God's Word is Alive and Active

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Lk.21:33

Jesus nears the end of his final teaching before his passion and death. His words are about to cease but not to die. 

The book of Hebrews states, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Heb.4:12

"Dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow" makes Jesus' words sound like a scalpel in a surgeon's hand, which is what they are. Jesus is the divine physician, forever healing and restoring my heart. His living words are at the sharp end of that process. 

Thank God for mumma Church who is the compiler and safe-keeper of God's Word. 

Jesus, my heart burns within me as you talk with me on the road and open the scriptures to me. I place my trust in you.

Stand Up and Lift Your Head

When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.
Lk.21:28

Jesus warns his disciples of the tribulations to come with the end of time. As the world quakes in fear the disciples are to stand up in joyful expectation. Why? Because our liberation is near at hand. 

I'm looking out my window on a beautiful spring morning (I live in the antipodes). It's easy to be seduced into believing this is as good as it gets, that this is all there is. This atheistic world view may work when the sun is shining but must become more difficult in the tough times. As the saying goes, there are few atheists in a foxhole. 

The end of time prophesied by Jesus is the final foxhole with men "dying of fear", unless... unless there is a King of the Universe in whom we place our hope. For those who believe it will be party time. 

Thank you Jesus for your promise of liberation for your followers. I place my trust in you.

Die So We Live

By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Lk.21:19

Jesus is warning all followers that tribulations will come, including death. But dying for Jesus gains life. 

I'm reminded of a scene in the animated movie, Over the Hedge. The Opossum dad is explaining to his teenage daughter why opossum's feign death when in danger. "Playing Opossum is what we do. We die so that we live!"

Die so that we live. Yes, there's a mystery to this, but we have Jesus' resurrection to assure us. Saint Paul writes,  "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." 1Cor.15:19,20

Christian belief in hope for the resurrection and an afterlife is central to our faith. Without the promise of life after death, we followers of Christ, who often face persecution and sacrifice in our earthly lives for his sake, would be the most unfortunate or "miserable" of all people.

Thanks be to God, we are the most joyful! 

Come Holy spirit, grant us endurance that we may stand up and lift our heads for our redemption draws near.

With You Always

And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified.
Lk.21:9

Jesus instructs his disciples to be alert but not afraid of end times. 

It's not a matter of if bad things happen, it's a matter of when. And for a believer, even the 'when' becomes less important when we are sure of the 'who' we are following. 

Jesus promises, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Mt.28:20. With you always... I like that promise. That puts everything else into perspective. Together, there's nothing Jesus and I can't face. 

I sense this was the source strength with which Saint Catherine faced her torturers. 

Saint Catherine, please pray for us.

Just the Beginning

Saint Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr

Alleluia, alleluia!
This is the wise virgin whom the Lord found watching;
she went in to the wedding feast with him when he came.
Alleluia!

The violent death of Saint Cecelia was not the end of her life but just the beginning.

That men could brutally kill a defenseless young woman shows the depth that evil can lie in a heart. That a young woman could courageously face such a death without compromising her faith shows the heights that courage and faith can blossom. 

What appears to be a tragedy is celebrated by the Church as a mighty victory. Why? Because the Church always has an eternal perspective. Cecelia's martyrdom opened the door for her into the wedding feast, the same feast I have hope to participate in. 

As Jesus says in today's feria Gospel, "Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive." 

Jesus said it. I believe it.

Jesus, thank you for the hope of eternal life with you, a hope that does not disappoint.
Saint Cecelia, please pray for us.

Trust Humility Obedience

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.
Mt.12:50

Jesus stretches out his hand to his disciples, and to me, and proclaims, "Behold, my family".

How wonderful that I am given an invitation to be family with Jesus. This elevates me even beyond being a friend. As the saying goes, "You can choose your friends. You can't choose your family." 

But of course, there's a caveat. Doing the Father's will. Mary exemplifies what this means. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word," is a statement of profound trust, humility and obedience to the Father's will.

I can learn so much from Mary. Trust, humility and obedience aren't my natural strengths. 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

God's Opportunity

 ...and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!
Lk.19:44

Jesus weeps for Jerusalem's impending destruction, all the more tragic as it could have been avoided.

The tragedy of missing God continues today. If it breaks Jesus' heart it should also be breaking mine. Do I weep over the Jerusalems I see? 

Sometimes.

So, what do I do? Well, what did Jesus do? He steadfastly kept offering God's opportunity. Some received it and some rejected it. But he kept on offering it.

One way to offer God's opportunity I've discovered is the Alpha Course. Its genius is that it introduces Jesus to people in an engaging way wherever they are in their faith walk, from regular Mass goers to the completely unchurched.

Time to stop weeping and start planning. People's eternal lives are at stake. 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.