Heart Graffiti

~~~ 1 Kings 21:17-29 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Matthew 5:43-48 ~~~

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The only way for us to even come close to perfection

 is if we purge all hatred from our heart.

This purging must be done on a consistent basis.

If we are not vigilant when it comes to hatred

 it eases its way into the walls of our heart.

How often do you pay attention to the pictures hanging

 on the wall that you pass all day long?

Eventually you do not even notice.

The same is true of hatred...eventually you do not

 notice that hatred is there.

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Be merciful, O Lord, because hatred

 has become the graffiti painted on the walls of our heart.

Be merciful, O Lord, because we too often

 believe it is necessary to combat violence with violence.

Be merciful, O Lord, because we do not 

find enough space in our heart for love.

Justice is for God to administer.

We should not try to read the mind of God,

because our mind is too limited.

Sadly our world today is on overload with hatred.

We can only change the world of hatred

by being a reflection of God's pure love.

If we practice modeling God's pure love;

then we are on the path to perfection.

Graffiti often resembles art work,

but it still defaces the structure.

Hatred may seem justified;

but it still spoils the purity of your heart.

May you choose love over hatred

in all circumstances.

~~~Peace~~~

Hatred...Persecution...Endurance...Salvation

Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot

~~~ Hosea 14:2-10 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Matthew 10:16-23 ~~~

Earlier in this Gospel, Matthew writes
about the words we are to speak.
The Holy Spirit will give the right words to us.
The right words are not always received well...
in fact you may even be hated.
Hate is a really strong word. We use it in various negative contexts.
We 'hate' some foods, rude people, even certain colors.

Jesus is giving us a heads up...he says
you will be hated just because of his name.
So basically, before you say anything
 you will be hated just because you are a believer.
He doesn't say you might be hated he says you will be hated.
That one verse makes you pause a moment to stop and think.

You will be hated by all because of my name,

but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.

Are you willing to be hated just because you want to believe in Jesus?
Why would someone knowingly
 put themselves in a situation to be hated?

But we cannot stop with that verse...
if you do not read the rest of the verse you miss the whole point.

The whole point being are you up to the task?
Can you tolerate the pain of being hated in order to attain salvation?

Being hated is something you can experience here and now.
It is the endurance that really counts.
Do you run away the first time someone
expresses their hatred against you for your beliefs?

Do you retaliate? Do you defend yourself?

When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.

Is Jesus telling us to run away?
Doesn't he want us to stand up and defend him?

Or is it more about getting the word
of our salvation out to as many people as possible?

Remember you will be given the words by the Holy Spirit.

Maybe one point about moving on is getting another chance
 to do a better job in the next town.

Every year at the beginning of the new school year,
even if I was teaching the same exact subjects,
I tried to make the lessons better,
 more interesting.

Every time you talk with someone about Jesus
 it will be better because you will be a stronger believer.

The more you speak of the goodness of God
the easier it will be the next time.

Speak the words placed in your heart; you cannot go wrong.
Rejection does not mean stop.
Rejection means move on and keep trying.
Let rejection roll off your back like water off a duck's back.

Blessed with words of wisdom from the Spirit.
~~~Peace~~~

First Be Reconciled

~~~ Kings 18: 41-46 ~~~ Psalm 65 ~~~ Matt. 5: 20-26 ~~~

I heard today's gospel verses with new ears. As I have written before scripture is truly the living word of God. It meets us wherever we are...it takes us to new heights and depths of understanding.

The words I most often remember hearing from this gospel are...

"Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift."

Those words had always made an impact on me because it shows how directly connected we must be with our prayer life and our daily life,

We cannot just come to church and pretend all is right in our lives

when we are harboring ill feelings toward another.

If you know that someone is holding something against you;

it just might be up to you to make the first move.

You may be the one who has to reach out in forgiveness and understanding.

And this is often very hard to do...

believe me I know I have been in that place.

I previously thought this passage was referring to actual hatred.

Yes, I know we are to love one another so I usually let this gospel

tumble down beside me.

Hating someone is really not in my nature, no matter how upset I am.

But today the words that popped out to me were those from earlier in the passage...

"...whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment..."

Anger...what is the driving force behind anger? Why do we hold on to it?

How does it serve us? Is it ever justifiable?

Being angry does not mean that you are ready to kill someone, but it tarnishes your soul. Anger makes you less likely to appreciate even your own relationship with God.

Anger gets in the way. Anger is like a huge weight attached to your heart and soul.

Anger is so huge that we have classes for anger management. Anger left to run unbridled can result in serious consequences. Road rage comes to mind.

Taking one's anger into the car and acting it out

behind the wheel can literally kill someone.

What an awful thought.

Anger cannot be left to its own outcomes, because it has no built in controls.

Anger is like a snowball rolling down hill. It keeps gaining speed and increasing in size until it either hits bottom or crashes into a larger obstacle.

Anger must be controlled from without through a conscious effort and hard work.

Uncontrolled anger can lead us to a place we would otherwise never have ventured.

People say love is blind; well anger takes this concept of blindedness to a whole different dimension.

"...leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled..."

Leaving your gift at the altar requires you to think about the other person. Leaving your gift at the altar means leaving your ego there as well. If you do not leave your gift of yourself then reconciling with another is more difficult.

Reconciling without your self means setting aside your agenda, your feeling...your ego. Do not carry anger with you to the altar. It will only make you feel like a hypocrite on the inside; even if only you know.

Anger cannot become a part of one who is completely in love with God.

For our wel-being of mind body and spirit we must train ourselves to let go of anger.

Anger deeply held for years can cause serious health complications.

If you are troubled with anger issues seek guidance. It may take professional counseling. Don't let anger eat up your insides and tarnish your heart.

 The greatest commandment is love

because it is both

easy and difficult to love

depending on the circumstances.

"...be reconciled...
and then come and offer your gift."

Anger shatters your gift before you are able to give freely of yourself.