My Love, My Fortress

Blessed be the Lord, my rock. He is my love, my fortress; he is my stronghold, my saviour my shield, my place of refuge.
Ps 143:1,2

David the psalmist writes of his saving and protecting God, a God worthy of his love.

This psalm reminds me I am in the world, not of it. I need a fortress, a stronghold, a shield, a place of refuge. This sanctuary is with me whenever and wherever I pray. It is with me now.

This is a place to give and receive love, to be nurtured, to be healed, to be built up, strengthened. It's not a place to stay. It's a place available when the need arises. However, the need arises daily. How wonderful to start my day in this place of shelter and love.

Blessed be you Lord, my rock. You are my love, my fortress; you are my stronghold, my saviour my shield, my place of refuge.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

God's Retirement Plan

Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Ps.90:12

The psalmist is highlighting God's eternity and man's frailty. There is wisdom in acknowledging this.

A friend is retiring tomorrow after forty five years of work. He has planned long for financial security in his retirement, which he has achieved. However, what he hasn't planned on is his poor health.

Goals can be set and plans formed but wisdom is found in acknowledging God has the ultimate retirement plan.

Lord Jesus, help my vision always have you as its goal.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Power and Authority

Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Lk.9:1,2

Jesus is sending the apostles out on their first mission trip. He equips (power and authority), gives the objective (preach and heal) then sends.

This is the blueprint for all Christians, the blueprint for me. I have power and authority to preach and heal.

This weekend I have a small role in a weekend men's retreat. I have been given Christ's power and authority. I have the goal. It's time to go.

Thank you Jesus for reminding me I don't need to worry. It's your power, your authority. I just go in your name.
Saint Michael the Archangel, please pray for me.

Divine Reading

‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’
Lk.8:21

Mary and Jesus' family are wanting to see him, but the crowd is so great they cannot reach him in the house. On hearing this Jesus creates a teaching from the moment. He says those who listen to God and then act on it are the family of God.

This word is in season for me. I am about to lead a workshop on Scripture Journaling, Lectio Divina. The goal of Scripture Journaling is to hear God through his word, through scripture, and then act on what I hear.

Thank you Lord for confirming the power of "divine reading" of your word in scripture. Help me Lord be an effective teacher of Scripture Journaling this weekend.

Saint Oregan, pray for me.

Forgiven Much - Love Much

'For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’
Lk.7.47

Jesus is sitting at the table of Simon the Pharisee when he is showered with loving attention by a woman of "bad name". Simon judges both Jesus and the woman. Jesus receives the woman's love as a sign of forgiveness received. In contrast, Simon's mean spirited judgement is taken as a sign of forgiveness not sought.

Love is the fruit of forgiveness. If I want to be a great lover I must first seek and receive forgiveness. For it is forgiveness that fuels up my love tank. It's time I went to confession.

Lord Jesus, you are the source of my forgiveness and joy. 
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Spontaneous Love

When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said.
Lk.7:13

Jesus comes upon a funeral procession, a widow burying her only son. Jesus feels compassion for the widow and raises the son, giving him back to her.

The widow was not only facing a lifetime of grief and loneliness, she was also facing poverty. She had just entered hell on earth with the death of her son. Jesus reaches into the depths of her despair and turns everything around. Her mourning was turned into dancing.

Jesus does that. He can turn things around when they look most hopeless. His compassion seems spontaneous, out of his control. He just can't help loving.

This is the God I follow, the one in whom I place my hope.

Thank you Lord for your spontaneous love. I don't deserve it, but you give it so I receive it. Let this joy be my gift to others this day.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Cross Lifter

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross:
Feast

'The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.'
Jn.3:14-16

Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and reveals plainly what the purpose of God is in sending his son into the world. Jesus must be proclaimed, lifted up, so that people may believe and gain eternal life.

This is the game plan for every Christian. Lift Jesus up for all to see so that he may be believed in. How we lift him up is our own particular calling. Different gifts lead to different methods.

What's my gift, my method? Being a man of prayer. Expressing hope and joy. Engaging with people. Being friendly and a friend. Exercising charity. Some days these do occur naturally, other days they don't. May today be a "Do Day" that Jesus may be lifted up by me so people may believe.

Lord Jesus, I desire to lift you up today. Holy Spirit, help me be an authentic Cross Lifter today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

More to Come

Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said: ‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God. Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied. Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Lk.6:20,21

Jesus has just chosen his twelve apostles and is now giving his first teaching. From the start he focuses on the poor, the hungry, the persecuted. He tells them, this is not the end of your story. There are more wonderful things to come.

A life of faith looks beyond the here and now, beyond the temporal. Now matter how bad it gets, no matter how good it gets there is more to come. What that "more" is depends on how I'm living the now. Is it a life of self absorption or a life of service.

I'm enjoying a beautiful spring morning. I enjoy it but I'm not absorbed by it. This is not all there is.

Lord, I do get absorbed into the worries and joys of the world. Help me keep my eyes up and focussed on you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Messiah from a Mess

Feast:  The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’
Mt.1:22,23

The genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to Joseph is recited followed by the decisive role Joseph plays in the birth of Jesus, taking Mary as his wife. The words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled through the "yes" of Mary and of Joseph.

Interesting that it's the feast of Mary's birthday yet the genealogy of Joseph is listed. Joseph's family line includes the good, the bad and the downright ugly, yet God's plan came to pass through the "yes" of a "man of honour" from that mish-mash of people, Joseph. The Messiah rose up from a mess.

I guess this demonstrates that good can rise up from anywhere. This challenges the judge within me that is quick to make wrong decisions about people. God can turn up anywhere, just look at my own life.

Lord Jesus, you can turn clay into gold. Help me stop dispensing judgement and start dispensing grace.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Healing in the Telling

When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made.
Lk.5:8,9

Jesus has just finished teaching from Peter's boat.  Peter reluctantly follows Jesus' instruction to put out his net again and is then overwhelmed at the size of his catch. Peter recognises there is something of God in Jesus and falls at his feet.

Nothing happens by accident with Jesus. Of all the boats pulled up on the lake's shore he chose Peter's. He knew all about Peter's sinfulness and yet still chose him for a companion.

On the other hand, for Peter everything is accidental. Fish, no fish. Nets, no nets. But one thing he does purposefully here. He falls on his knees before Jesus and confesses his sinfulness.

What a great place to start a relationship with Jesus. This is a starting point I can return to each time I go to confession. Tell Jesus what he already knows. The healing is in the telling.

Thank you Lord that despite knowing everything about me, you still desire intimacy with me. 
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Power and Authority

‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’
Lk4:36

Jesus is at the start of his ministry, is the "new thing" in town. He amazes the men in the synagogue by casting out a demon from a man.

Firstly, there was a demon in a synagogue. Devils can infiltrate sacred places with impunity.

Secondly, the demon instantly recognised not only Jesus but also his authority. Spirit sees spirit with a clarity superior to that of the flesh.

Finally, the people saw the "authority and power" of Jesus by his demonstration. Saint Paul says in the first reading that we believers have the mind of Christ and can teach with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.

Today I can also teach by demonstration of the Spirit's power. How? By putting on the mind of Christ.

Lord help me see things as they truly are by your vision and, where appropriate, demonstrate your power and authority.
Little Flower, please pray for me.