Echoes

~~~ Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~ Isiah 45:1, 4-6 ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~ 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5B ~~~

~~~ Matthew 22:15-21 ~~~

Today the we have so many wonderful texts to draw from so here goes...

I have called you by your name... I am the LORD, there is no other.

We hear this verse so often, but do you really believe
 that you were actually called by name by God himself?
Some people have a conversion experience maybe they feel
that they have actually been called by name.
What about those who are called but choose to ignore the call,
what happens to them?
What about those who know they have been called
but choose to toss his invitation aside...
believing they have better things to do with their life.
And then we have those for whatever reason who are embarrassed
for being called lest they be ridiculed or made fun of by their friends.

Jesus understands all of our excuses...he's heard it all.
He still keeps calling us by name.

 ...you are not concerned with anyone's opinion,
for you do not regard a person's status.

God sees us in our stripped down bare bones existence.
This is who he is calling...he is not concerned with the facade
we have created for ourselves.
You know the person we present to others...
the one who others want to know.
It happens even if we do not realize it at the time.

Because we have been called by name...because we know this to be true;
we are in a position to believe that those around us
have also been called by name.
If I can look at you and know in my heart that you
 have been called by name,
why would I not want to pray for you?

We give thanks to God always for all of you,
remembering you in our prayers,

I have written here before just about this beautiful verse by Paul.
There is always a reason to give thanks...
remember giving thanks is good for everyone.
We all benefit from feeling appreciated.
No one likes to be taken for granted.

For our gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.

The call of your name by God continues like the echo in a canyon.
It gets softer as time goes on but if you listen it can still be heard.

The inspired word contained in the Bible
 are constantly reverberating out to each of us.

As the echo becomes faint it is repeated again and again.
Echo...the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener.
The call comes again, he knows your name...

You are Blessed...the call of your name never ceases.

With thanks for each of my readers.
You are in my prayers.
~~~ Peace~~~

Give Thanks to Our God

~~~Thanksgiving Day ~~~

~~Sirach 50:22-24~~Psalm 145~~ 1 Corinthians 1:3-9~~ Luke 17:11-19 ~~

(I am using the optional reading for today) 

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.



 

 If you read nothing else today read these few verses
written by Paul to his beloved in Corinth.

When was the last time someone told you
that they gave thanks to God for you?
Have you ever told another person that you thank God
 for their presence in your life?
Thank your spouse or best friend for loving you.

 

Today I invite you to tell at least one person
that you thanked God for their presence in your life. 

It is always proper to express thanksgiving and gratitude.
Thank you...
two small words that can send out ripples far and wide.

Where Are the Other Nine?

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

~~~ Wisdom 6:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 82 ~~~ Luke 17:11-19 ~~~

 

We are given one more important miracle of faith,

 as we come to the close of this year dedicated to faith.

 

 “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Our faith is one of the vital components for miracles of healing.

The ten lepers kept their required distance from Jesus, as they were 'unclean'.

They called out to him,

“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”

 

They addressed Jesus as Master, a title of respect.

In Luke the disciples address Jesus as Master seven times.

 

The only one of the ten to return in gratitude is the Samaritan, the outsider.

Luke is noted for including Samaritans in his gospel writings.

Why is it that only one returns to give thanks?

We are too often ready to gripe, complain, and criticize;

but less likely to praise, rejoice, and give thanks.

 

We shy away from giving God credit for the good in our lives,

yet are quick to blame him for the bad.

 

In a few weeks we will be setting aside an entire day precisely to give thanks.

It has to be put on our calendar...too be scheduled.

 

The other nine lepers who were healed went on with their lives.

We are never told that they returned in thanksgiving,

but does that mean they were not thankful? Probably not.

I have written here about giving thanks before and will again in the future

because it is so important.

 

 

Take the opportunity today to consider how your faith inspires you to give thanks.

Perhaps we need to begin with asking, 'does my faith spark any gratitude'?

 

The diseased Samaritan found reason to give thanks for his physical healing,

but he was also giving thanks for a much deeper healing.

Was in fact the cured Samaritan giving thanks to Jesus for his extreme kindness?

The Samaritans were not among the favored people;

they were the outcasts.

 

Even Jesus regularly gave thanks to the Father...

raising his eyes up to heaven.

 

It is fitting that today we celebrate the life of Mother Cabrini.

She dedicated her life to serving and caring for the needs of the stranger...

the immigrants of our time.

In 1946 Frances Cabrini became the first United States

citizen to be canonized.

She left her life as a model for how

we are to care for the poor.

She was inspired in her life of good works

 by what she knew of the life of Jesus.

 

Giving thanks and caring for the poor go hand and hand.

When we recognize what we have

 we should be moved to give thanks and then

 be inspired to care for the poor.

 

Blessings come in returning to give thanks.

God may not need us to thank him,

but we need to give thanks

 for the routine health and maintenance of our soul.