The Good Dirt

As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Lk.8:15

Jesus describes who the good soil in his parable of the sower represents. People of noble and generous hearts.

NOBLE:         Showing fine personal qualities and high moral principles.
GENEROUS:   A readiness to give more than is necessary or expected.
HEART:         Innermost part of something.

Jesus could be describing himself here. But he's not. He's describing the man he is calling me to be. 

My wife doesn't like it when I describe myself as a reformed dirt bag. "Power of words Mike", she says. Perhaps the moniker becomes palatable in the light of this calling from Jesus for me to become "good dirt", a man of noble and generous heart.

Jesus, you know the rocks and weeds in my life. Come root up, pull out and then cultivate.
  

Forgiven Much Love Much

I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven — for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.
Lk.7:47

Jesus points out how to discern the forgiveness one has received. By the amount of love given in return.

I've heard it said the good aren't assured of heaven, only the forgiven are. In my experience, forgiveness involved acknowledging a higher power to grant that forgiveness, a stumbling block to my atheist pride for many years. 

C S Lewis says Jesus forgiving sins committed against other people without consulting those who were directly harmed only makes sense if Jesus is God, the one ultimately offended by all sin.

Yes, restitution to the wronged needs to be made where possible, but in the end it's Jesus who I've offended and it's Jesus from whom I need forgiveness. Hence my great love for him. 

Jesus, you have forgiven me much. Lord, you know how much I love you.
Saint Mary Magdalene, please pray for me

A Friend of Sinners

The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”
Lk.7:34

The critics of Jesus are correct in their observation even if not in their judgement. Jesus was fully human and a friend to all.

This is part of what attracts me to Jesus. Yes, I love him as God but I also love him as man. He is relatable, as every good friend should be. I feel safe with him. He knows all my dirt but he still not only loves me, he likes me. 

I'm called to be that sort of friend. Someone I haven't seen in years has reached out to me, suggesting we meet for a coffee and a chat. We're meeting this morning at a local cafe. I sense Jesus will be with us also.

Jesus, thank you for your friendship. Help me be a friend to others.

The Source of Power

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. 
2Cor.4:7

The great treasure of our faith in Jesus can be contained in the most ordinary looking people. In fact, the more ordinary the better as it shows where the power comes from. God, not us.

Pride can strike anywhere, even in ministry. My work in the Church has led to more occasions of leadership, of being the tall poppy. There is a temptation to pat myself on the back. I look at Saint Paul, a great leader in the early Church. As he rose in prominence he grew in humility. In his final letters he called himself the greatest of all sinners. 

This seems a common characteristic among the saints. The closer they get to Christ, the more aware they are of their brokenness and need of him. Truly, I'm just a stumbling follower. 

Jesus, may I become lesser as you become greater in my life, proving the power comes from you.

God Wants Everyone

He wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth.
1Tim.2:4

Saint Paul gives the reason why we are called to intercede by prayer for all people. God wants all people to be saved.

God's love and mercy isn't for just a chosen select few. He wants all people drawn back home to him. I live next to a school where hundreds of pupils are just now being dropped off by parents and family. Among them I'm sure are the good, the bad and the ugly but God makes no such distinction. He wants them all.

 This defines my mission field. Every person I encounter today is desired by God to be embraced and drawn back to him. 

Lord, help me be an effective missionary for you today.
Saint Paul, please pray for me.

Think then Speak

A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.
Lk.6:45

Jesus gives advice on how to discern a man's character. Look at  his fruit.

To see what a man is really like in his heart I only need to listen to him. More importantly, what is really in my heart is revealed to all by my words. 

Mental note to self: Think before I speak.

Lord, place a guard at my mouth and a sentry on my lips.

Love

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Lk.6:27,28

Jesus starts his Sermon on the Mount with a radical new message. Love without counting the cost. 

Before I was Christian, if I was asked what is one thing I knew about Christian doctrine it would be "love your enemies". I would dismiss it as pie in the sky dreaming, but secretly I wished it was true. 

Love isn't for sissies. Now I'm Christian it's the constant stretch, calling me to holiness. It is what makes being Christian both challenging and fulfilling. When I can manage it, I love being loving. 

I have family members who aren't Christian and yet are very hospitable and loving. I would say they are Christ-like on those occasions. I guess where the difference lies is in Jesus' call to love our enemies, the unrepentant, the abusers. I can only do that with the help of Jesus. 

Jesus, loving is easy when it's easy but hard when it's hard. Help me love in the hard times so I can more like you.

Saint Sebastian, please pray for me.