Shiny Juicy Temptation

~~~2 Corinthians 11:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Matthew 6:7-15

This morning this phrase was highlighted in the homily.

Paul is speaking to the people of Corinth.

He begins by reflecting on the garden where 

Eve was tempted and ultimately succumbed to disobedience.

Her initial pure intentions became corrupted.

The shiny juicy temptation won over her commitment to God.

...from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ.

The question I ask myself is,

How can we protect ourselves from taking the 'apple'?

When does the temptation become greater

 than our sincere commitment?

How can we renew and affirm our commitment?

We can start now to renew

our sincere and pure commitment to what 

has been freely given to us.

Sincerity...

freedom from deceit, hypocrisy, or duplicity.

Our thoughts and our words must both

 mirror our sincerity.

 Our words and our actions must be pure.

Eve ended up playing a game with herself...

she did not believe that one simple action would 

damage her commitment.

Perhaps she was not sincere to her own heart.

Years ago I remember being taught to close a letter with...

Sincerely yours...then the signature.

You were committing

 to the words you had written.

But I am afraid that...

your thoughts may be corrupted...

No one can control your thoughts.

Scriptures can nourish our true commitment to love.

Without love our thoughts, words, and actions

can hardly reveal sincerity.

Protect your thoughts with love.

That is our best defense.

No temptation is worth giving up your 

sincere and pure commitment to Christ

no matter how shiny and juicy.

Be strong!

~~~Peace~~~

Overflowing Grace

~~~ Romans 5:12, 15B, 17-19, 20B-21 ~~~ Psalm 40 ~~~ 

~~~ Luke 12:35-38 ~~~

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Each time you recite/pray the Our Father
you are professing the will of God...
thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven...

Do these words actually mean that YOU are
willing to do the will of God?
Is it okay for others to do his will?
Do you have reservations
when it becomes too personal?

This is not an easy verse to reflect upon.
It is not easy because you cannot know
what God will ask of you.

There are times when doing the will of God is fulfilling.
There also those times when doing the will
 of God is down right painful.

Have you ever hesitated to raise your hand...
to willfully volunteer...to say 'here I am, Lord'?
Of course God knows where you are at all times.

Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more...

Sometimes we do not volunteer to do the will of God
because we are trapped by our own frailties.

It takes trust and courage to step out of the crowd...
to come forward...to accept the invitation.

When you raise your hand...
when you come forward to do the will of God;
in that precise moment grace is poured upon you.

His grace is more powerful than any of your shortcomings.
When you say 'here I am, Lord'
the grace begins to flow into your soul.
It continues to flow until the cup of your
soul is overflowing.

It is only through this out pouring of grace that you
are able to hear the will of God.

When grace is filling up your heart
his words become clear.

Your fears and doubts are washed away
 as his graces overflow your soul.

It is grace that you can do the will of God.
It is grace that gives you the strength to commit
even when you are not sure.

May the Grace of the Lord
bless your soul today.
May you have the strength needed to
do the will of God no matter what
or where it may lead you.

~~~Peace~~~

Making the Commitment

~~~ Hebrews 7: 25-8: 6 ~~~ Psalm 40 ~~~ Mark 3:7-12 ~~~

 

"Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will."

 

The Blessed mother, Joseph, Paul, the saints, and even Jesus himself

make this verse more than just words.

This verse is all about what it means to be a disciple.

If we are not here to do the will of God;

then what the ___ are we doing.

Are we here just to create our own comfortable life?

If you are a Christian you know in your heart that you are here to become

the best person you can be to serve the Lord.

 

Crowds gathered around Jesus...he healed them...

he was carrying out the will of the Father.

Jesus never once thought about his powers

 as coming from any other than the Father.

 

When he reached out to heal or when someone reached to touch him for healing

he physically felt the power of God leave his body.

 

Paul writes to the Hebrews of the power of Jesus.

 

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

No earthly high priests can ever replace Jesus.

He is the ultimate high priest.

He is the one who sits at the right hand of the Father.

He is the true minister of the sanctuary.

 

Just as every high priest offers gifts and sacrifices, thus it is also with Jesus.

 

Jesus made the sacrifice that no other high priest could have made.

He sacrificed his life for each one of us.

Jesus sacrificed his life not only for those who come to know him,

but for people of all time.

 

No earthly high priest can make such a sacrifice.

 

 

In response to the huge crowds Jesus had to retreat to the boat.

It was not in the salvation plan for him to be crushed by the very people he was healing...

the very people his blood would save.

 

I love the image of Jesus stretching out his hand to touch me,

but I also hold dear the image of my hand reaching out to touch him.

Even just brief touch of the threads of his garment would be sufficient.

 

Touching a single thread of his clothing

would communicate to him my humble presence.

What a glorious reflection.

 

"Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will."

 

I am eager to do your will, Lord.

Please guide me to know your will in my life.

You alone are the holy one.

Can you make the commitment?