Shepherd Sheep: Mutual Affection

~~~ Ezekiel 37: 21-28 ~~~ John 11: 45-56 ~~~

God, having assured us of his strength (rock, fortress) and power (lightning bolts, parted seas) yesterday,is now calling us to gather around him. Just as the sheep gather round the shepherd. The sheep know the shepherd's voice. They know by past experience that he will lead them safely through treacherous lands. The sheep know that he will protect them from the wolves at night. The sheep know that the shepherd will tend to their wounds from the Brier patches.

The sheep love the shepherd and the shepherd loves the sheep.

It is mutual.

This is exactly how God wants to take care of us in the same fashion as the shepherd. Our God shepherd wants to care for more than our physical needs. Our shepherd wants to care for the needs of our soul. Our shepherd wants to care for our salvation. He beckons to us to gather round him.

He now knows his time is getting very short. He retreats from the public interaction and flees to the desert. In the past the desert has been a place of temptation for Jesus. But now the desert is a place of respite before the feast of the Passover.

The high priests are getting restless and their unrest is mounting. They want to take action. They cannot stand what they perceive as competition. They fear Jesus is going to take over and that would be the end of life as they have grown accustomed to. 

It is too bad that the Jews of that time could not see Jesus for who he was...the Messiah. Many thought Jesus would not return to Jerusalem for the Passover.

But, it was so written that he would indeed return with a triumphant entry to Jerusalem.

The shepherd is gathering his sheep close to him.

Are you coming?

You do know the sound of his voice.

Listen carefully. He will tend to all your needs.

Cling to God's Strength

Jeremiah 20: 10-13 ~~~ Psalm 18 ~~~ John 10: 31-42

Tucked in between Jeremiah and John, today we have the vivid eighteenth Psalm.

This psalm is life the calm in the middle of a swirling storm. We hear of evil plots to denounce and entrap Jesus. Then in John we hear of those who pick up rocks ready to stone Jesus to death. Jesus is accused of blasphemy; one of the worst offenses against God. St. Thomas Aquinas believed blasphemy to be a more serious offense than murder.

In Leviticus 14: 16 it clearly stated that one who blasphemies shall be put to death.

So by making this accusation against Jesus they were therefore justifying their right to kill him by stoning.

Amidst this gloom we have the strength, beauty, and hope of pslam 18. The psalmist gives concrete images so that there is no doubt or confusion as to the powers of God.

In the excerpt we are given a few of these visuals:

Rock...Fortress...Delivered...Shield...Stronghold...

There are fifty-one verses in this psalm. Each verse offers more insight into the almighty God.

The imagery continues...

parted the heavens...thundered from heaven...shot lightning bolts...

God parts the sea and in what seems like a hopeless situation,

"...He reached down from on high and seized me; drew me out of the waters....rescued me because he loves me..."

As a young boy, Jesus would have learned this psalm. This psalm brought him strength in God the Father. Jesus knew that God the Father was with him even in his human form of a man.

Take time today read psalm 18 and visualize how God is there with you. It does not matter how distraught you may feel cling to these images of God's power and strength.

Just take a single image for one day and make it your own. Pray it throughout your day. Perhaps the shield image; a shield is held in your hand so you can move it around to protect yourself from many angles. So no matter where you feel an attack coming from you can hold the shield of God as a deflector.

There is nothing stronger than God's love for us. This is exactly why he gives us these images of sttrength...his love. He will give us every opportunity to put our trust in him no matter what.

He is our Rock of strength and power.

In our time of distress, He will lift us up unto himself.

Change...Come Back...Today

Genesis 17: 3-9 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ John 8: 51-59



Again today we are given readings about God's incredible covenant with his people. A covenant that will sustain us a people for all eternity. I have previously written about covenants on this blog; check out the titles and will find those posts.

If anyone has an encounter with the Lord you always come away a changed person. Abraham, Paul, and Peter had their name changed as a result of their God encounters. Having you name changed by God is special no doubt, but you can be changed in so many other ways.

In many if not all of the miracles Jesus performed  people and things were changed. Changed from what they were into something different; something even more pleasing to God. His changes result in the exemplification of his goodness.

Every year during Lent we are called once again to change. To change our hardened hearts, to turn away from sin, to come back to him, to change our path of destruction. Lent is all about change.

When we return to the Lord and seek forgiveness we are seeking change for our soul. If we only confess our sins and never have the sincere intention to change who are we really fooling? I know that we are weak and we often fall again into the same pattern of sin. It is the intention of the mind, body, and soul that truly makes the difference. 

During Holy Week I urge you to make some kind of promise with yourself. Promise to be more aware of whatever your most difficult sin is; decide to be vigilant with keeping it out of your life. Maybe you need some outside help...recruit a friend or a spouse if you can. Maybe seeing a spiritual director would be of help.

Whatever it takes only you can make the decision to change. If God were to come before you what one thing would you request of him to change in your life.

If you could only change one thing what would that be? Sometimes it only takes changing one small thing to make a huge impact on the rest of your life.

What will it take for you to make the necessary change in your life?

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.



Is Prayer Your ICE?

~~~ Daniel 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95 ~~~ John 8: 31-42 ~~~

How strong is your faith in God? Do you have blind trust in the Lord? What would you do faced with the possibility of death for your faith?

These are tough questions. I am treading on shaky ground here, at least where I am concerned. I do not really know if I would be able to be a martyr. I would like to say with a firm answer, 'yes', but I cannot.

In the reading from Daniel today we have the incredible story of three brave men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refuse to worship the golden statue. They are tossed into the fiery furnace. Because of their strong faith in God, he sent an angel to save them.

When we are faced with the consuming flames of out of control life events if we have a strong faith, God will send us his angel. It is worth noting that God did not remove the three from the flames nor did he extinguish the furnace. When we take our problems to prayer don't expect God to make them disappear. Calling to God for help may mean he gives us the strength to endure our trails.

The three men did not get this faith as they were being thrown into the furnace. They already had this strong faith. It was their faith that allowed them to deny the King's request. They had acknowledged their decision to worship the true God no matter what.

We cannot wait until we are in the midst of a crisis to exercise our faith.

You cannot wait until a fire is raging in your house to plan an escape route. Every month while I was teaching we had a timed fire drill. Sometimes your normal exit path was 'blocked' and you had to quickly go to the next closest exit. This was to be done quickly and quietly. But more importantly this exit drill was to be carried out without panic.

When you prepare ahead of time you are able to take action. Valuable time is not wasted by having to decide what to do or where to go. Being prepared is a safety procedure that saves lives.

I saw a sign once that said, Is prayer your ICE?

ICE: in case of emergency. If we only pray when there is an 'emergency' we will not be creating the habit of praying. If prayer is not a part of your regular routine, then it is risky to believe that in a crisis you will turn to prayer.

The three men in the furnace were prepared for this very crisis. They were willing to sacrifice their bodies. Here comes the obvious; Jesus sacrificed his life for each one of us. He prayed to the Father and had complete trust in the Father.

How frustrating at times it must have been for Jesus to experience the disbelief of so many. May God grant us strength of faith in times of calm and in times of turmoil.

It is through our prayer life that we are led to a place of trust in God.A belief that he will take care of us even in the midst of consuming flames.

As we approach Holy Week seek the Lord with your whole heart and soul. He alone is the giver of all life. In him we live and breathe and have a being.

Increase my faith O Lord, decrease my disbelief!

Mounted on a Pole ~ Lifted High

~~~ Numbers 21:4-9 ~~~ Psalm 102 ~~~ John 8: 21- 30 ~~~

It is human nature to get discouraged at the end of a journey. As we get closer to Holy Week we may be struggling to see if anything worthwhile comes from our Lenten sacrifices. We may be tired of doing the same things each day...our routine may be getting boring...our determination waning.

The people who were following Moses were weary from their long journey and their palate was not satisfied. They were longing to taste something more stimulating.

Moses prayed and God decided to spice up their lives with poisonous serpents. The serpent of bronze restored their attention. In order to saved from death those bitten had only to look at up at the snake. This renewed their desire to continue on their journey.

The healing quality of this serpent was later incorporated into the symbol for the field of medicine used even today.

This visual of the healing snake on the staff was a precursor of Jesus hanging upon the cross. The snake was a symbol of God's grace, but the true meaning was soon overlooked. The Israelites became so obsessed with this bronze serpent that it later had to be destroyed as an idol.

If today you have within you poison venom from the bite of sin, you have only to come to the cross of Christ look up and repent. Looking up at the crucifix and holding your gaze upon his tortured body will send his love and mercy into your heart. Remember that clean heart you are longing for? It is here with arms outstretched waiting to receive you in a full embrace.

 

An embrace so totally saturated with love that you know without a doubt that it belongs to what is above. It cannot be of this world. The one who will be raised up on high for all to see and realize with conviction is the I AM. He will always do what is pleasing to the Father. The Father will never abandon him. He will always be with him.

Come to the Foot of the Cross, believe and seek the mercy of God.



Mary, Full of Grace

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

~~~ Is. 7: 10-14, 8:10 ~~~ Psalm 40 ~~~ Hebrews 10: 4-10 ~~~ Luke 1: 26-38 ~~~

Mary, as young as she was, said 'yes, Lord' and never looked back. She never had another thought after her visit from the angel Gabriel. She trusted that God did indeed had found favor with her. With the grace of God she was able to lay aside her fears quiet her mind. She fully embraced this revelation with her heart and soul. She eagerly goes to share her exciting news with Elizabeth, from whom she will also receive confirmation and comfort.

God had become weary from numerous requests to show his signs, but now there would be an incontrovertible sign...two unique remarkable pregnancies. The prophet Isaiah foretells of this great sign: "the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us!'"

The psalmist sings out "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will."

Mary was given 'ears open to obedience'...doing the will of God was already
written upon her heart...her God truly was her delight.

Her magnificat was her belief in the kindness and truth of God's promises.

Mary prayed fervently and surrendered totally to the will of God.

In her humility, Mary, was shocked by the angel Gabriel's greeting to her...
"Hail full of grace! The Lord is with you."

The days of Mary's life leading up to this profound announcement must have been filled with loving God. Her soul was being made ready to accept each day as she learned and listened from the words of the prophets. She had probably already committed herself to being a handmaid of her God she heard the voice of the angel.

If today YOU hear his voice harden not your hearts.
Be ready to say, 'Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.'

Covenant of the Heart

~~ Jeremiah 31:31-34 ~~ Psalm 51 ~~ Hebrews 5: 7-9 ~~ John 12: 20-33 ~~

A contract is made between two parties who do not trust one another and because of this distrust they set 'limits' to their own responsibilities. A covenant is made between two parties who trust one another.
Throughout the Old Testament we see God entering into covenants with individuals...Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses.

If you have ever purchased anything life a car or a house you have undoubtedly had the experience of entering into a contract with another party. Usually these contracts are filled with legal verbiage that mean nothing to the non legal person...until something goes wrong. If something goes wrong then you drag out the contract, that you faithfully signed, and begin to read the fine print...

When you enter into a covenant with God you never have to be anxious about the fine print or the legality of the agreement. Covenants with God are always for our good. God does not break his covenants, but the other party may not follow through.

God makes a new covenant, a covenant of the heart. God places upon our hearts his law claiming us for his own. '...they shall be my people.'

This covenant of the heart which God initializes remains in us and resides in the hearts of each person. To further solidify this covenant he sends his only Son to earth. This son, Jesus, through obedience to the Father perfects this covenant of the heart God makes with us. Because of the death of Jesus we have complete trust in God. The death of Jesus sealed the covenant of the heart; "he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."

When we honor our side of this covenant we too become obedient to the Father. We must die to ourselves just as the grain of wheat in order to become fruitful. "Whoever serves me must follow me" To honor his/her side of this covenant.  "...and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me."
A covenant with God is imbued with Love and never distrust.

Those who live in covenant of the heart with God will be lifted up
from the earth and drawn to Jesus himself.

It is to our benefit to guard this covenant of the heart we have with God. He wants us to be at peace with this 'covenantal' arrangement. He creates the clean heart of a clear conscience, he renews our spirit and gives us a willing spirit, and the joy of salvation.

God sent Jesus to save us because he was not taking any chances with our salvation. He could not leave us to our own way...
he saw how that did not work too well in the past.
Open your heart into the possibilities of this magnificent covenant with the Lord.
Let Go and Let God
design your heart.

The Plot to Destroy the 'Tree'

 ~~~ Jeremiah11: 18-20 ~~~ Psalm 7 ~~~ John 7: 40-53 ~~~

Some years ago (1989) in Austin someone plotted and executed an attempt to kill the Treaty Oak Tree. This historic tree is believed to be over 500 years old. The only tree left standing from a grove of 14 trees known as the Council Oaks. In 1927 the American Forestry Association proclaimed, "The most perfect specimen of a North American Tree".

This tree came to mind as I read from the prophet Jeremiah, "Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more." This verse is prophesying about Jesus, we now understand, the one who tried to kill the Treaty Oak was trying to terminate it's life...to sut it off from the land of the living. 

As Holy Week gets ever closer we have readings highlighting the seriousness of the final verdict to condemn Jesus. The psalmist even cries out, "Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but sustain the just...".

It took money, work, and dedication to save the Treaty Oak. A huge portion of the top of the tree was lost as a result of the evil poisoning. It took years of patience and dedication to sustain this tree and revive it. Eight years later it once again had the strength to produce its acorns.

As Jesus moved about speaking the crowds began to believe the he truly was the 'Prophet' and others were still not sure. They were caught up on where Jesus had come from and from whose lineage he descended.  "...but no one laid hands on him."

Each day we are being brought ever closer to the Passion of Our Lord. Where do you stand...with the confused crowd or beside Jesus in the land of the living?

Wherever goodness abounds dissension is surely to rear its ugly head. The crowd listening to Jesus was becoming more and more agitated. They were struggling within themselves. They were at odds with their own conscience. They were looking for an escape from their own doubts. Was this Jesus too good to be true? Are they just jumping to conclusions without looking at the real facts? Are they seeing only what they want to see...their own sinful unworthiness?

It is within your possession the ability to spread among those you encounter little seeds of the immense love of Jesus. Look inside your heart for those 'acorns' produced in you through faith in the One who saves...
 Release them to be carried into the heart of another...to there take root.

A False Sense of Safety

~~~ Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~ John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 ~~~

Personal identity with your birth place. Do you tell people were you were born? Some of you may be proud of your birthplace others might just want it to remain unknown. This identity also holds true for your college affiliation. You A&M and UT grads know exactly what I am saying. Well I graduated from USC I will just leave you guessing which university those initials represent.

Jesus is now being pursued by the officials especially in his hometown of Judea. For special feast days, as a faithful Jew would observe, he travels back to Jerusalem with his friends. Even though he tries to remain obscure, word spreads throughout the region and he is recognized.

My thoughts turn for a moment to the many years our military searched for Bin Laden. He moved about freely until it became apparent that there was a bounty over his head. He too moved about in secret and often in disguise. The huge difference here is obvious...namely Osama was about spreading death and destruction, Jesus was about spreading the good news of our salvation.

The rumors about Jesus continue like an under toe just below the surface. Perhaps even then the people were into sensational events.In the temple Jesus cries out in his own defense, "You know me and also know where I come from...Yet I did not come on my own...but (from) the one who sent me...".

His very presence creates tension and unrest among the people, but "no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come."

How eerie to think that Jesus was enduring this false sense of safety in a way because of a timing issue. He knew what was ahead for himself. I thank God that I cannot see what lies ahead on my journey of life. Maybe I might like a peek at the good news, but definitely not the future trials and tribulations.

Jesus lived each day on earth in preparation for his journey to his crucifixion. We too can live each day in preparation for our final days. I think Lent is a time when we can make an assessment of how we are doing at our own death preparation. A somber but important consideration...our own death.

The presence of Jesus,
"...merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others...
different are his ways."
The wonder of God far surpasses our understanding.
"...no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him."

Moses' Relationship with God

~~~ Exodus 32: 7-14 ~~~ Psalm 106 ~~~ John5: 31-47 ~~~

The yellow caution lights are lined up and feverishly blinking...on-off-on-off-on-off

These blinking lights are designed to get our attention. When you first see these blinking lights you may not be able to see why they are alerting you. In any case you slow down in anticipation of what is ahead.

Here today we have words of caution coming from God. It is because of the relationship Moses has with God that the people are spared from destruction by the hand of God. God is warning the people to reconsider their actions; namely of worshiping the molten calf they created for themselves.

Moses reminds God of how he has so diligently been there for his own chosen people. "Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel..." Moses continues to speak about the promises God made to his people...numerous descendants and property rights. Moses is successful in his plea, God does not act on his threats.

Jesus confirms that John the Baptist spoke on his behalf, but goes on with a caution not to be content with these testimonies. Jesus no longer needs someone else to prepare the way. He now speaks for himself "as the Father has sent me".

Within this text we have a very important sentence..."You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf."

The caution here is you cannot just delve into the scripture alone. And while you are holding on to the scripture notice how it too testifies on behalf of Jesus.

Jesus is much more intent on us having a relationship with him. Moses had this relationship with God and it was to the benefit of his people. Jesus is saying sure read the Bible, but "...come to me to have life".

Caution...blinking yellow lights!

Bible reading good, but relationship with God better!

If you foster your personal relationship with God you will accept Jesus...you will have the love of God inside.

It was preceisely because of the relationship Moses had with God that he was able to lead his people for so long. Moses was always sharing what God had revealed to him.
Therefore, if you do not heed this caution to develop your relationship with God even Moses will be disappointed, 'in whom you have placed your hope'.

Jesus is his own living testimony...then, now, and forever more.
Is your life a testimony to Christ's mercy?

Jesus, Obedient to the Father

~~~ Is. 49:8-15 ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ John 5:17-30 ~~~

We would all do well to remember that we 'live and breathe, and move' only through God. Every morning when we rise our first breath taken to greet the new day is only through God. Even Jesus openly proclaimed 'the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing'. Of course Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, but it was his humanity acknowledges his obedience to the Father.

Jesus is trying to get us to understand how connected he is with the Father. Jesus, while part of the Triune God, came to do the will of the Father. We still have difficulty grasping that concept today. Too many people today want only to do what 'they' want to do. There is no concept of doing the will of the Father.

In today's gospel, Jesus uses 'Amen, amen' three times. Three times he tries to get our attention because he knew that what he was saying was profound. He also knew that we, humans, would have a hard time with the concept.

Sometimes I admit I am a little jealous of Jesus, because he had no doubt as to what the will of the Father was...he had a direction. I often find myself vacillating between what I think could be God's will and what most likely is just my own preferences bubbling to the surface. So I tend to look for signs (oops, we have been warned about looking for signs) that I am at least making decisions that are on the path.

So here is my rule of thumb...when I make a decision I first pray asking for guidance from the Holy Spirit. If the decision does not feel right or I do not feel at peace then I return to prayer. I wish I could say this is fail proof, but I cannot. Perhaps that says more about me than the validity of the process.

It takes a certain amount of humility and trust to always do the will of the Father. It takes being committed to listen to his voice over and ever again. It often involves stepping out of your usual comfort zone. It can even require blind faith.

The words from Isaiah today of help, restoration, satisfaction are words of encouragement and comfort. "For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted." Are you available to receive this gift of mercy?

We will never be forgotten by God he is consistently near to all who call on him. He desires to meet all our needs. He wants to lead us out of darkness into the light. He wants us to be refreshed by the streams of water.

Jesus wants all of this for us because of his desire to do the will of the Father...Jesus truly is equal to the Father in all things. He was sent to show us the human qualities of the Father. For all good things come from him.

Have You Looked Beyond the Rising Waters?

~~~ Ezek. 47:1-9, 12 ~~~ Psalm 46 ~~~ John 5:1-16 ~~~

Rising waters on all sides...ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep, over the top of your head, swimming is the best alternative...
the first thoughts that come to mind for me here is the feeling of being overwhelmed with life. We try to be so strong but life has a way of smothering us with issues.

Spouse, work, children, parents, friends, neighbors, faith community, personal health, finances, automobile repairs, household chores, recreation...
How many ways can one individual handle life when the dump truck unloads all at the same time, right in your front yard? It makes you just want to curl up in a ball and hide, but you know you cannot.

You begin to notice there is a bank along this river and lining this bank are the trees of hope. This bank is rich with new life...leafy green fruit trees. The river is home to abundant fish and wildlife. Life is good if we look beyond the rising waters. God is providing; he is extending his care for all who come to the waters.

Come! sings the psalmist, "behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things he has wrought on earth."

The crippled man waiting to enter into the pool was overwhelmed and discouraged at not being able to carry himself to the water. Jesus speaks to the man causing him to look up. When you change your focus up to Jesus be prepared for your life to change as well. Jesus calmly said, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."
Beside the waters God will provide for he is the Living Water...the water that daily sustains our life.

When you experience healing there comes a new responsibility. Your time of waiting has ended and now begins your time of action. You cannot keep this healing a secret you want to praise God for his goodness. This healing validates that you are loved and cared for by God. Whatever the nature of healing you need in your life it is possible to receive.

The healing of the heart may be the most profound healing of all.
When your heart is healed and cleansed with the living waters;
how can you deny having Joy in the Lord?

When the waters are rising all around you look for the Lord along the river bank.
He will be there with leafy green fruit bearing trees.
Hope lies near the Living Waters.

The Humble Servant, Joseph

~~~ Sam.7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16, ~~~ Psalm 89 ~~~ Rom. 4:13, 16-18, 22 ~~~ Matt.1:16, 18-21, 24a ~~~

In the bosom of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written...
Today is the feast of St. Joseph. He, as was Mary, was chosen by God to be entrusted with the care of the child Jesus. Joseph must have had a deep faith.

He responded to the advice of God in a dream where an angel speaks to him. He was a man of great honor, for he did not want to embarrass Mary because of her unwed pregnancy. Joseph trusted that God the Father would guide him and lead him in the care of both Mary and the child, Jesus.

Joseph led this Holy Family by surrendering to the will of God. For these were not the plans he had envisioned for his life. There was no way he could have had any idea of what he would be called to do. Joseph was able to lead the family to safety and to provide for them as a humble servant of God. He was obedient to God at every venture in his life.

I feel sure that Joseph came to love and care for Mary. He was charged with the protection of both Mary and Jesus from those wanting to harm him from his birth. As Jesus grew older Joseph would spend time with him teaching him how to be a model Jewish boy. Jesus was likely taught much about the writings of the prophets by Joseph.
Jesus would have called Joseph dad or father at least until he was lost in the temple.

That is the last time anything is recorded in scripture about Joseph. Sadly we have very little given to us through scripture concerning Joseph. Most likely he did come from a very devout holy family. A family that believed in the word of God. A family that accepted mysteries without question. God would not have chosen someone for this important roll in the life of Jesus who was not holy.

I wonder why we do not have any accounts of Jesus using carpentry stories in any of his parables? He was a very good story teller; it was easy to identify with his life examples and the various situations in people's lives.

Saint Joseph shows us how to be supportive yet humble in our service to God.
We can step back and still be in an important roll.


Amazing Grace through Amazing Love

~~~ Chron. 36:14-16,19-23 ~~~ Psalm 137 ~~~ Eph. 2: 4-10 ~~~ John 3:14-21 ~~~

"...by grace you have been saved through faith...it is the gift from God..."

"For God so loved the world..."

"...light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light..."

"...whoever lives the truth comes to the light..."

There is a saying I've heard,
'The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.'

If God has gifted us with faith and grace we should be capable of reaching the light. Why does that logic not consistently work? Or is it that too many people have not accepted the gifts of God?

I think it just might be possible to refuse the gift of faith. If you willingly close your mind refusing to acknowledge God's presence in your life; isn't that equivalent to refusing God?

If you are preoccupied with things of the darkness...hanging out in the shadows; will you even know when God is there? Have you ever been inside a darkened room and then walked outside into the bright sunlight? The first thing that happens is you want to close your eyes. The brightness of the sunlight is too much to take at once.
You need to allow your eyes some adjustment time.

If someone has been living in the darkness of sin it may take some extra time to comfortably approach the light. It may begin with curiosity. It may take the loving compassion of a friend. The amazing thing is that through the Grace of God it is possible to turn away from darkness and walk toward the light.  Encountering the grace of God may cause some moments of anxiety...some soul searching questions, but it is real.

This is where we, you and I, can become facilitators of God's light. We can represent this light to others because of the grace of God. We can support those searching for the way out of the darkness by embracing the gift of our faith.

God could not have given us any more than he did...he gave us his only Son. There is no way we should question God's love for us. It is with this knowledge of God's love that we have the courage to live in truth. It is with this knowledge that we turn to him for all of our needs.

Today I am reminded of the time tested lyrics from 
Amazing Grace

John Newton (1725-1807)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Through the gift of grace we can live in the light of Christ.
Through the gift of grace we can be the light of Christ to others.

Why Wait? Return to the Lord, Now

~~~ Hosea 6: 1-6 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Luke 18: 9-14 ~~~

"Come, let us return to the Lord..."

"...he will raise us up, to live in his presence."

"...let us strive to know the Lord..."

"...it is love that I desire not sacrifice..."
(Hosea)

"My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled,
O God, you will not spurn."
(Psalm 51)

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector present themselves before the Lord in prayer.

The Pharisee projects his judgement of others out from his heart. The Pharisee presents the presumptuous prayer of how worthy his actions have made him. He even compares himself to the stranger he really knows nothing about.
The Tax Collector approaches his prayer from the position of repentance, humility, and unworthiness. He is honest in his prayer asking God for mercy. He admits to God how he has failed to live up to the expectations of God.

Why do we feel we have the right to judge another? How can we compare ourselves to someone we do not even know? Comparing self to another is only an attempt to make yourself feel better...a way to deny your own short comings.
Feelings of superiority have no place when you are in the presence of the Lord. You cannot fool God he is all knowing...So what is the point? It is only to build yourself up with falsities. How long can you keep up the facade?

Throughout scripture the Pharisees have been protrayed as just the type who are constantly comparing themselves to others in a more favorable light. They even try to campare themseles to being better than Jesus. For they knew not what they were doing; this pattern of thought had become their way of life.

What might be the message here for us? The message for me is to be more aware when those prideful thoughts of comparison rush into my heart. It is so easy to forget. I have no right to compare myself to another no matter what I think about them.

We can return to God as many times as needed. He will not enforce a limit until you take your last breath. Return to the Lord in humility and love so that you will be granted the joy of living in his eternal presence.

"...only say the word and my soul will be healed."

How Do You Love?

~~~ Hosea 14: 2-10 ~~~ Psalm 81 ~~~ Mark 12: 28-34 ~~~

I have had students who could recite back information but not understand the meaning of the words. Several birds can learn to speak very clearly what they hear. A parrot speaks without comprehension of the sounds it makes. Young children can use words heard from their parents without having a clue as to what they mean.

The scribes come to Jesus inquiring about the most important commandment. Jesus responds, "...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."

How can we make this kind of love more than just mere words? How do we love the Lord with heart, mind, soul, and strength? I think if we look at love as an action word and not an emotion; we will have something more tangible. Love is a decision you make each and every time you 'feel' love. Yes it is true there are certain chemicals released into the brain when two people are 'in love', but those chemicals eventually dissipate throughout your body.

Love is not dependent on the words you choose to say. Love has more to do with your actions. Are you living your life in a loving manner? Do you consistently treat others the way you hope to be treated? God has placed into each heart the desire and capacity to love him.

When I witness the loving interaction between a mother and her baby I am reminded of the way God wants us to love him. But more than that it is the model for how God wants us to love others and how we are to ultimately love ourself.

If we want to grow in fulfilling this commandment of love we should consider how we choose to love those around us. It is easy to love those we feel in harmony with, that is not the issue here. It is those 'other' people that we do not 'feel' like loving that Jesus is directing us to love. This is where strength from God is a necessity. It is so much easier to dismiss those we would rather not love; those who do not fit into our picture of who we are willing to love.

We rarely have our picture taken with those we do not already love. Browse through your photos sometime and see if you find any which include a person you do not love. If you do find such a person included, ask yourself 'Why?' Pause a moment.
Say a brief prayer for that person's welbeing.


Jesus continues, the second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

I know some people who do not love themselves, sad but true. If you cannot love yourself then this commandment probably makes little sense to you. In fact this commandment might make you feel uncomfortable and angry. If you do not love yourself why would anyone else be worthy of your love?
Why would you want to love anyone else?

I believe we were put on this earth to love.
How you accomplish living this love is up to you.
As always you do have a choice. Choose to Love with your whole heart, your whole mind, your whole soul, and with all your strength.
God loved us first. He loves you!

Selective Hearing: Do You Hear His Voice?

~~~ Jeremiah 7: 23-28 ~~~ Psalm 95 ~~~ Luke 11: 14-23 ~~~

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

"Listen to my voice...
walk in all the ways that I command you...
listen to the voice of the Lord..."

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
(Luke 11:23)
If you are constantly doing all of the talking you cannot be listening. You may be able to hear if you are talking, but you are not listening. Hearing and listening are not the same, the former requires your attention. 
The same letters are used to spell listen and silent.
Did you ever notice that before?

I find the story of young Samuel disturbing, because he heard the voice but was not able to recognize it as that of God. What if you hear but are confused by what you hear? How do you determine the voice of God?

"Listen, my children." (cf. Proverbs 7:24)

Have you ever gotten a phone call and as soon as you heard the voice you knew it was your friend or someone else you know well? Each person's voice has unique qualities. Your voice is like your speech print.

I believe there was something most unique about the quality of the voice of Jesus. I believe that when you heard his voice you would leave your nets and walk away from your monotonous life. Jesus walked along the seaside and said, 'Come, follow me' and men did just that.

Sheep learn to recognize their owners voice and will come when called. What happens if you hear the voice, know it is God, and do not respond? God will not wrestle with you, he will wait until you can hear his voice. When the time is right you will be able to really listen. It is only when you can listen that you can respond accordingly. Spending time in silence creates an environment
more conducive to being able to listen.

The words of God cannot take root in a hardened heart. If you have decided you are not going to listen for God, because it is a waste of your time most likely
you will be right....you will not hear him.

I do wish I could have heard his voice. I wonder what it sounded like? Was it a strong commanding voice? Or was it a loving kind voice?
You tell a lot about a person by just listening to how they speak to others.

 It is interesting that in the gospel Jesus is curing a mute...
this man was not able to speak until the demon was cast out of him.
Jesus uses his voice to restore the man's voice.

The words we speak effect the people who are listening to us. Once words have passed your lips you cannot recall them to return to you.

Sit in silence this week and listen for the voice of the Lord.
Make yourself available to recognize his holy voice; then you will walk 'with him'.
Activate your selective hearing...you know what I mean, think about it for a moment.
I long to hear the sound of your voice, Lord.

Oral Tradition: Preserving the Story

~~~ Deuteronomy 4: 1, 5-9 ~~~ Psalm 147 ~~~ Matthew 5: 17-19 ~~~

"For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord,
our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?"

"...take care...not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory for as long as you live...teach them to your children and to your children's children."

The importance of both oral tradition and grandparents...They do seem to go hand in hand. Grandparents often have more time to sit with their grandchildren and tell stories about the past. You can be dramatic and more expressive without feeling ridiculous. You can choose which part of the story to emphasize. You might choose to shorten the story to save time. You might even take the liberty to embellish, just a tad.

Oral tradition is a way of keeping history or culture alive and passed down from one generation to the next. Before the advent of recorded history this was the only means of sharing history. Oftentimes the 'stories' were chanted or sung; this helped people to not only keep track of the story, but remember it as well. This form of story telling was also a popular form of entertainment.

Most of what we have recorded in the Bible today began as oral traditions passed down from one to another. These early Christians shared their Jesus stories while dining together. I can picture St. Paul sitting around the table with his friends breaking bread and sharing their Jesus stories some twenty years later.

The author of Deuteronomy is placing significant emphasis on not letting the important things 'slip from your memory'. The best way to preserve these memories is to keep sharing them with each generation. Do you have any precious stories in your family that have been passed down through the years? Do you have any favorite stories about Jesus that you share with the children in your family?

Matthew quotes Jesus as having said, "...whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." It seems that we are expected to be examples and teachers for the future generations. Did you ever think about it from that view point? It is not bad enough that we ourselves break one of the commandments, but it is much worse if our actions lead others astray too.

The bottom line here is: you never know when your actions maybe having a negative effect on another. Does that mean we are to only follow the commandments
when we might be seen?
Hmmmm, maybe that is not the best rule of thumb for our decision making.

As Saint Francis of Asissi says,
"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words".

"For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord,
our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?"
It has been passed down to us...we can call upon him night or day, in sickness or health, in good times and in bad times.

Selfless or Selfish: Which One?

~~~ Daniel 3: 25, 34-43 ~~~ Psalm 25 ~~~ Matthew 18: 21-35 ~~~

"...with a contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received...let our sacrifice be in your presence today...as we follow unreservedly...we follow you with our whole heart..." (Daniel)

Fire consumes and purifies. Fire consumes things that are flammable like fibers, paper, and cardboard. Fire purifies silver and precious metals, but does not consume in the process.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the white hot furnace for refusing to worship the golden statue made for King Nebuchadnezzar. As the three prayed and praised God for his faithfulness, they proclaimed, 'Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord.'

They asked God to intervene on their behalf.
Later, after Jesus' baptism, Satan uses a similar argument attempting to manipulate Jesus to respond to his requests. Jesus rebukes the devil, saying, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.' 

Here we have a stark contrast in motivation. Satan is tempting Jesus and the three men in the fiery furnace are surrendering in their supplication to God.  Both incidents use a similar approach in their choice of words.

We can be guilty of the same in our prayer. Do our words always reflect our true motivation? Are we simply using the same words we have used as a child; only now with different motivation?

Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father securing salvation for us. Our salvation was his motivation. What is your motivation in prayer? Are your prayers a reflection of selfishness or selflessness?

God sent an angel to save the three from the fire because their prayer was honest and sincere. They are examples of complete trust in God.

They model for us praying in humility; knowing you have nothing to offer to God for his love.
We have "...no way of paying (it) back..." to the Lord for being spared from the consuming fire. Instead we humbly beseige God to "...be patient with me...". (Matthew)

All that we can give back to God is to be available for him to use...
to be willing to do his will...
to come before him with open palms and a humble heart.

To follow him unreservedly, with our whole heart
is the best we can offer for repayment.

"May the Lord, our God, bless us in all our works and undertakings."
(Dt. 15:10)

Do You Want to be Healed?

~~~ 2 Kings 5: 1-15 ~~~ Psalm 42-43 ~~~ Luke 4: 24-30 ~~~

Why do we question God's will?

Children are forever asking 'why' they have to obey or to follow directions. But the truth be told adults are much the same way. I find that I am often questioning why this or why that. We do not see the reasons for doing something a certain way or at a certain time.

Today in the second book of Kings we find Naaman asking this very question; 'Why?'

Why is it necessary for him to bathe in a specific river namely the river Jordan?

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. It flows down into the Sea of Galilee. The Dead Sea is the final resting place for this flow of water.

Today the waters of the Jordan River are a major point of division among the neighboring peoples of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinians.

In ancient times the River Jordan was viewed as a source of fertility.

It is said to be the 'Garden of God'.

At the time, Naaman did not know the importance of the Jordan River, but the prophet Elisha had the insight to send him there to be cured. Naaman had the terrible disease of leprosy, a dread disease which kept the person by law separated from the rest of society. The concern of a little slave child for her master prompted him to seek healing from the prophet, Elisha.

The faith of a child is pure and sincere. The innocence of our childhood is mostly a mere anomaly of our past. God was at work here though or this child would not have been given any attention or taken seriously.

The initial petition for healing was presented to the wrong person; the king of Israel, since he was not the one who could prophesy he misinterpreted the request. How many times do we make our requests known to the wrong person. We place our trust in things of the world hoping they will bring us the happiness we are seeking.

Finally Naaman arrives at the door of Elisha where he is told to wash not once but seven times in the Jordan River. His first reaction was to leave in anger thinking this prescription for healing was absurd. He does not consider this river to be of any special significance.

The number seven is one of the most significant numbers in the Bible. Most importantly the number seven represents wholeness and completeness.

The healing and cleansing of Naaman's body only occurs when he is obedient to the words of the prophet. We too can only be healed of our sins and cleansed of guilt by being obedient to the words of God. By living our life as he modeled for us loving and forgiving others. Spreading peace and compassion along the way.

We must leave the comfort zone of what is familiar to be healed. Elisha was in Israel and Naaman came from Syria. Our comfort zone may be our own mind set and beliefs about the healing power of God.

Jesus came to heal our souls; to make us whole and complete in him. For it is only in God that we can attain complete wholeness.

Dip into the healing river of living water and renew your life in Christ.

Remove the "Lint" from Your Heart this "Lent"

~~~ Exodus 20: 1-17 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ 1Cor. 1: 22-25 ~~~ John 2: 13-25 ~~~

"Lord, you have the words of everlasting life." (John 6:68c)

Following The 10 Commandments presents a real challenge to some for their entire lives. For some these commandments interfere with how they want to live their life. They want to live a life consumed by their whims and earthly pleasure. Following these rules are just too much trouble it is easier to take path of least resistance.

Paul hits the nail on the head so to speak the crucified Christ was a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. They ask themselves WHY would anyone willingly subject themselves to this savage death by crucifixion. It is hard to wrap your mind around how anyone could make this kind of sacrifice.

If it is difficult to keep the commandments then trying to understand the crucifixion just might be beyond comprehension. One of the most humbling mysteries of our faith is that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life."

Now is the time to search your heart, to look into the hidden pockets and pull out the little piles of lint. Pocket lint can go unnoticed even after multiple machine washings. Scrape the lint from your heart.

It is hard to ignore the times we have blatantly broken a commandment. But have you looked for the pieces of lint that have been patted down into the seams and corners? You know those sins that just hang around...you just cannot seem to remove them from your life.  They eventually become part of the fabric of your life...your heart. Turning the 'pocket' inside out may be the only way to find the hidden lint.

Jesus went into the temple and turned over tables spilling coins; he made a whip out of cords and drove them out of the temple. Living a life of surrendering to God may just mean allowing him to come and turn over the tables of your life. It may mean hearing Jesus say, 'take these out of here.'

It may mean removing debris to create space for something better.

Create in me a clean heart!

Do you believe in his name?

Lent...time to remove the 'Lint' from your heart.

Who is There Like You?

~~~ Micah7: 14-15, 18-20 ~~~ Psalm 103 ~~~ Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 ~~~

"Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt

and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;

Who does not persist in anger,

but delights rather in clemency,

And will again have compassion on us,

treading underfoot our guilt?

You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins..."

The Prophet Micah was not privileged to know of the story of the incredibly generous father of the Prodigal Son. Which is today's gospel from Luke.

Who is there like you?

We could ask that question every time we enter into prayer. Our God is truly an awesome God. He loves us even more than the most beloved parent could ever begin to love their son or daughter.

The psalmist echoes the same message, 'The Lord is kind and merciful'. He pardons, he heals, he redeems, he crowns. What more could you ask for?

Who is there like you?

There will always be rejoicing at the repentance of one sinner; of one son returning to the father. The story of the Prodigal Son gives only a fraction of the magnitude of God the Father's love for one who turns from sin.
Reconciliation is a bridge for love and compassion to meet in the center.
Reconciliation is mending the brokenness...making it whole again.

"Reconciliation is to understand both sides; to go to one side and describe the suffering being endured by the other side, and then go to other side and describe the suffering being endured by the first side." Thich Nhat Hanh

"In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself,
not myself from You."- Saint Augustine
Never underestimate the great capacity of our God to forgive sins and remove guilt.

Who is there like you?
We need no other words for prayers of praise and gratitude.

The Master Dreamer

~~~ Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46 ~~~

Sibling rivalry is alive and prosperous in the Old Testament. The story of Joseph being left in the desserted cistern is just as well known as the Cain Abel story. Is it fairly common for brothers and sisters to play tricks on each other. Usually it is all fun and games, but in this case Joseph's brothers were not playing a game. Thet were serious about getting rid of their borther. A person consumed by jealousy becomes a non human creature. 'They hated him so much they would not even greet him'.

Imagine your own family members not talking to you.

Imagine how Joseph must have felt.

In today's society Joseph would probably have been the victim of bullying; from his very own brothers. The brothers were operating much like a close knit gang. Young Joseph was eager to be with his older brothers. He had the innocence of a child. Like most young children they want to be with their older brothers. They want to do everything that the older ones get to do. So Joseph was super excited to be sent out to join them.

From a distance the brothers plot to kill their own borther. They were filled up with hate. Their hearts were blackened with sarcasm, 'Here comes that master dreamer'. They were not referring about the dreams of our sleep. For some reason they thought Joseph spent much of his time 'day' dreaming.

How do you feel about being a dreamer? Do you ever 'dream' about things in your life? Do you ever dream about harmony within your family? Do you ever dream about the perfect spouse or friend? What do you dream about?

Jesus had a 'dream' too. His dream was to have us learn how to love like him. He too was betrayed by one almost as close as a brother, Judas.

Joseph was stripped of his special tunic made especially for him by his father. Jesus was stripped of more than just his tunic.

The only way to silence the 'dreamer' is to kill him, but in the case of Joseph God had a bigger plan for him. There is no way his brothers could have ever guessed that this very brother would later be the very one to save them from starvation. They just wanted him out of the picture at any cost, so they sell him for twenty pieces of silver.

and we know of course that Judas also sells Jesus for close to the same amount.

There are no coincidences in the divine plan.

Much later in the life of Joseph he is presented with the opportunity to show great mercy to his brothers and bring great joy to his father. The 'master dreamer' was able to pour forth love that had been taught to him by his father Israel. 'Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons...the child of his old age'.

The evil plot of the brothers was not able to silence the goodness in the heart of Joseph, the master dreamer. Killing Jesus did not stop him from acomplishing his mission, in fact his death was necessary for us to be saved. Just as it was necessary for Joseph to be sold into slavery in order for him to save his family,

even those who plotted to kill him.

The mercy and forgivness of God is way beyond anything we could dream...

either awake or asleep.

In your prayers today choose the one person you most need to forgive and pray for them...just for today...join the 'master dreamer'.

Place Your Trust in the Lord

~~~ Jeremiah 17:5-10 ~~~ Psalm 1 ~~~ Luke 16: 19-31 ~~~

Sometimes I like to consider the New Living Translation of the Bible. You can gain fresh insight as to how these ancient texts relate to people in our times. This reading from Jeremiah is so rich and full of thoughts we can take to prayer for reflection.

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Wisdom from the LORD

⁵ This is what the LORD says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the LORD. 

Too often when we only rely on human beings we are disappointed. We have hurt feelings. We say things we did not really mean. We act before thinking about the consequences. We give credit when not deserved or earned.

 ⁶ They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.

If we only put our trust in humans we will always be searching for the next greatest and most exciting person to follow. We will be like lost children wandering aimlessly about the world. We will be like a beautiful flowering desert cactus that is never able to bloom...is never able to bring forth its full beauty...its complete purpose.

   They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.

The barren wilderness eventually causes you to become bitter, hopeless; even to the point of despair. To be barren is to be empty of new growth and new life. The wilderness is a lonely place when you are looking for the Lord.

⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD
and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

But all is not lost..if we place our hearts and minds in the right place...in the Lord, we will be delivered from our barrenness. The Lord will be with us...he alone is our Hope.

⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.

Roots...faith in the living water of the Holy Spirit will sustain us even in the wilderness. Our roots must be given care and attention for they anchor us in the Lord.  

Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.

If we trust in the Lord nothing can shake us. If we are anchored in the Lord nothing can take that away; not trials or worries. If our faith is in the Lord alone we can remain faithful in prayer even in times of dryness.  

Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.

Even when we do not 'Feel' like God is present with us we must continue to walk in his way...to follow his lead. To keep our leaves green means to nurture your prayer life.

⁹ “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?

The human heart cannot be fully understood by us. Yes, we wonderful physicians who can diagnose and repair the mechanical workings of our heart, but we do not really understand the human heart. The human heart has most unique characteristics. Recent research has proven that the human heart even stores memories.

¹⁰ But I, the LORD, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.

That which we think is held secret within our hearts is well known to God. God knows us better than we know ourselves. The Holy Spirit can grab hold of our hearts when we least expect it. The Spirit of God can give you the desire for a pure cleansed heart. This is our task during Lent; to ask God to help us as we search our own hearts.  

 I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”  

New Living Translation

"I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart,

To reward everyone according to his ways..."

Put your faith and trust in the Lord, but love your fellow human beings.

Carefully Take Note of His Every Word

~~~ Jeremiah 18:18-20 ~~~ Psalm 31 ~~~ Matthew 20: 17-28 ~~~

The first reading from the prophet Jeremiah today is in contrast

to Matthew's gospel text.

In Jeremiah fear of the plot and impending death bring him in prayer to the Lord. It also reflects how later the Pharisees would try to trip up Jesus by questioning something he said. "And so let us destroy him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word." This is exactly what the Pharisees did to Jesus. They were scrutinizing his every word...dissecting it...dismissing it; because THEY knew better.

What is so profound to me and beautiful is that Jesus came as THE WORD made flesh. Jesus brings us his love and mercy. He himself is the Everlasting Word. We should indeed be carefully taking 'note (of) his every word'.

In chapter twenty of Matthew's gospel, Jesus is speaking the very words of his own passion and death. He is preparing those closest to him for what is about to happen. He wants them to hear it from his own lips. So when the events begin to take place they will know the very words he spoke to them were coming to be. Jesus wanted them to know that all he had done prior to being handed over to the chief priests was with his full knowledge. His death was part of the Divine Plan.

Many times as a parent we try to prepare our children for an upcoming event. When my mother in law died our children were young. As she got closer to death we tried to talk with our boys to prepare them. Jesus is acting much like a loving parent here; he is going to endure the most horrific death. The time is drawing near.

He wants them to know.

Hearing these words of prediction we also have the loving mother of two of the apostles. She does not quite have the whole picture, but she decides to intervene on behalf of her sons. Not too unusual, Mary went to Jesus at the wedding feast. This mother makes a bold request of Jesus; to have her sons be singled out. She thinks it would be fitting somehow for her sons to be sitting to both sides of Jesus. Of course Jesus sees her request as one of short sightedness, ignorant of the whole picture.

Later when Jesus is brought before the chief priests and the reality of the words he had spoken begin to unfold; I wonder how this mother feels? Is she now breathing a sigh of relief knowing that her sons are not called to stand before these chief priests on either side of Jesus?

I think of how many times I go to Jesus in prayer making my requests known to him. I think of how many times I do not get what I asked for in my prayer. When we come to God in prayer we must trust that he knows what is truly best for us. Often what seems like an unanswered prayer is really the grace of God asking us to just be patient...not yet...I have different plans for you.

When I was a child there was a television show called, 'Father Knows Best'.

In our prayer requests keep in mind that our heavenly Father Always Knows Best.

Lord, speak your loving words to comfort and prepare my heart.

Let your words illuminate my spirit.