A Work in Progress

~~~ Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~~Wisdom 2:12, 17-20~~Psalm 54~~~ 

~~~ James 3:16—4:3 ~~~Mark 9:30-37 ~~~

The Son of Man is to be handed over to men

and they will kill him,

and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.

Jesus is trying to prepare the apostles for his passion and death,

but they are more concerned about which one of them is greater.

Our human nature often gets in the way of our better judgment.

Since they did not understand what Jesus was telling them

they focused on their own concerns.

Their own potential greatness;

after all they may or may not have all known 

each other before Jesus called them to follow him.

But Jesus does not scold them.

He gives them an example they can relate to...

“If anyone wishes to be first,

he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

If this wasn't enough to confuse them even more than they were

Jesus continues to further dissolve their concept of greatness.

He takes a child from the crowd and places him

in the middle of the group.

This must have been shocking to them

 because children had no rights at that time.

There would have been no court appointed lawyer 

to represent a child in court.

If the Jews believed that you had to earn your way

 into heaven through good works then why 

would you want to be like a little child?

They were not able to make decisions on their own so why

even bring them into the picture?

At the time children just did not make a difference...

how could they possibly have any place

 in the spectrum of 'greatness'?

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, 

receives me;

and whoever receives me,

receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Once again Jesus would challenge 

and frustrate their widely held beliefs.

They must have almost been insulted 

at the idea of placing such value on a child.

The Lord says that unless you place your self last,

such as a child, you can never expect to be first.

By nature, a child is weak, helpless, unworthy, dependent,

humble with no possessions...

These are the characteristics 

Jesus is advocating for us to emulate. 

Gaining entry into the kingdom of heaven 

has more to do with being like a child

 than creating a place of power and prestige.

 ...wisdom from above is first of all pure,

then peaceable, gentle, compliant,

full of mercy and good fruits,

without inconstancy or insincerity. 

James writes these words in his letter we read today.

These words too can be used to describe children.

There is nothing here to support bickering 

over who is the greatest.

Looking at your own life today,

I invite you to identify which of these child like characteristics

you see in yourself.

But more importantly honestly admit to yourself

where you are still a work in progress.

There is still time...your journey is not yet completed.

Whenever you have the opportunity

to be in the midst of children and take note of their pure joy.

Perhaps the little ones give us the best glimpse of heaven.

May you be Blessed with child like trust and faith.

~~~Peace~~~

Defining a Generation

~~~ Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs ~~~

~~~ 1 Timothy 3:14-16 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ 

~~~ Luke 7:31-35 ~~~

Jesus said to the crowds:

“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?

What are they like?

They are like children who sit in the marketplace 

and call to one another...

Sociologists go to great lengths to study and define each generation.

The Bible even gives us the long genealogy of Jesus.

Are you defined and formed by your generation?

Or are you one who strives to define your generation?

Jesus came to defy his generation.

Jesus turned the beliefs of his generation upside down.

He honored the previous generalizations...his Jewish heritage,

but he represented tremendous change.

The dictionary defines generation...

all of the people born and living at about 

the same time, regarded collectively. 

There are times when I do not want to be lumped

together with others of the same generation.

Our society uses different names and labels for each generation.

...Depression...Post WWII...Baby Boomers...Generation X...etc.

These are often tied to historical events.

If Jesus were to return to our world today,

to what would he compare the people of this generation?

Are we any different than previous generations.

Are we just as misguided as those he was speaking to?

What gains have we made when it comes 

to our understanding of God's ways?

Are we still like children who sit in the marketplace

and call out to one another?

In many ways we have become complacent with our generation.

It is the easier attitude to just let things meander along.

As we coexist in this world we share certain historic events

 which come to define the current generation.

Outside sources are constantly working to manipulate 

and pressure our generation.

When Jesus came, he was just one person 

who had tremendous influence in changing future generations.

When Jesus came the Old Testament view of life

was forever changed.

Jesus came to show us the great love 

God the Father has for us.

Jesus came to show us compassion and forgiveness

as never experienced before.

Today we are still like the little children 

who sit in the marketplace and call out to one another.

Today the marketplace is the entire world.

We call out to one another, but the cultural and language

barrier is so great comprehension is lost.

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

Wisdom coming from God will prevail in the end.

It is through wisdom that we can realize 

God's will for our generation.

So the question remains...

Will you let this generation define you or

will you take part in defining this generation.

If you are following the wisdom of Jesus

you can make a difference for this generation.

Blessed and led by Wisdom

each and every day.

~~~Peace~~~

The Eternal Embrace

~~~ James 5:13-20 ~~~ Psalm 141 ~~~ Mark 10:13-16 ~~~

Pray, Sing, Anoint, Confess...

Saint James covers all aspects of our relationship with God.
If you are suffering...pray.
If you are happy...sing.
If anyone is sick anoint them with sacramental oil.
And finally if you are in sin...confess your sins and be healed.
All of the above are part of one's life of prayer.

Let my prayer come like incense before you.

Have you ever watched rising incense?
It begins close to the fiery coals...it gently rises
and begins to swirl around.
The higher it rises the harder it is to detect
until finally it merges with the air and disappears from sight.
But what does remain lingering in the air is the fragrance of the incense.

May my prayers rise to you, Lord.
May they be such that they merge with the prayers of the whole world.
May my prayers be bigger than just for those I personally know.

Open my heart to see every occasion as a reason to pray.

...whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it.

In the time of Jesus a child was not important.
A child can do nothing on its own.
A child is dependent on adults to provide for them.
This is precisely how God wants us to view our relationship with him.
He wants us to depend upon him for all of our needs.
It is true that we are not children, but God is our parent.
The best parent any child could ever have.

Let the children come to me; do not prevent them...

The kingdom of heaven belongs to those
who accept Jesus and his Kingdom like that of a child.

Jesus embraced the children and blessed them
placing his hands on them.

I want to be blessed in the same manner by God.
Imagine to joy in feeling Jesus wrap his arms around you
holding you close to himself.
Imagine yourself releasing into his embrace...
becoming one with him.
Perhaps this is what heaven will be like...
the eternal embrace.
Peace.

What Shall We Become?

~~~ 1 John 2:29-3:61 ~~~ Psalm 98 ~~~ John 1:29-34 ~~~

 

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

'...we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed...'

 

We are indeed God's children now...

even as an adult we remain a child in the eyes of God.

We often foolishly pride ourselves on how 'adult' we are...

Young teens long for the day when they are considered 'adults'.

As you age in years you become a 'senior'

Much later in those senior years people treat you like a child again.

You once again need help to care for yourself.

The day comes when you do not jump into the car,

 behind the wheel a take a little trip to the store.

 

To God none of this is of any importance...

to God as long as we are alive we are like a child to him.

He is always there

to care for us...

to protect us...

to welcome us home when we get lost...

 

...what we shall be has not yet been revealed...'

 

What shall we be when we really 'grow up' in the Lord?

What shall we be when we 'have come of age'?

Being a human adult encompasses many physical changes,

 as you know.

What we shall become with God

requires tremendous 'spiritual' soul changes.

The body will no longer be...

we will no longer just be children.

 

It is true that unless we become like little children

we shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

But nothing says that when you get to heaven

you will remain in a child like state.

 

Today we hear just the opposite to be true...

The truth is we do not know...

for it has not yet been revealed to us.

We are not ready.

We would not understand.

Just as there as many things a parent does not explain to their child

because they would not understand.

God cannot reveal many things to us while

we are in our 'child like' existence.

 

 

“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him..."

 

The Holy Spirit will be with us as we enter into our

true adulthood.

We will not be fully matured until we are with God.

Maturity comes when we are reunited with our creator God.

 

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

We all have the opportunity to experience this saving power of God

first hand in many ways.

 

 

 

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

Someday we shall experience what we shall become.

I am patiently waiting for that day...

in the mean time God has more work for me to accomplish.

For in our 'childhood' we can and should be

models of God's love.

Children of Light

 

~~~ Ephesians 4:32-5:8 ~~~ Psalm 1~~~ Luke 13:10-17 ~~~

 

"...Live as children of light."

 

This is probably one of the most beautiful verses in Luke.

To be alive is to be growing to be nourished to have energy.

Children are innocent, loving, active bundles of energy.

When God said let there be light it was magnificent.

 

Living as children of light gives me this image

of children laughing, running, and playing

outside in the warm sunshine.

 

It would be wonderful to be carefree enjoying life and all good things.

But then that is the picture of a perfect world...

but we know we do not live in a perfect world.

 

There are many children around the world who do not run

and play freely in the sunshine.

 

Without the benefit of light we would be living in a very different world.

We are urged by Paul to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

Three traits that are not always easy to put into practice.

 

 

Jesus brought us out of the darkness.

Jesus showed us how to live in the light through

loving compassionately.

 

Jesus took notice of the crippled bent over woman

and reached out to her.

He offered her healing even though it was the Sabbath.

Jesus was quickly criticized for his compassion

because it was the day of rest.

 

If we are so bound by the rules and laws that we cannot

act with love and compassion

we are actually living in the dark.

We are living in the dark because we cannot see

what it means to love.

Without the benefit of light all things appear as darkness.

 

Jesus was preaching in the synagogue on the sabbath

 when he noticed the crippled woman

among the community.

Throughout his public ministry Jesus acts as a

compassionate human being.

 

I think it is worth noting here that Jesus reached out to this woman...

she had not come to ask for healing.

She had come to listen to his teaching.

For her maybe hearing him speak was enough to satisfy her.

 

After being bent over for eighteen years

she had probably become accustomed to her situation.

 

The leader of the synagogue, who was in darkness,

 considered the curing

of the afflicted woman to be 'work'.

Jesus, on the other hand, saw the woman

who had been suffering for eighteen years

and knew he could help her so he did.

 

He laid his hands on her and she was cured.

Jesus gave this woman so much more than she anticipated...

he does the same for us.

 

Has there been a time in your life when God has done more

for you than you had requested?

 

Give thanks that we are his...

that we are children of the Light,

because God is the source of all Light.

Choose Life

Deuteronomy 30: 15-16, 19-20

(New Living Translation)

 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster.  For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy."

Praying today for the unborn aborted children and their parents. It is with sadness that I pray today. I pray for those who made the choice to abort their unborn child. I do not know their reasons. I do not know their fears. I do not know their hearts. I do not in most cases know their names, but today I pray for them.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life."

As I sit in Adoration I hear the Rosary being led aloud in solemn respect for life. Prayers being lifted up for those who know not what they have done and prayers for those struggling with their decision. In my experience with women's retreats, sooner or later a woman must come to grips with her decision to terminate her pregnancy. Sometimes she was too young and her parents made the final decision for her...maybe even against her will.

At some point it no longer works to keep burying this horror deep inside. There is hope if you find yourself facing the reality of what you have done. I was fortunate to find out about Rachel's Vineyard.

www.rachelsvineyard.org  Rachel's Vineyard is the world's largest post abortive ministry.

I urge you to seek help if you are carrying the emotional and spiritual pain of abortion.

It is never too late to ask for forgiveness from God.

We have the most wonderful merciful forgiving God. There is nothing we have done including abortion that he will not forgive. He loves you and wants nothing more than to make you whole again. He wants nothing more than to remove the hidden shame from your heart. He wants nothing more than to care for you and to show you how to love yourself and your aborted child.

As I sit in Adoration a young mother comes to pray with her two young children. I sit not in seclusive silent soaking prayer, but rather amidst the joyful babbling of little children. It just seems as if God is saying this is why you are praying here this morning...for the tiny voices that were never to heard by their parents. It just seems fitting. I am sure some sitting here are annoyed and wish this mother would take her children elsewhere. I admire this mother for coming to pray when she could have just as easily stayed at home with her children. Perhaps she is thanking God for the gift of her children.

I cannot judge those who have committed abortion. I believe they need our love, care, and compassion. There but for the grace of God go I. I thank God for the gift of my own children.

I also pray today for those who are unable to conceive as they live with the reality in our society today of the disposable human life.

Original photo: Mother holding newborn in her hands.

This Kaleidoscope image captures for me the pure light and love of the child's soul.

Lifting up in prayer those who need it most!