An Inventive Heart

~~~ Sirach 17:1-15 ~~~ Psalm 103 ~~~ Mark 10:13-16 ~~~

 

Today, Saturday, we have some beautiful verses from the book of Sirach.

Most people will not ever read this passage as it is a Saturday.

Often the Saturday readings are connected to Mary,

but today they are about how God created us...

as his children, in his image.

If we were able to create our children I am sure we would choose

to give them many good things.

We would give them perfect health, beauty, many talents,

we would want them to be a compassionate and loving person.

 

This is exactly what God does; he creates us with much of what he sees as good.

God creates us in a beautiful way, knowing he also gives us free will.

What will we do with all he has created in us?

 

At first reading this passage you might think you were reading Genesis.

There are certainly some similarities.

The author is making us aware of our wonderful relationship with our Creator God.

 

As we read about all that is within our being; we can see the love of God for us.

We can also face the fact that our days here on earth are numbered.

 

...He created for them counsel, and a tongue and eyes and ears,
and an inventive heart...

filled them with the discipline of understanding.
He created in them knowledge of the spirit;
With wisdom he fills their heart;
good and evil he shows them.
He put the fear of himself upon their hearts...

 

Can you imagine what your life would be like without your senses?

I have often reflected on which of my five senses I would be willing to delete.

Honestly I could not freely make that decision.

Perhaps it would be the sense of taste,

but that would take most of the pleasure from eating away.

Besides our senses God gives us our heart.

 

God gave us an 'inventive heart'.

He put inside of us a small piece of his vast creativity.

I am always amazed at the creativity of God along with his playfulness.

Just look at the many different birds he created.

Some birds are bright and colorful, their feathers are perfectly placed for ease of flight,

they even court one another with dances.

 

We have been given a share in this inventive...creative ability from God.

 

 

Their ways are ever known to him,
they cannot be hidden from his eyes.

 

Our days here on earth are numbered.

There is nothing we can do that our Creator does not know.

 

I once witnessed a high school catechism teacher put on a huge pair of sunglasses,

proclaiming they were 'God's glasses'.

She was trying to portray to these young people God's vision.

 

God sees all and knows all...and he still loves us.

The real question here;

How do we respond for all that we have received?

Of course ideally it is with wonder and awe for God...

it is by giving him glory and praise...

it is worshipping him.

 

Look around and appreciate the wonder of all that

 has been bestowed on us.

 

Activate your creative heart and give him praise.

Let all that you do

be for his honor and glory.

Treasure...Faithful Friend

~~~ Sirach 6:5-17 ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~ Mark10:1-12 ~~~

 

A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;
he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price...

 

If you have been fortunate enough to have developed

 a true lasting friendship in your life;

consider yourself blessed.

 

I can honestly say that I found the treasure of a true friend in my life.

I thank God for the gift of friends in my life.

 

Jesus calls us his friends.

A faithful friend is a pearl of great price.

For where your treasure is there also your heart will be nestled.

 

It is a wonderful blessing to share a real friendship with your spouse as well.

Some people are married but would not consider themselves friends.

If you are friends with your spouse then the marriage

will have the dynamics of friendship and marriage.

 

Jesus wants us to develop a true lasting friendship with him.

He is our treasure.

He is a sturdy shelter.

He never turns against us.

He only wants what is best for us.

He stands by to support us in times of distress. 

 

 

A faithful friend is without price because you cannot but love.

Friendship takes root in your heart.

Friendship expands who you are into someone better.

 

Friendship brings joy into your life.

Friendship embraces without shame or guilt.

Friendship encourages you to be the best you can be.

 

Our earthly friendships pale in comparison to the friendship

offered to us by God.

If you cannot believe that God wants to have a friendship with you

how could you recognize a human friendship? 

  

A kind mouth multiplies friends...
and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.

 

A friendship begins with kind words, a simple gesture, and love.

 

A faithful friend is beyond price,
no sum can balance his worth. 

 

 Protect and cherish you friends,

because there is nothing else in life than can compare. 

 All the riches and wealth in the world cannot equal even one true friend.

 

A true friend can actually be a life saver.

A true friend can calm the turbulent winds and subdue the waves.

 

God bless and keep my friends.

 They make my life so much more than it would have been

without their presence.

 

When you have a true and faithful friend

your life is profoundly changed forever.

 

 God has given me friends throughout my life

 to show me more about the friendship

he desires to have with me. 

Let your friends know how you feel about them often.

To all who are my friends...

a big hug and thank you for loving me

and encouraging me to reach higher.

 

~~~ Blessings ~~~ 

Lift up Your Voices

Sirach 47:2-11

Today in the first reading from Sirach we read the synopsis of David's victories. I would like to focus on these verses..."With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung; He set singers before the altar and by their voices he made sweet melodies. He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons."

We have David's love of music to thank for the liturgical music we enjoy today. We have David to thank for placing importance on singing as a vital part of our liturgical celebrations. David set an example for us of beautiful uplifting choral music. David saw that lifting our voices to praise God added beauty to our prayer experience.

The word meaning 'to sing' was one of the most commonly used words in the Bible. It occurs 309 times in the Old Testament and thirty-six times in the New Testament. Simply using words for prayer did not seem sufficient enough. Singing seems to mean more. Just think about your birthday...it is nice for your friends and family to wish you happy birthday, but when they sing the greeting to you it is more exciting.

We find the first mention of singing in the Bible after the crossing of the Red Sea. Israel has now been definitively delivered from slavery. This joyous occasion caused them to break into song. They believed in their salvation and in Moses. "Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord" (Exodus15:1).

St. Augustine says, "Singing is a lover's thing." The Holy Spirit is love, and it is he who produces the singing. He is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit who draws us into love for Christ and so leads to the Father. (The Spirit of the Liturgy, p 142 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger)

David was so filled with love that he was also filled with song. God had truly done great things for him. He knew from first hand experience that God's name was holy. Today our liturgical music draws from these same words of scripture written and sung by David so many years ago.

The love David felt for God providential care burst forth from him in song; just as it should burst forth from our souls during Mass. We are raising our voices together through the love we have for Jesus and the Eucharist.

St. Augustine has also been credited with the phrase, "He who sings prays twice."

Song is a natural part of who we are as creatures of God. Throughout the world we find in every culture similarities in the songs mothers sing to their young children. Lullabies it seems comes from the heart filled with love; so overflowing that it is released in sweet melodies.

So every time you have the opportuntiy to lift your voices to give praise to the Lord I hope you will participate. As you sing you join in expressing your heart felt love for the Lord.

Singing together in community is praying together.

I chose this orginal image of an icon of Mary we use for our Taize services.

How beautiful Mary's singing to her child Jesus must have been.

This kaleidoscope image captures the beauty of how our singing voices lift in prayer.

Join us for Taize next month.