Be Sent

But they will not ask his help unless they believe in him, and they will not believe in him unless they have heard of him, and they will not hear of him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent.
Rms.10:14,15

Paul writes to the Church in Rome that salvation is for everyone who hears the word of God but for salvation to be accepted it must be heard and to be heard it must be preached.

I can't help thinking of the Alpha Course when reading this scripture. Alpha is very effective at preaching the word. Alpha is also an easy way "to be sent".

I need five more people to join the Alpha host team in our parish. Then we can be sent....

Lord Jesus, if it be your will for an Alpha Course to happen in our parish, send the workers. 
Saint Andrew, pray for us.

Stand Up and Lift Your Head

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.Lk.21:27,28

Jesus tells his disciples what the true signs of the end of time will look like. When nations are struck with fear at these signs Jesus tells believers to stand with confidence to receive their liberation.

The new year of the Church starts with the first day of Advent on Sunday. At the closing of this year the Church's focus is firmly on end times. Like gravity, the end of time is something we are all going to face, alive or dead. How I face it is up to me.

This morning is a beautiful spring morning in my part of the world. As stunning as the view out my window is, it is a poor shadow of the glory yet to come for those among whom I count myself... for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

My natural stance in life is to keep end times always in view. Today I can stand up and lift my head for my redemption draws near...

Lord Jesus, my Redeemer, you give us the signs but we know not the hour or the day when you shall return. I stand up and look for you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Let Joy be My Answer

...those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God.

L20:35,36

Jesus answers the question about the resurrection the Sadducees have asked, trying to trap him. Jesus' answer describes clearly the promise of a resurrected life for those judged worthy.

Wow! Being the same as angels and a son of God. What a promise. Why would anyone refuse this? Yet, people do refuse it. "Nice for you but no thanks". We can't be representing the promise clearly enough.

One way I can witness to the promise of a resurrected life is through joy. Joy is attractive and begs the question, "Why are you so joyful?" Today let joy be my hallmark and let me be ready with the reason why.

Thank you Jesus for the sure hope of a resurrected life with you. Let me be a joyful witness for you today.
Saint Philip Neri, patron saint of joy, pray for me.

Stay Awake

Feast of Saint Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr

“Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.” So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.’Mt.25:13

Jesus tells the parable of the five wise and five foolish bridesmaids. The wise are allowed entry into the banquet while the foolish are late from needing to first replenish oil for their lamps and are denied entry.

Is there any more tragic scene than bridesmaids standing outside of the banquet they are meant to be attending crying "Lord, Lord...". The foolish bridesmaids had everything required of them in the end but their tardiness resulted in being left outside as though they had nothing. Jesus underscores the point of this story with the words, "So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour."

The day and hour for me could be today. God alone knows. This morning prayer time helps keep my lamp full.

Jesus, one day I am going to meet you face to face. Send me your Spirit that my lamp may always be full in readiness for your arrival.
Saint Cecilia, please pray for me.

Come down out of your Tree

When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully.Lk.19:5,6

Zacchaeus the tax collector climbs a tree to see over the crowd and observe Jesus. Jesus singles Zacchaeus out and invites himself into his home. Zacchaeus ignores the indignation of the crowd and joyfully receives Jesus into his home.

There's something very human about this event that attracts me. Zacchaeus' short comings, literal and otherwise, are not glossed over. He doesn't deny anything the crowd accuses him of. All he does is joyfully receive Jesus and then has a powerful conversion. That's how grace works.

I'm a bit of a "tree climber". I try and reach Jesus by my own efforts. "Hey Mike!" says Jesus. "Come down out of your tree. I'm staying with you today". I'm picked out from the crowd. I don't have to strive, just be real... with all my shortcomings. That's how grace works. Amazing!

Jesus, I welcome you into my day. Thank you for accepting me just as I am, warts and all. You are my hope and my joy.
Zacchaeus, pray for me.

Oxygen

‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Sir,’ he replied ‘let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’ And instantly his sight returned...Lk.18:41-43

A blind man persistently shouts out to Jesus, despite bystanders telling him to be quite. Jesus stops and asks the man what he wants. The blind man states the obvious and is healed of his blindness.

Jesus' question to the blind man always strikes me as strange. The blind man's need is patently obvious yet Jesus still asks. The blind man knew his need and knew where his need could be met. It seems Jesus wanted the man to exercise his faith.

"Sir, let me see again". These five words revealed faith and wherever there is faith Jesus can perform miracles. Faith is like oxygen to him. My faith, when exercised expectantly like the blind man, can open the door to miracles.

Jesus, all things are possible for you. Increase my faith that my prayer may open the door to miracles, for your glory.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Death, where is your sting?

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.Mal.3:20

The prophet Malachi foretells the end of time when judgement will come, the wicked being burnt up and the righteous gaining eternal life.

Today I attend the funeral of a friend who has died of cancer. We prayed for his healing. His passing seems a disaster. He had faith in Jesus and the hope of glory. Today's reading from Malachi promises that healing has come for my friend, just not in the order we were asking for.

The hole in the ground is not the end of my friend's story. In fact it is just the beginning, his life to this point only being the title page.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the promise of eternal life for those who fear your name. Lord, I pray for this assurance to be a source of peace for the family grieving today.

Clean Heart Clean Hands

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things.Ps.23:3,4

David defines the man who seeks God and may approach him. A man with clean hands and a pure heart receives reward from God,

Hands can inflict harm, can get dirty. The heart is where the desire for dirt is birthed. King David was a man who knew what it was like to have unclean hands and an impure heart. An adulterer and murderer, David had been as far away from God as it is possible to go. Yet he is described as one after God's own heart.

David's repentance must be a key to this. Repentance cleaned his hands and purified his heart. What dirt is on my hands? What dirt in my heart has led to this? Lust, greed, pride... it's all there. Time for a spring cleaning of my heart. Clean hands will follow...

Forgive me Lord. I am a sinful man.
All you saints in heaven, please pray for me.

Gracious

‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’Lk.16:8

Jesus is telling a parable about the dishonest steward to his disciples. The craftiness of the steward in winning friends while he could is held as an example of how we can do the same before meeting judgement in eternity.

I think today's Gospel stops one verse too soon and leaves us puzzling. Verse 9 has Jesus saying, " I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings". There is the key to understanding the parable.

When I look at the steward's behavior, it was gracious. He gave relief from debt when it was undeserved and unexpected. This is the point of the parable I believe and why it is held up as a role model for me by Jesus. When I act with such grace towards people now it will be held in my favour in heaven.

Jesus, grace is easy to say but hard to do. It seems so unfair. But Lord, you have been so gracious to me. Help me remember this when I am being called to be gracious to others.
Little Flower, please pray for me.