Mind-Body Struggle

~~~ Romans 7:18-25A ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~ Luke 12:54-59 ~~~

Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

Jesus notices that the people were able to tell about the weather
 by observing the clouds and wind direction.
But when it came to more personal things
they were greatly deficient.

The letter to the Romans gives us a possible explanation.

I know that good does not dwell in me, 
that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, 
but doing the good is not.

Paul notes that even when he intends to do good
he fails miserably.
He cannot make his mind and his body cooperate.
Instead it seems to Paul that his mind and his body
 are at odds with one another.

Have you ever found yourself in the midst
of something you did not want to do?

God designed your body to respond to pleasure.
You have your incredible five senses.
Your senses are truly a gift from God.

Your sense of sight allows you to enjoy
the beauty of all of creation.

But your sight may also be a source of sin.
How do you preserve what you see for good?
Do you seek to view that which may lead you to sin?

Your sense of taste allows you to enjoy the many flavors
of herbs, spices, and sugar to name a few.

But your sense of taste may also be a source of sin.
Have you ever eaten too much?
Do you crave sweets?
Do you use food for comfort?

I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

Your sense of touch allows you to feel
with every part of your body.

But your sense of touch can also be a source of sin.
Either pleasure or pain, hot or cold,
even this can be a source of sin.
Are you too concerned about your body?

Paul presents with this dilemma that we all face with hope.

Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Are there times when you feel like crying out to the Lord?
Are you feeling miserable too?
Does you body frustrate your good intentions?

Paul knows that it is only the Lord
that can come to our assistance.
He is the one who understands
this constant struggle that we have between
our mind and our bodies.

The gift of your body and its senses
can bring about goodness at times while at other
times be a source of distress.

Blessed to have a mind and body
wonderfully made by God.
~~~Peace~~~

Guard the Goodness

~~~~ Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 ~~~ Psalm 78 ~~~ Mark 2:1-12 ~~~

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what 

they were thinking to themselves...

Jesus had the ability to internalize everything
about what being human meant.
He was able to see each person as an individual.
He was able to get past whatever was in their past;
he was able to offer them more.
He was and can be today for us the personification of hope.

As the crippled man was lowered down to Jesus from the roof,
Jesus was intuitively aware of what the authorities were thinking.

Mind reading is something found in amusement
 parks...at traveling carnivals.
This was Jesus who knew what they were thinking.

Imagine for a minute if the next time you entered
 into a room full of people you were able to know what
 they were all thinking about you.
Would you be totally freaked out? I would.

Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Jesus heals the man and forgives his sins
while he also dealing with the negativity
 in the hearts of some in the room.

Jesus could sense the darkness in their hearts.
Jesus could sense their jealousy and hatred.

Most of us can not be up to our best
 when we are surrounded with negative
 thoughts and words.

Jesus asks them 'why', because
he knew that all things first begin within the heart
whether they are good or bad.

Whatever we nourish and cuddle
within our heart is what will be manifested in our life.

We must be careful to guard
 the goodness in our heart.

Thank goodness we do not have the ability
 to know what others are thinking.

Even if we try or think we know we are
wrong much of the time.

Jesus knows what we are thinking.
He knows what is in our heart.
He knows that what comes from him is goodness.
He also knows that what is not good in our heart
originated outside of his love.

Guard all that is good within your heart.

We are Blessed to have a God
who knows what we are thinking,
who knows what is in our heart
and loves us even more.

~~~Peace~~~

Create the Space to Receive

~~~First Sunday of Advent ~~~

 

~~~ Jeremiah 33:14-16 ~~~ Psalm 25 ~~~ 1Thessalonians 3: 12-4:2 ~~~

~~~ Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 ~~~

 

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

 

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.

 

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

 

As we begin the solemn time of Advent

we are reminded to strengthen our hearts.

A strong heart is fortified with love.

The Blessed Mother is a model for us of what it means to be vigilant

with a heart fully awake.

 

Imagine for a moment being prepared for the coming of the Lord in

mind, body, heart and soul.

With our mind, let us focus on preparing a place in our lives

where Jesus can reside.

Make a commitment to read the daily readings

thinking about what they are saying to you.

With our body, let us act in a manner that exemplifies our intent

to receive Jesus

in a new way during Advent this year.

With our heart and soul, create a sacred inner space where the Lord

is welcome to dwell.

Dedicate time to be still and consider what you are anticipating.

Are you really eagerly waiting for Jesus to be born again

within your heart?

 

With arms outstretched embrace this vision of welcoming Jesus

into your whole being...

...allow him to inspire your thoughts...

...allow him to be present through your actions toward others...

...allow him to be the joy in your heart...

...allow him to be the song in your soul.

 

 

"The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise..."

 

Wait for the Lord.

Be vigilant and strong.

Stand up straight and tall, for he is coming for you...

He is coming so that you might have life everlasting.

 

Be not afraid.

Open up your heart, mind, body, and soul.

Praise him with all that you are.

Who is Your Neighbor?

~~~ Galatians 1:6-12 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Luke 10: 25-37 ~~~

 

To inherit eternal life you must...

"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."

 

The scholar of the law knew the correct answer even before he met up with Jesus.

You undoubtedly knew the correct answer before reading these verses as well.

 

The real question is how to accomplish this prescribed entry fee.

The first four points seem relatively easy...well at least doable.

It is the last few words that seem to send us into a tail spend.

'love God and your neighbor as yourself'

 

Even the scholar is struggling with this last phrase.

"And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus gives him an example.

First he sets up the scene...a man falls victim to some robbers,

he was stripped, beaten, and left on the side of the road for dead.

 

This victim represents the last person you would want to stop and help.

He is a stranger. He is a victim of a violent crime. He is naked. He is bruised and bloody. He is lying helplessly on the side of the road.

 

It would be easy just to pass him by; thinking that he was too needy.

Or thinking there was no use in stopping

 since he was too near death from his wounds.

 

Jesus describes someone as the neighbor that you would find difficult to love.

He does not give an example of a young woman

needing help carrying her water jugs

 up the hill to her house.

No.

Jesus uses an example of someone in a dire situation

to make his point even more emphatic.

 

To love your neighbor as you love God

you must be willing to overlook those you find less lovable...

those you might judge to be less worthy of love.

 

Jesus was implying that 'everyone' is your neighbor.
The victim is naked thus preserving his anonymity.

 

A priest and a Levite both go out of their way to ignore the victim on the side of the road. They both moved away from the victim to the other side of the road.

It might have been excusable if perhaps they had not seen the man, but they make the decision to move to the other side of the road.

They did not want to be bothered with this neighbor.

He was not someone they were willing to give care or attention to.

 

In fact they were willing to pretend that he did not even exist.

If they were on the other side of the road perhaps they were excused from helping.

How do you feel about that concept?

 

The Samaritan man goes above and beyond to help this man.

Not only does he give immediate care to his wounds,

but he carries him to a place to rest and further heal.

The Samaritan takes the victim to a place of safety.

He sees beyond the present situation.

 

Is this what it means to love with your whole heart?

Is this what it means to love your neighbor?

The Samaritan treated this man as a real neighbor.

He did not treat him as a stranger, which of course he was.

 

The Samaritan not only carried the man to a place of rest, but he remained there with him. He cared for the man. He put his own plans aside for this needy victim.

Would you be willing to make such a sacrifice?

Would you be willing to put your own agenda aside to care for a stranger?

 

 

I think it is safe to say that most of us would not go to such lengths.

We would not be able to show such love for a total stranger

who had been victimized and left for dead.

 

Today every state has what is called

'the Good Samaritan Law'.

This law was inspired by today's parable.

It protects someone who stops to give emergency aid to another person.

 

Even our laws seem to encourage us to care for a stranger

as if he were our neighbor.

A Good Samaritan is a person who sees the need to help someone

and reaches out to that person. 

 

Look for opportunities to love your neighbor

even if that person is a stranger.

Loving others as you love God and yourself is not an option

if you want to attain eternal life.

It is required!

God never promised it would be easy.