Hold On to Goodness

~~~ Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 ~~~ Psalm 9 ~~~ Luke 11:15-26 ~~~

...it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons...

The evil in our world today seems to be overpowering any good,

yet there are many people who still believe in God.

When Jesus was presented with evil spirits 

possessing the soul of a person he only need raise 

a single finger to cast away the evil.

A single finger contained enough power and goodness

to send the evil spirits fleeing in the opposite direction.

The crowds are jealous and in their jealousy they are confused.

They accuse Jesus of drawing his power directly from Satan.

To me this does not make any sense...

Why would you engage evil to get rid of evil?

Jesus demonstrated that his power was coming from God.

No other assistance was required.

Jesus is one with the Father there is no 

separation of power.

Therefore if God is all powerful 

then it follows that Jesus too is all powerful.

Evil spirits are no match for the power of God's goodness.

It is the pure goodness of God that makes it possible 

to make evil spirits turn away.

As long as this goodness from God remains fresh and alive

the evil spirits are hesitant to return.

It is possible for you to be an active participant

 in warding off the evil spirits.

One way is through your prayers.

Your daily prayers keep the goodness 

of God like a pool of spring water.

Spring waters are moving, bubbling, teaming with energy.

This is how your prayer life must be if you are to keep 

the evils spirits away from your soul.

Evil does not want to exert extra energy to soak up a soul.

Evil searches for those who are spiritually frail...

Evil comes into the unsuspecting soul.

Hold on to the 'finger of God'

that is truly all you need.

If you do find yourself in a battle with evil spirits

remember it just takes one finger of God

to bring you into his care.

We have never been promised by God

 that all evil would be erased from the world...

But we have been promised

 that he will always be there for us.

Take refuge in your prayer life;

for it is there that you will find the 'finger of God'.

Blessings of protection from all evil.

~~~Peace~~~

Give Yourself Completely

The Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila

(1515-1582)

Doctor of the Church

 

~~~ Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1 ~~~ Psalm 113 ~~~ Luke 11: 29-32 ~~~

 

Jesus said to them,
"This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.

Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation."

 

Saint Teresa believed that Christ alone makes all things new.

 

Today Jesus is explaining to the crowd that something greater is coming.

The prophets realized that they were not to be regarded as the one who was coming.

Jonah resisted; he was reluctant to answer the call of God.

 

Each generation births those who are still looking for a sign.

They are still looking for 'the one'.

 

Teresa is inspiring with her devotion to Jesus

and her conversational style of prayer.

Some have said, 'Teresa is contagiously inspirational'.

 

Teresa believed that it is within ourselves that we discover

the meaning of God's words.

Teresa assure us that those who practice prayer faithfully will receive all they ask beyond their greatest expectations an hope.

Teresa wrote. 'My house will be a house of prayer'.

She was not only referring to the physical structure of a house,

but also her interior house where God dwells.

Her writings expand on this concept of a house of prayer.

She speaks of the various levels of prayer as 'mansions'.

 

She wants us all to know that God waits for us in our daily prayer.

It is in our prayer when we should be acutely aware

of giving our self completely

to God...body, mind, and soul.

Gradually throughout her life prayer became her passion.

As Teresa grew in age and in her prayer life,

she began to listen better and surrender to her vocation.

 

 

It is only through developing our prayer life that we can begin

to hear the word of God more clearly.

Jonah had to be swallowed up and spit out before he would

surrender to the will of God.

What will it take for you?

What do you need to do to find more time to pray?

The more we begin to live as God desires for us to live

the more we will discover

the wonderfulness of God.

The more we discover the wonderfulness of God

the more energized we will be to continue to be in prayer with him.

 

There have been more books written on prayer than any other topic of religion.

Prayer is our feeble attempt at connection with our creator.

We want to keep in touch with God through our prayers.

We want to experience his unconditional love.

 

The reality of prayer is that it changes you over time.

Dare you take the risk of being changed?

Try devoting more time to prayer and see what happens.

 

Saint Teresa, teach us to cherish our prayer time as much as you did.

Saint Teresa, pray for us!