The Open Door

~~~ Malachi 3:13-20B ~~~ Psalm 1 ~~~ Luke 11:5-13 ~~~

And I tell you, ask and you will receive;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives;

and the one who seeks, finds;

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

You are most likely very familiar with this text

 from the Gospel of Luke.

In this passage a visitor arrives late and the host does not have 

any bread so he goes to a neighbor's house.

The host believes his neighbor to also be his friend

until he fails to unlock the door.

Instead the neighbor calls out his excuses 

for not getting out of bed.

It is often during difficult times in our life 

when we discover those who are our true friends.

Sometimes we are surprised...

We can be surprised by those who do not respond,

and surprised by those who do respond.

It seems that those we thought were friends are unpredictable.

This is precisely where Jesus enters into the picture.

Jesus is your friend...

Jesus is reliable...

Jesus will always be there for you.

Jesus gives freely of himself to you.

Jesus opens his heart to love you.

Jesus never leaves the door closed.

Jesus is never too tired to be there for you.

Jesus wants you to find him...he wants to take care of you.

For everyone who asks, receives;

and the one who seeks, finds;

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

The eternal love Jesus has for you is there for the asking.

A true friend's love is a mere drop in the bucket

compared to the love Jesus has for you.

Open my heart, Lord so that I may know

 the great power and strength of your love.

No door can separate you from the love

 and friendship of Jesus.

You have a friend in Jesus forever.

~~~Peace~~~

Best Friends...

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 15:22-31 ~~~ Psalm 57 ~~~

~~~ John 15:12-17 ~~~

I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything
 I have heard from my Father.

Throughout our life we have many acquaintances,
but out of those only a few are friends.

However you define friends it comes back
 to what you share together.

Friends share their everyday lives.
Friends share the secrets of the heart.
Friends share their hopes and dreams.
Friends share their fears and frustrations.
Friends share what matters most to them.
Friends share a mutual care and concern for each other.
Friends share their love for one another.

Jesus calls us his friends today.
He calls us friends because he has shared all of himself with us.
Jesus calls us friends because he has revealed
 the very essence of who he is to us.

Assuming you do have friends,
do you consider Jesus to be among them?

Do you share more with your girl friends, co-worker,
or neighbors than you do with Jesus.

How many times do you just take the time
to sit down and visit with a friend?

How many times do you take
the time to just spend time with Jesus?
Do you consider Jesus to be among those you call friend?

Friendship is a give and take encounter between human beings.
Jesus wants to have that kind of relationship with you.
Jesus goes out on a limb and calls you friend
even before he knows how you will respond.

Jesus calls you friend;
he never considers the possibility that you might reject him.

We are cautious about who we call our friend.
Jesus shared with us the inner most part of his life.
Jesus shared with us what the Father had shared with him.

Jesus is waiting ready to listen to your inner most being.
Friends do not reject or judge...
Friends support, encourage, and forgive.

Jesus taught us the true meaning of being a friend...
that is to love above all things.
Nothing else matters
 if you have the love of Jesus.

We can join in the chorus...
thank you for being a friend.

Next time you are sharing with a friend remember
this is exactly the kind of relationship
Jesus wants with you.

Cherish your friends;
 they represent the relationship Jesus
wants to have with you.

Treat Jesus as you would treat your best friend.
Blessed with best friends.
~~~Peace~~~

The Cloak of Friendship

~~~ Feast of Saint Luke, Evangelist ~~~

~~~ 2 Timothy 4:10-17b ~~~ Psalm 145 ~~~ Luke 10:1-9 ~~~

 

Luke is the only one with me.

 

Some scholars believe that Saint Luke was a slave.

It is also commonly held that he was trained as a physician.

We know too he was a close friend of Paul.

Luke was a Gentile, not a Jew.

Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles.

While we do not know the details of his conversion

we do know that he became close friends with Saint Paul.

 

In Paul's final time in prison it is his faithful follower

and friend Luke

who remains by his side.

 

Luke's writings are unique in his perspective.

Only in Luke's Gospel do we have Mary's beautiful Magnificat.

Luke tells us of Mary's visit to Elizabeth...the Annunciation.

Only in Luke do we hear the Prodigal Son parable of mercy and forgiveness.

Like gives us a picture of Jesus consistently reaching out to sinners.

Luke seemed to have a special place in his heart for the poor and for women.

 

 

Paul is asking for some of his belongs

to be brought to him while he is in prison.

There are many things in life that hold sentimental value for us.

Paul is confined and is seeking what little comfort he can

 through some things from home.

 

When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas,
the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments.

Perhaps he is cold in his cell and needs his cloak for warmth.

Maybe cooler weather is moving into the area.

Maybe he just wants to wrap himself up in his cloak...

like a security blanket.

 

The papyrus rolls and the parchments most likely

contain some of his previous writings.

Maybe they are even old journal manuscript.

Keeping a journal allows you to capture

the details and emotions connected to a certain time period or event.

 

Reading over what you have written months or years later can bring joy.

In prison, Paul continues to reach out to his followers.

Who can really cheer up Paul?

 

He is being confined, unable to go himself and preach.

He has the strong desire to be out with the others,

but that is not possible.

As he rereads his previous writings

Paul is reminded of some points he wants to include

in his subsequent letters.

 

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious

splendor of your Kingdom.

 

Paul was blessed to have his friend Luke.

We too are blessed with good friends in our life.

 

I am so grateful for my friends.

Like Luke, my friends bring me great comfort.

Friends provide the cloak of love and support.

 

I invite you to say a prayer today especially for your friends.

For it is by your friends that you are defined.

I strive to be worthy of my friendships.

May we offer mutual care.

Blessed through friendship.

Treasure...Faithful Friend

~~~ Sirach 6:5-17 ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~ Mark10:1-12 ~~~

 

A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;
he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price...

 

If you have been fortunate enough to have developed

 a true lasting friendship in your life;

consider yourself blessed.

 

I can honestly say that I found the treasure of a true friend in my life.

I thank God for the gift of friends in my life.

 

Jesus calls us his friends.

A faithful friend is a pearl of great price.

For where your treasure is there also your heart will be nestled.

 

It is a wonderful blessing to share a real friendship with your spouse as well.

Some people are married but would not consider themselves friends.

If you are friends with your spouse then the marriage

will have the dynamics of friendship and marriage.

 

Jesus wants us to develop a true lasting friendship with him.

He is our treasure.

He is a sturdy shelter.

He never turns against us.

He only wants what is best for us.

He stands by to support us in times of distress. 

 

 

A faithful friend is without price because you cannot but love.

Friendship takes root in your heart.

Friendship expands who you are into someone better.

 

Friendship brings joy into your life.

Friendship embraces without shame or guilt.

Friendship encourages you to be the best you can be.

 

Our earthly friendships pale in comparison to the friendship

offered to us by God.

If you cannot believe that God wants to have a friendship with you

how could you recognize a human friendship? 

  

A kind mouth multiplies friends...
and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.

 

A friendship begins with kind words, a simple gesture, and love.

 

A faithful friend is beyond price,
no sum can balance his worth. 

 

 Protect and cherish you friends,

because there is nothing else in life than can compare. 

 All the riches and wealth in the world cannot equal even one true friend.

 

A true friend can actually be a life saver.

A true friend can calm the turbulent winds and subdue the waves.

 

God bless and keep my friends.

 They make my life so much more than it would have been

without their presence.

 

When you have a true and faithful friend

your life is profoundly changed forever.

 

 God has given me friends throughout my life

 to show me more about the friendship

he desires to have with me. 

Let your friends know how you feel about them often.

To all who are my friends...

a big hug and thank you for loving me

and encouraging me to reach higher.

 

~~~ Blessings ~~~ 

WYSIWYG

~~~ 1 John 3: 11-21 ~~~ Psalm 100 ~~~ John 1:43-51

 

Jesus wastes no time in seeking out a small group to assist in his ministry.

At the risk of sounding biased, Jesus acted as a typical male.

I have a problem that needs to be solved now.

He wastes no time in getting together his small band of disciples.

He knew he had much to teach them in a very short time.

 

He wisely went out and chose men from various walks of life...

He sought out fishermen, siblings, tax collectors, friends of friends.

In three years Jesus was able to lay the foundation for what we believe today.

That is amazing!

 

Did Nathanael believe because Jesus saw him

or did he believe because Jesus knew things about him?

When Philip tells Nathanael about Jesus he expresses his doubt.

 

“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

 

Yet his curiosity gets the better of him and he sneaks up

 into a tree for a better view.

 

How many times have you experienced something profound

as a result of your curiosity?

I attended a healing service once out of curiosity

where I was surprised at what happened.

It was a very moving experience that I was not expecting.

 

 

Philip encourages Nathanael to "Come and see".

He actually listens to Philip,

which says something about their relationship.

Sometimes it is the invitation of someone who cares about you

 that is the catalyst for your into action.

 

Everything is at God's disposal when he wants to reach you.

Nothing is wasted when Jesus is at work in your heart.

 

Jesus sees the heart of Nathanael saying,

 

“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”  

 

There is no duplicity in him...

what you see with Nathanael is what you get.

He is open and honest.

He knows nothing of what today would be viewed as 'politically correct'.

 

Jesus wants your whole being he is not concerned

about what is 'politically correct' or not.

 

Would Jesus say no duplicity exists in you?

Sit with that thought a moment today during your prayer time.

Jesus is still extending invitations

to come walk with him today...thousands of years later.

The Revelation of Glory

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

~~~ Dn 7:9-10,13-14 ~~~ Psalm 97 ~~~ 2Pt 1:16-19 ~~~ Mark 9:2-10 ~~~

The Transfiguration of our Lord is quite special.

This is when Jesus reveals his his true nature to his most intimate friends.

This just occurred to me; not even his own mother was present for this event.

Jesus led them to a deserted place away from others.

He led them to a high mountain.

It was a glorious revelation!

Through this transfiguration Jesus demonstrates his connection with the prophets...Elijah and the Israelites...Moses.

Jesus unites the past and the present.

If James, Peter or John had any doubts about who they were

keeping company with this convinced them.

The sight they were blessed to witness left the three breathless.

They wanted to capture the moment. They wanted to remain there;

Peter even suggests pitching tents.

But as we well know through our own experiences

 you cannot hold on to mountain top experiences.

They are given to us to inspire, fill us with grace,

and keep us longing for more.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

When we leave  our every day routine it is more likely

that we too will hear the voice of God.

Like the three, you may be confused following a mountain top experience.

It may take extra time to discern what happened while you were away. 

The voice of God from the cloud

"This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

An eye witness has much more credibility than someone reporting from hearsay.

Personal testimonies carry with them the emotional energy

from the original experience.

These stored energies give life to each recounting of the experience.

If an experience is retold from a third person

it is missing the original emotional content. 

It may still be worth retelling, but it will always be more powerful

coming from the individual who was there.

The three may not have had a journal to record

what they had experienced.

They were even asked not to speak of it

until after the resurrection of the Lord.

It was not until later that they would experience 

the concept of the resurrection.

I invite you to begin keeping a journal...

record those experiences that touch your soul.

When you are no longer in the presence of the transfigured Lord

you can return to your journal.

What you recorded will help remind you of your special time with the Lord.

A time when you truly felt He was calling you His Beloved.

Surround Yourself with Believers

~~~ Amos 7: 10-17 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Matthew 9: 1-8 ~~~~

"I was no prophet,
nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Now hear the word of the LORD!"

When you hear the word of the Lord you have responsibility to share it with others.

God does not give us his word for us to tuck it away for safe keeping. Instead he wants us to live like we have received his word. Once we have heard we are raised to a level which requires more requires more responsibility. We can no longer claim ignorance once we recognize and accept to words of the Lord.

Amos certainly did not feel worthy for the Lord to choose him, for he was a shepherd. When Jesus calls us he takes us into a new dimension of purpose.

We cannot be content to live our life isolated from others.

Have you ever thought; you could be the only person God will send to another person with his message? We do have a resourceful God.

After all created us from handful of dirt.

Amos heard and acted.

Have you noticed the word 'FAITH' appearing often in the readings lately?

Or is that I am just more aware of this word right now? I just completed spending roughly eight months focused on the gift of faith for a women's retreat that just took place recently.

In today's gospel we have another incidently healing where Jesus acknowledges faith.

"...Jesus saw their faith..."

If we surround ourselves with those who have great faith we can be blessed through their actions motivated by their great faith. I am sure I will always be able to find friends who have a deeper faith than I do...and I give thanks for those special people. I rejoice that God sends them to me especially in times of trials and darkness.

I pray that Jesus sees my faith even when I do not think it is strong enough.

"Why do you harbor evil thoughts?"

For as long as I can remember my mother has always been anxious when she experiences a period of calm and joy in her life. She will say things like I do not want to be too excited because something bad might be coming soon.

I think that unless you are a fanatical optimist we have this tendency to focus more on the negative. The negative things just seem to bubble up to the surface.

I try as I may to keep some sort of balance between the two threads of thought.

When I notice myself being overly negative I try to focus, at least for a moment, on the positive in my life. This is a challenge at times.

Maybe my mother never feels worthy of having joy in her life for whatever reason.

We can easily justify bad things happening in our life.

We often find ways to somehow blame ourselves...right or wrong.

You know the 'shoulda', 'coulda', 'woulda' thinking!

Whe God works wonders in our life...when it is obvious that he is present we should freely embrace this time. We should allow ourselves the grace to be

"...struck with awe and glorify God..."

For he is truly the giver of all that is good in our lives.

He alone gifts us with joy and strong faith.

When you find yourself 'harboring evil thoughts' flip the switch

as quickly as you are able to, giving him praise and thanks...

I used to hear 'fake it until you make it'

It takes courage to 'rise and walk'...

but when surrounded with friends who believe it is possible.

Jesus reaches out his hand to you; grab hold and you can

make your way once again.

Walk with the Lord, he will not abandon you.

In appreciation for you who have given me a glimpse of your faith;

 you have inspired me.