Shortness of Life

Make us know the shortness of our life

  that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Ps.89:12

Psalm 89 is a sub-titled "The Prayer of Moses". Here Moses turns away from the clamour and seduction of the world and refocuses God, the creator of all things.

I imagine Moses out in the desert on a cold night all by himself, looking up at the stars and encountering God. I've experienced that and it's in those moments that I feel very small and God seems very big. It's all about perspective.

In the past week we've received worrying news of a nephew in London who has just been diagnosed with bowel cancer. He is a young man in his early thirties and the idea he is staring at his own mortality is shocking. Today's Psalm from Moses has something to say about this. It's seems that knowing our mortality is a source of wisdom. It put things in right perspective. God is God and I am the dust of His creation. 

Dust yes, but dust formed in love. When I accept this true state of things it gives me peace. All is well with my soul...

Thank you Father for giving me life and ensuring its fullness by sending Your Son. 

Little Flower, who stared at your own mortality at such a tender age, pray for us.

Prime Time

He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it."
Lk.8:21

Jesus is drawing in massive crowds and his family are getting concerned. Like everyone else, they're not sure what is happening. Like the great teacher that he is, Jesus uses their arrival to make point. Who is m my family? Why, everyone who hears the word of God and acts on it of course.

Daily reading of the Bible sounds like an easy thing but I find it so hard to do. Making that prime time regularly available is a discipline that I don't always succeed in keeping. Today Jesus is giving me motivation. Read the Bible, act on what I read and become part of His family, even on an equal footing with his mother!

Jesus, you know the struggles I have to make time for you. Help me set side time to hear your word, have courage to act on it and then enjoy your fellowship.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Infinitely Loved

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
LK.7:47

Jesus is dining at a Pharisee's house when a "sinful woman" worships him with ointment and tears. Jesus defends her by saying her greatly demonstrated love shows she has been greatly forgiven.

This is Good News indeed! The worlds opinion of my worth doesn't matter. Even my own opinion of myself, when I beat up on myself doesn't matter. Jesus' opinion does. And His opinion is that I am infinitely loveable and infinitely loved. I think I'll go to Mass today and bask in that love.

Thank you Jesus for loving me. Help me be an agent of Your. love today.
little Flower, please pray for me.

A More Excellent Way

Brothers and sisters: Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

1 Cor. 12:31

Saint Paul is writing to the fledgling church in Corinth. He sums up the ideal Christian life into one word... Love. The most excellent way.

We are approaching election day in New Zealand. The last five weeks of electioneering has been outstanding in its lack of charity. This reminds me that the enforcing of external law (politics) will never change a man's heart. But love will.

Today seems like a good day to start work on the more excellent way.

Lord Jesus, You are love. Help me be a greater lover today.
Saint Paul, please pray for me.

A Fool for God

We are fools on Christ's account, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

1Cor.4:10

Saint Paul is writing to the Corinthians, admonishing them for their self aggrandisement in their Christian life.  His role model for them to follow is being a fool for Christ.

Saint Francis is known to have called is band of brothers " Le Jongleur de Dieu", loosely translated as "Fools for God". This infers walking away from any pretense of self-proclaimed wisdom and proclaiming a simple, child-like faith.

Puffed up piety is always a temptation for me. Perhaps today is a day to work on relaxing a little, laughing more and being a fool for God.

Lord Jesus, help me to stop working so hard on being pious and relax more in your presence.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Spirit of the Lord has been given Me

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.
Lk.4:18,19


Jesus enters the synagogue of his boyhood town and is given the scroll from which to read scripture,  He chooses  Isaiah 61, "The spirit of the Lord has been given to me...". The elders are both astounded at his wisdom and then incredulous of his claims.

In today's Gospel Jesus sets the mission statement for his ministry, and for mine. The spirit of the Lord has been given to me. I have been anointed in baptism. Why?  To bring Good News, to set free, to give new (in)sight, to show mercy and to proclaim.

This will make some people amazed and others incredulous at my claims. Well, I'm in good company then aren't I?  Jesus suffered no less and he is my role model... today.

Lord Jesus, marching to your drum makes me out-of-sync with the march of the world. I get afraid that I may be thrown off a cliff. Assure me of your companionship, that you are marching right along beside me today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.