Dress Rehearsal

~~~ Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist ~~~

~~~Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Mathew 9:9-13 ~~~

Their message goes out through all the earth.

The message for us is to live in a manner worthy to the call.

This is a good time to pause for a spiritual check up.

The season of Fall is here...a time when nature begins to slow down...

a time when the leaves on the trees begin to display their fire colors.

I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

Part of the message we are called to embrace is one of mercy.

Not just mercy when our heart is moved,

but mercy in every situation.

Soon the Pope will proclaim the year of mercy.

We can begin the dress rehearsal today.

Make the conscious effort to practice mercy in your daily life.

 ...grace was given to each of us

according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

Through the power of grace 

you can make mercy a vital component of how you

use your personal gifts given to you from God.

Mercy...  

kindness or help given to an unfortunate person.

Help given to an unfortunate person...

Who is an unfortunate person?

...for building up the Body of Christ

As a living part of the Body of Christ

you are called to act with mercy...

In using your gifts you are urged 

to make mercy part of your actions.

If you are an active participant in the Body of Christ

you must support helping those who are

unfortunate.

Blessings will fill your heart as mercy grows stronger.

The time is now to take note of how the colors

 of your heart is changing.

~~~Peace~~~

Living on the Edge

Mark 2: 13-27

Jesus calls the tax collector.

Jesus is walking along the sea...If you are walking along the sea you are at the edge of the water. Jesus was on the edge with his message too. He chose to preach a message of love, healing, and mercy. He chose to deliver this message to lepers, paralytics, prostitutes, and now tax collectors.
Tax collectors were not your most likely followers of Jesus. The tax collectors were considered by some to be in the the category of sinners.

Jesus was 'living on the edge'.

To live on the edge is an idiom which means to have a type of life in which

you are often involved in exciting or dangerous activities.

Jesus placed himself in exciting and dangerous situations throughout his public ministry. He was not fearful of confrontation. He was not concerned with what others thougth about his actions.

He was certainly aware as word spread to all of what he was saying and doing. He knew his personal safety was in jeopardy, but he kept calmly moving among the peoples. He was busy about his father's business....spreading love and compassion.

As Jesus walked along the edge of the sea he was able to see the solid land on one side and the fluid water on the other hand. On the edge he was part of both; he could see the contrast. He is always able to see the contrast between good and evil. He is able to see the contrast within a person's soul. He is able to see the contrast in what you say and in how you live your life.

He is able to see the contrast between what we appear to be and what we are really.

This can bring a certain amount of comfort...knowing that your intentions are clearly seen by God. Some choose to ignore or deny this quality about God.

We can live our life on the edge too...stand up for what you know to be truth...speak kindly of others...express appreciation for the small things in your life...love without boundaries.

I chose this image of a person walking on the beach in order to capture the contrast of land and sea.

This kaleidoscope image shows both edges along the hexagon and contrasting colors.