"Hooked" on Jesus

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 16:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 100 ~~~ John 15:18-21 ~~~

If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own...

The world wants us to be exclusive to its whims and temptations.
Just consider every commercial on network television
 that captures your attention.
Now days we don't even leave our chair
during a commercial because they are making
 them more and more entertaining.
Some commercials are almost considered a necessity.

How else would we find out about the numerous negative side effects
 of our medications? I am half kidding,
but it is so close to the truth.
We get hooked into commercials because
they are designed in such a manner
that we begin to identify with the actors.
These are actors they are not real.
Speaking of actors; we have so many different
'reality' shows that I have lost count...
just more examples of how the world lures us unto itself.

Jesus has such a different method to 'lure' us to himself.
He does not try to make us his slave.
He does not trick us with actors.
He does not attract us to himself through the things of the world.

Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’

A slave hardly has the freedom to think their own thoughts.
A slave eventually becomes immune to hope.
A slave surrenders to the darkness...this is what the world has to offer.

We were not chosen by God to be a slave.
We were chosen by God to be his friend...to know him and to love him.
God had called us to proclaim the Good News...

I want to get 'hooked' on Jesus because of his great love and mercy.
The world offers nothing in comparison.
The world offers no mercy, just criticism and judgment.

We are Blessed because we know the one true God.
~~~Peace~~~

Technicolor Prophecies

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

~~~ Is. 35:4-7a ~~~ Psalm 146 ~~~ James 2: 1-5 ~~~ Mark 7: 31-37 ~~~

 

The Prophet Isaiah is foretelling the wonderful things that will happen

when the Messiah comes.

"...Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you..."

 

When I was little we were excited to have our very first tiny black and white television. We would gather around this colorless box to be entertained.

Back then we could only dream of how a color picture might eventually be seen from the same box. The two telescopic antennae rising high above the box made it seem that much more unreal. How was the picture coming into that box?

What part did those silver antennas play?

 

When Jesus came, through his public ministry he began

to fulfill the prophecies.

The prophets were like watching the black and white TV.

When Jesus came all that he said and did was

so much more vivid than the prophecies had foretold.

 

Jesus was the prophecies brought to life in technicolor.

He was the first reality show, to tap into their current popularity.

Can you imagine the reporters and cameramen of today following Jesus around.

Capturing on real time video everything he did...what he ate...who he cured...the words of his parables...his common hand gestures as he spoke...his facial expressions.

His private times away in prayer.

 

The promises Isaiah is proclaiming...

  

"...Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
Streams will burst forth in the desert,
and rivers in the steppe.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water..."

 

The psalm goes on the sing of all that the Lord does...

...gives food...

...sets captives free...

...sight to blind...

...protects strangers...

...sustaining orphans and widows...

 

Jesus could have just walked about the countryside

without interacting with anyone near him

and still worked his miracles.

 

But instead he interacted with people as a compassionate

caring person.

A real caring person.

Jesus brought the prophecies to life in technicolor.

 

 

Without the death and Resurrection of Jesus

our own lives would have not have the

opportunity to live in technicolor.

 

We can choose to have our eyes and ears opened

by this very same person of God...

Jesus.

 

He does still open the eyes and ears of those who believe today.

Allow God to bring the technicolor back into your life.

Pay attention...

your eyes and ears will

 "Be opened!" --

"Ephphatha!"--

May your blessings today

be not only in technicolor but in high definition.