The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival.
Zeph.3:17
The Prophet Zephaniah foretells the restoration of Israel’s remnant. The Lord will no longer be a remote, distant God but will be living in their midst dancing and shouting with joy.
This prophecy is fulfilled when a Jewish girl said yes to God and a baby was conceived in her womb. The first to recognise this was John the Baptist in his mother Elizabeth's womb. He leapt for joy and was baptised in the Holy Spirit as pregnant Mary approached. Joy is the hallmark of Jesus' presence.
Oh how I love that our God is called Emmanuel, God with Us. Jesus is intimately present and involved in my life, even today. I shall live out today with him at my side, leaping and dancing and shouting with joy.
Lord Jesus, I welcome you into my day. May your joy be contagious through me to those we meet.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Ranked on Servanthood
Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mk.10:43-45
Jesus has just foretold his passion and death for the third time. Still the disciples don't get it and they squabble over who is going to have prize seats in the new kingdom. Jesus sets them right with a clear description of how order will be in his kingdom. Instead of being ranked on power, people will be ranked on servanthood, indeed, the first will be the slave of all.
Ranking on servanthood continues be a difficult concept. My human nature wants to be top dog and in control. There's also a bit of pride in there that wants its day in the sun as well. The Church continues to model the upside down world of Jesus, the Pope being called the servant of the servants of the Lord. And of course, Jesus remains the Servant King.
Lord, you know my lust for power and control. Help me be a servant and so an authentic witness for you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Mk.10:43-45
Jesus has just foretold his passion and death for the third time. Still the disciples don't get it and they squabble over who is going to have prize seats in the new kingdom. Jesus sets them right with a clear description of how order will be in his kingdom. Instead of being ranked on power, people will be ranked on servanthood, indeed, the first will be the slave of all.
Ranking on servanthood continues be a difficult concept. My human nature wants to be top dog and in control. There's also a bit of pride in there that wants its day in the sun as well. The Church continues to model the upside down world of Jesus, the Pope being called the servant of the servants of the Lord. And of course, Jesus remains the Servant King.
Lord, you know my lust for power and control. Help me be a servant and so an authentic witness for you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
The World to Come
’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.
‘Many who are first will be last, and the last first.’
Mk.10:29-31
Peter remonstrates with Jesus, "What about us, we have left everything?" Jesus explains the new law he is introducing, the first will be last, the last first.
The world struggles with this concept. It promotes the first being first and last staying last. Jesus turns that all upside down. The fullness of Jesus' law isn't complete until "the world to come" has been experienced. Only then will the full and final payment be made.
The operative words are "will be". Many who are first will be last, the last first. I have to remember to look at the world with all its injustice through this lense.
Lord Jesus, give me and eternal perspective in my dealings with the world, so I do not become captive to its temptations or despondent over its triumphs. Eternal life is ours through your grace, mercy and love.
Little Flower, please pray for us.
Mk.10:29-31
Peter remonstrates with Jesus, "What about us, we have left everything?" Jesus explains the new law he is introducing, the first will be last, the last first.
The world struggles with this concept. It promotes the first being first and last staying last. Jesus turns that all upside down. The fullness of Jesus' law isn't complete until "the world to come" has been experienced. Only then will the full and final payment be made.
The operative words are "will be". Many who are first will be last, the last first. I have to remember to look at the world with all its injustice through this lense.
Lord Jesus, give me and eternal perspective in my dealings with the world, so I do not become captive to its temptations or despondent over its triumphs. Eternal life is ours through your grace, mercy and love.
Little Flower, please pray for us.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Cup of Water
‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
Mk.9:41
John has just complained that he saw someone driving out demons in Jesus' name but was not one of the apostles. Jesus replies, do not stop him. Whoever is not against us is for us. Even a person giving a cup of what to a believer will gain a reward.
I remember informing Father Brian Playfair that his old housekeeper, Rita, had just died. His spontaneous response was to quote the above scripture. He was convinced Rita was receiving her reward from a lifetime of serving priests.
This promise gives an increased glow to service in the Church, if that were needed. There's a special grace given to servants of the Church. Even serving children in Children's Liturgy holds this wonderful promise.
Thank you Jesus for taking note of the insignificant acts of service and kindness that happen in your Church.
Little Flower, please pray for us.
Mk.9:41
John has just complained that he saw someone driving out demons in Jesus' name but was not one of the apostles. Jesus replies, do not stop him. Whoever is not against us is for us. Even a person giving a cup of what to a believer will gain a reward.
I remember informing Father Brian Playfair that his old housekeeper, Rita, had just died. His spontaneous response was to quote the above scripture. He was convinced Rita was receiving her reward from a lifetime of serving priests.
This promise gives an increased glow to service in the Church, if that were needed. There's a special grace given to servants of the Church. Even serving children in Children's Liturgy holds this wonderful promise.
Thank you Jesus for taking note of the insignificant acts of service and kindness that happen in your Church.
Little Flower, please pray for us.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Be One
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
Jn.17:21
Jesus is at the Last Supper. Having just washed the disciples feet, he now prays for them, especially for their unity. It is their unity that is going to bear witness to him once he has left them.
Unity attracts, disunity repels. In the first reading from Acts we see how the disunity of the Sadducees and the Pharisees stops their planned persecution of Paul. Jesus prays for unity among the Apostles so the world may believe.
Working for unity means promoting love and peace. When I display these virtues I become an authentic witness, today.
Lord Jesus, help me to seek common ground rather than judge, so unity may bear witness to your glory.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Jn.17:21
Jesus is at the Last Supper. Having just washed the disciples feet, he now prays for them, especially for their unity. It is their unity that is going to bear witness to him once he has left them.
Unity attracts, disunity repels. In the first reading from Acts we see how the disunity of the Sadducees and the Pharisees stops their planned persecution of Paul. Jesus prays for unity among the Apostles so the world may believe.
Working for unity means promoting love and peace. When I display these virtues I become an authentic witness, today.
Lord Jesus, help me to seek common ground rather than judge, so unity may bear witness to your glory.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Enough
But life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided that when I finish my race I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me – and that was to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24
Paul is speaking to the Ephesian Church, explaining how he is compelled by the Spirit to return to Jerusalem and face certain persecution. He confirms he has told them everything they need to know of God's grace through Jesus. His work with them is finished.
Every project reaches a time when you know it is finished, that it's time to move on. A have a short story I am entering into a competition. I've been tinkering with it for a number of weeks. It's time to finish, to send it off and move on.
To know that I've done my best, that I've run the race, is to know satisfaction and to have a peace. Knowing when to stop is a sign of wisdom.
Lord, you know how I continue to tinker when I should be moving on. Give me wisdom to know when to say, "enough".
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Acts 20:24
Paul is speaking to the Ephesian Church, explaining how he is compelled by the Spirit to return to Jerusalem and face certain persecution. He confirms he has told them everything they need to know of God's grace through Jesus. His work with them is finished.
Every project reaches a time when you know it is finished, that it's time to move on. A have a short story I am entering into a competition. I've been tinkering with it for a number of weeks. It's time to finish, to send it off and move on.
To know that I've done my best, that I've run the race, is to know satisfaction and to have a peace. Knowing when to stop is a sign of wisdom.
Lord, you know how I continue to tinker when I should be moving on. Give me wisdom to know when to say, "enough".
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Preach Anyway
At this mention of rising from the dead, some of them burst out laughing; others said, ‘We would like to hear you talk about this again.’ After that Paul left them, but there were some who attached themselves to him and became believer
Acts17:32-34
Paul is preaching to the Greeks in Athens. He expounds God's great plan of redemption which is accepted to the point of Jesus’ being risen from the dead. The assembly then breaks up, some scoffing, some wanting to hear more later and a few becoming believers.
Some laughed, some wanted their ears tickled and some believed. The response to the message of Jesus is much the same today. But the message continues to be preached and some continue to believe. It is for them that the others must be endured.
Lord Jesus, give me courage to endure the scoffed, patience to accept those seeking entertainment and love to reach out to those destined to be saved.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Acts17:32-34
Paul is preaching to the Greeks in Athens. He expounds God's great plan of redemption which is accepted to the point of Jesus’ being risen from the dead. The assembly then breaks up, some scoffing, some wanting to hear more later and a few becoming believers.
Some laughed, some wanted their ears tickled and some believed. The response to the message of Jesus is much the same today. But the message continues to be preached and some continue to believe. It is for them that the others must be endured.
Lord Jesus, give me courage to endure the scoffed, patience to accept those seeking entertainment and love to reach out to those destined to be saved.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
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