of Jesus,

but to love through his heart.

It is love that encourages your heart.

It is love that strengthens your heart.

It is love that gives us good hope.

The love that God used to form our heart 

while yet in our mother's womb...

It is that same heart of love that we radiate

 to the world today.

It is because God has loved us that we can go out

 into the world to perform good deeds.

It is because God has loved us that we can speak 

words of hope in today's world.

...cleanse first the inside of the cup,

so that the outside also may be clean.

Next time you take a sip of your favorite beverage

notice the inside of the glass.

My preference is a crystal wine glass.

The glass can only sparkle if the inside is clean...

 then the outside also looks beautiful.

Cleansing the inside insures that you get

 the best flavor from your beverage.

So it is with our heart and soul.

They are inside...to keep a pure heart

means we are more likely 

to have a more pleasing outside.

Eventually what is inside becomes evident

 on the outside through our actions and words.

We become convicted by the state of the inside 

of our heart and soul.

The word of God is living and effective,

able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Remember your words and actions are true 

reflections of the inside of your cup.

Jesus labels the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites.

They fail to cleanse the inside of their cup.

For inside they harbor evil...

 they are deficient in mercy and fidelity.

Consider the inside of your cup...

Come to the Lord for his cleaning assistance.

He will help you.

Blessings

Soul dish washing Jesus style.

~~~Peace~~~

Bare Bone Hope

~~~ Ezekiel 37:1-14 ~~~ Psalm 107 ~~~ Matthew 22:34-40 ~~~

The Old Testament is filled with God's surrogates, the prophets.

God chooses, appoints, anoints, and instructs

them to speak on his behalf.

Prophesy over these bones, and say to them:

Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

God led Ezekiel into a desolate place.

He finds himself surrounded by dry bones.

How can a field of bare dry bones be inspirational?

There are no visible signs of life...no blood, no muscle...no flesh.

Having recently making bone broth I have learned

that dry bare bones are still rich with hidden nutrients.

There are numerous benefits in eating this bone broth.

God instructs Ezekiel to speak

 his words over these dry lifeless bones.

It appears to be a complete waste of time.

But for God nothing is a waste of time...he can restore...

he can make all things new again. 

The scene appears to be hopeless, but Ezekiel did as God requested.

Ezekiel spoke God's words over the bones.

Prophesy over these bones, and say to them:

Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

When we find ourselves in a dry bare bones

place we too must listen to the word of the Lord.

There is a core of new life in the words of the Lord.

If we believe that God will restore an abundance of life,

then even in the midst of a pile of bones

we will not give up.

O my people, I will open your graves

and have you rise from them...

I will put my spirit in you that you may live...

The bones were restored to the land of the living

once God breathed the Spirit upon them.

Jesus is spirit and life.

This is how we are to know that God

 is indeed a God of his word.

We have been promised to receive the spirit of life.

There is nothing too dry, nothing too barren;

not even bare bones.

God commands...

From the four winds come, O spirit,

and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.

We must believe in God's words of life.

We are called to hold on to hope in 

everlasting life.

Blessed with the Spirit of the Lord.

Our hope is based in the promise of the Lord.

~~~Peace~~~

The Assumption of Mary

~~~ Solemnity of The Assumption of 

The Blessed Virgin Mary ~~~

~~~ Revelation 11:19A; 12:1-6A, 10AB ~~~ Psalm 45 ~~~

~~~ 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 ~~~ Luke 1:39-56 ~~~

...the Almighty has done great things for me

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation...

I never tire of reflecting on the 

beautiful words of Mary's acceptance speech.

The dogma of the Assumption
of the Blessed Mother was defined in 1950.

Mary was set apart and chosen by God for all eternity.
Because of his special favor bestowed on her and intimate
 relationship with the Holy Spirit...

The whole Trinity honored the Blessed Mother
 in the most profound manner.

The artistic depiction of Mary being assumed into heaven
is difficult for we as humans to accept.
The concept is very foreign to us.
We are limited by our own mundane existence.

We accept this as a matter of faith.
When you consider the purity and holiness
of her body it becomes more acceptable.

Her body was the Tabernacle for the Savior of the World.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...

The soul of Mary was wrapped
 in holiness from her conception.
She was filled with the pure love of God.
The great joy of her parents paled
 in comparison to God's joy in her. 

Mary is often referred to as Queen of Mercy.
Mary is our most loving advocate before Jesus.

She knows that his love and capacity
 for mercy is beyond limits.

Mary kept all things in her heart.
She looks upon each of us with her loving heart.
She takes to her Son our failings along
 with our good intentions.

Mary knows that we all have goodness within our soul.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.

We are part of the current generation who
still call Mary Blessed.

Mary will forever be the one who intercedes
on our behalf before her Son, Jesus.

Mary is the Queen of Heaven.
Her beauty shines brightly as she takes
 her place next to her Son.

Blessed Mother Mary
we honor you today body and soul
as the Queen of Heaven.

Blessed and protected
by the Blessed Mother, Mary.

~~~Peace~~~

Seventy-Seven Times

~~~ Memorial of Saint Clare ~~~

~~~ Ezekiel 12:1-12 ~~~ Psalm 78 ~~~ Matthew 18:21–19:1 ~~~

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,

“Lord, if my brother sins against me,

how often must I forgive him?

As many as seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I say to you, 

not seven times but seventy-seven times.

This is one of the numerous 

verses in the Bible about forgiveness.

In the Old Testament God is the one 

who forgives his chosen people.

Animal sacrifices were made in atonement

 for sins...seeking God's forgiveness.

Moses pleads to God for forgiveness

 on behalf of the people of Israel.

Now if you would only forgive their sin! 

But if you will not, then blot me out of the book

 that you have written.” 

Exodus 32:32

Jeremiah and Isaiah 

also address God's forgiveness.

With the birth of Jesus 

we see a profound shift in the meaning of forgiveness.

Jesus comes to save an entire world. 

His death atoned for the sins for the whole world.

Jesus heals while simultaneously 

forgiving their personal sins.

Jesus brings God's 

forgiveness right to God's chosen people. 

Jesus teaches us about 

the importance of forgiveness.

He includes forgiveness

 in his own example of how we should pray.

...forgive us our trespasses as 

we forgive those who trespass against us...

Hanging on the cross Jesus speaks

 his final words of forgiveness...

...forgive them for they know not what they do...

It is in our own best interest to practice forgiveness.

Forgiving those who hurt us frees us from a heavy burden.

...how often must I forgive him?

As many as seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I say to you, 

not seven times but seventy-seven times.

The heavy burden of carrying hurt and anger toward another

greatly impairs the grace God is so freely giving us.

Jesus passes the forgiveness ball to each of us.

So dear readers the ball is in your court.

Who is in most need of your forgiveness?

Even if you cannot tell them in words;

forgive them in your heart...

Open your heart to the forgiving grace of God.

Blessed to be forgiven.

~~~Peace~~~

Abundant Grace

~~~ Feast of Saint Lawrence ~~~

~~~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ John 12:24-26 ~~~  

God is able to make every grace 

abundant for you,

so that in all things, 

always having all you need,

you may have an abundance for every good work.

God makes grace abundant for you.

It is up to each of us to come before God 

to be receptive for his abundant grace.

Grace is a necessary component of every good work.

Grace puts every possibility within our grasp.

Grace is God's way of making us more holy.

Imagine God's grace being the most beautiful 

composition you have ever heard.

Imagine God's grace lifting up not 

just your heart but your soul.

The greater the grace the closer 

we move into the footsteps of Jesus.

...unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,

it remains just a grain of wheat;

but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

The grace of God sustains the wheat 

even as it falls to the ground and dies.

The grace of God produces

 all that is needed for abundant fruit.

All that is filled with the beauty of grace

will produce much fruit.

All that is good in your life 

is the evidence of God's grace at work on your behalf.

Grace freely given to you.

How well will you make use of this

abundant gift of grace?

Without God's grace 

we would be like a fish out of water.

May the grace of God

produce abundant fruit in your

 heart, soul...

and in your daily life.

~~~ Peace ~~~

The Best Guide

~~~ Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 ~~~ (Psalm) ~~~ 

Deuteronmy 32:35CD-36AB, 39ABCD, 41

~~~ Matthew 16:24-28 ~~~

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me..."

Guided tours...hike through the forest...mountain trail...

A tour guide alerts you to what is important

 to notice in the present environment.

A tour guide often carries a flag pole so you can 

see to follow him/her.

The guide knows the material...they are familiar with the space.

I know with a guide I get so much more information.

I have many friends that find zip lining to be exhilarating.

Having followed the path to the high point

they get into a harness and zip down along the cable line.

When you are ready to find a guide you check 

for the person with the highest ratings...the best reviews. 

Jesus is the perfect guide...

He asks us to follow him. He knows the way.
He has so much wisdom and knowledge he wants to share with us.

...take up his cross, and follow me..."

This is where we are tempted to pass up the
opportunity to follow Jesus the perfect guide.

We are never quite sure we can take up our cross...never
sure we want to carry our cross.

But even those who follow a guide
 through the woods carry their backpack.
Sometimes this backpack can be a very heavy load.

The interesting thing is that you become so engaged
in listening and following the guide that soon
the backpack no longer seems such a burden.

The same is true when we accept the invitation to follow Jesus.
We must take up our cross, but he quickly makes the journey
 so incredible that the cross seems to become lighter.

Jesus is the most wonderful guide for us.
He leads us into the most breathtaking places.

He leads us to everlasting life with him...
where all beauty, truth, and love awaits for us.

Blessings to take up your cross and follow Jesus.
The load of the cross will seem lighter
and you will be
in peace.

Peter's Correct Answer

~~~ Memorial of Saint John Vianney ~~~
~~~ Jeremiah 31:31-34 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Matthew 16:13-23 ~~~

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

In spite of Peter's tendency to speak without thinking,
this answer was very revealing.

Jesus asked Peter a serious personal question...
"Who do you say the I am?"

Jesus was Peter's friend...his leader...his teacher...
Jesus loved and respected Peter.
Jesus had faith in Peter's leadership abilities.
Jesus was a good teacher and Peter was a good student.

Peter recognized Jesus as Christ...the Anointed One.
Peter recognized him as the Son.
Peter recognized God as living.

Peter saw Jesus as much more than
who he appeared to be to the other apostles.

Peter saw him as the Son of the Living God...
the Living God.

God did not 'die' because he sent Jesus to dwell among us.

God is not dead, Jesus is his living son.
Jesus tells us that he and the Father are one in the same
therefore God is very much a living God.

Jesus trusted Peter enough to give
 him responsibility for the future of his church.

And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not 
prevail against it.

Peter was given the insight
to see Jesus as both divine and human.

This insight came to Peter from the Father.
God the Father was also at work in the heart of Peter.

God is also at work within your heart.

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

It is within the context of a clean heart
 that we can answer the same question
Jesus posed to Peter...

I invite you to sit with your own answer.
Who do YOU say that Jesus is?

Can you be honest with yourself?

Can you live with your answer?
Is Jesus the Son of a Living God to you?

God is Alive!
Jesus came to live among us in a very real way.

Blessings
~~~Peace~~~

Remedy for Our Soul

~~~ Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 ~~~ 

~~~ Psalm 102 ~~~ Matthew 14:22-36 ~~~

“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter overcomes his better judgement...gets out of the boat...

and attempts to walk on the water to meet Jesus.

Peter soon becomes frightened when he is faced

 with the turmoil of the seas.

Jesus never looks away from Peter.

Just as he never looks away from us.

Jesus was constant in his support of Peter.

Just as he supports us in all situations.

Jesus reaches his hand out to save Peter.

Just as his hand is there to save us.

God directed Jeremiah to record his words.

His words were to be recorded so that years

 later we would have them too.

Incurable is your wound,

grievous your bruise;

There is none to plead your cause,

no remedy for your running sore,

no healing for you.

Remedy...is defined as 

a medicine or treatment for a disease or injury.

A remedy is sometimes bitter sweet...may leave

 a nasty taste in our mouth.

We can search for remedies 

for everything from blemishes and dark circles to 

joint pain and high blood pressure, 

but only God has the remedy for our sinful soul.

God sent the only remedy to save all of us...Jesus.

Jesus is the remedy for all of our ills.

Jesus is the remedy for our minor cuts and bruises.

Jesus is the remedy for our broken hearts.

Jesus is the remedy for our greatest pain.

Jesus restores...rebuilds...

supplies abundance...dispenses justice...

loves lavishly.

The LORD looked down from his holy height,

from heaven he beheld the earth...

He beheld the earth and chose to see our potential for good.

If we had no inherent potential to be good

why would God even bother with saving us?

Perhaps the answer is more about who God is

and not at all about who we are.

Jesus became the divine remedy for our soul.

No other remedy could ever have resulted in our salvation.

Jesus is the supernatural remedy 

for all our ills of mind, body, and soul.

It may only become 

completely evident and fully experienced

when we die and are granted entry into heaven.

Then we will have no doubt 

that we had no reason to be afraid.

“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Blessings...

the remedy is here to heal us...to make us whole.

~~~Peace~~~