Stay Focused

At the turn of the year, the time when kings go campaigning, David sent Joab and with him his own guards and the whole of Israel. They massacred the Ammonites and laid siege to Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem.
2Sam.11:1

It is the season for battles but King David remains back in Jerusalem while send his General to lead his army. David's indolence leads to his greatest fall, adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband.

It is true the Devil finds work for idle hands and here is the classic case. David didn't remain in Jerusalem for any greater purpose. He is recorded lounging on his couch before spying on Bathsheba bathing.

What is my God-given purpose today. To engage in my employed work to provide for my family. Any deviation can lead to dangerous ground.

Lord, help me stay focused on the tasks assigned by you least I be tempted.
Saint John Bosco, please pray for me.

The Law of Generosity

‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’Mk.4:24,25

Jesus is teaching the crowds by the Sea of Galilee. Here he speaks of the law of generosity. What we receive is governed by what we give.

My mother-in-law was a generous woman. Her funeral was packed with people who had been blessed in some way by her. She was not a wealthy woman but she always contributed to the food basket. She faithfully gave to missions, fostered children, gave to the poor. But more than this, she was generous with her time and generous with her attention. She listened to people. "Wasting" time with grandchildren and great grandchildren was a favourite occupation. Yet she was constantly heard saying she felt so blessed, that she received so much

I need to be more generous, in every way. For what I give determines what I receive.

Jesus, you were generous in your giving. Help me subdue my tightfisted nature. Give me a generous nature that I may better reflect you.
Margaret, pray for me.

Come Holy Spirit

‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’Mk.3:28-30

Teachers of the Law were trying to discredit Jesus, saying he was possessed by the devil. Jesus refutes them and then condemns them guilty of an unforgivable sin, of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

This has good news, a warning and an encouragement for me. It's good news that my general blasphemies of unbelief when I was an atheist are forgivable. It's a warning not to belittle the Holy spirit to anything less than third person of the Holy Trinity. It's an encouragement to be filled with the Holy Spirit as Jesus was.

Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

My Story

‘I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.”
Acts 22:6-8

Saint Paul has been arrested and gives a testimony of his conversion to the crowd. They are captivated until he says the message is for all men, Jews and Gentiles. They then want to kill him.

Everyone loves a story and the best of stories are those that tell of dramatic change, of conversion. Christian conversion tends to be dramatic. It was in my own case. Yet the story is simple.  Me before Jesus. Me encountering Jesus. Me now with Jesus.

It's good to keep my story fresh, to be ready to tell it to those who ask. Maybe I'll have to tell it today...

Jesus, you are my story. Help me be ready to tell it when the time is right.
Saint Paul, please pray for me. 

Companions

Jesus went up into the hills and summoned those he wanted. So they came to him and he appointed twelve; they were to be his companions and to be sent out to preach, with power to cast out devils.
Mk.3:13-15

Jesus appoints the twelve apostles who are to be his companions and in so doing establishes the Church.

We were never meant to be Loan Ranger Christians. How do we know this? Because right from the start Jesus drew around himself companions. He set the blue print for Christian life, a life in community.

My mother-in-law has just died. Our loving faith community has gathered around us and supported us. It's a good time to be members of a Church.

Thank you Jesus for our loving faith community. Help me be a companion to others in our parish.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Green Eyed Monster

‘They have given David the tens of thousands,’ he said ‘but me only the thousands; he has all but the kingship now.’ And Saul turned a jealous eye on David from that day forward.
1Sam.18:8,9

David has just killed Goliath and the Hebrew army has routed the Philistines. The rejoicing women acclaim greater victory to David and King Saul is stirred by jealousy.

Saul is eventually consumed by his jealousy and looses the alliance of David who could have been his greatest ally. I have heard a priest say he rarely hears about jealousy in the confessional. It's a sin we find difficult to identify in ourselves, yet alone confess. Jealously always bears bad fruit. Always.

Who am I jealous of? What does jealousy say about my insecurity? Today let me deliberately rejoice in the success of others and boot jealousy out of my life.

Jesus, I want to be secure in your love for me. Help me rejoice in others success and so be the ally I am meant to be.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Ban the Judge

When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinners were also sitting at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers.
Mk.2:15

Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector to follow him. Matthew responds by throwing a party for Jesus and all types of people attend, including the down and out.

There was something magnetic about Jesus that even those who were living corrupt lives felt welcome in his presence. They didn't feel judged. Jesus didn't compromise about sin but his love for the sinner drew them to him.

What's changed? The Church doesn't have the same appeal today. Rightly or wrongly, unchurched perceive that should they enter a church an almighty finger will be pointing at them and a thunderous voice will  roar, "What are you doing here, dirt bag!" We have lost our perfume of mercy.

Have I lost my perfume of mercy? There is a little lawyer in me that loves to pop up and start pointing fingers. Let's try a day with zero judgement and see what happens.

Jesus, I want to reflect your mercy and grace. Help me as I interact with people today to love them where they are and help them move to where they want to be.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Rock

‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’
Mk.1:27

Jesus confronts and expels an unclean spirit in a man. Witnesses are astounded, recognising new power and authority within Jesus.

When things seem out of control its good to remember who's in control. The possessed man was no saint, he had an unclean spirit, yet Jesus delivered him and set him free.  Jesus has me in mind and that no matter what is happening, no matter what mistakes I make, he is for me not against me.

Thank you Jesus for your overpowering love for me. You are the rock on whom I stand.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Repent and Believe

Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’Mk.1:14,15

Jesus has just been baptised and spent forty days fighting Satan in the desert. He is starting his public ministry alone, proclaiming a simple message. "The kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News."

Repent and believe. This has been a constant Christian message for two thousand years. Yes, God loves me, yes I am offered mercy but in the end the response must be mine. Jesus doesn't force it.  It's a response that causes a change of heart from the inside out and when it happens the change is permanent. That was my experience.

Repenting and believing seems hard. Handing over control is counter cultural. For me it was made easier by a loving community surrounding me and encouraging me. This is the key. People aren't born into the Church or forced into the Church. They are loved into the Church, loved either by family or by community. This tangible, human love is the first glimmer of the love of God. It excites the soul to the possibility that my greatest desire can be fulfilled, that the truth really is that I am infinitely lovable and infinitely loved.

What a great way to enter into my day.

Thank you Jesus for your great and transforming love for me. Help me be an encourager to all who are yet to repent and believe, who do not yet know your love.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Teach

As Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.Mk.6:34

Jesus arrives at the shore of the lake to find a huge number of people waiting for him. His immediate response towards the people is pity, his immediate action from pity is to teach.

To teach is to impart knowledge, to give a gift. Knowledge is empowering, it reveals the truth. This reminds me of what happens in the Alpha Course. There is teaching of the truth about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit. Then people are empowered and liberated. The starting point is compassion for those people who are like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus, give me a compassionate heart for those who are sheep without a shepherd. Help me teach them about you, the one who can set them free.
Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Come and See

Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want?’ They answered, ‘Rabbi,’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live?’ ‘Come and see’ he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. 
Jn.1:38,39

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God. Two of John's disciples turn and approach Jesus who invites them to "Come and see".

The invitation from Jesus to the two changed their lives. "Come and see" is the perfect invitation. It is non-threatening. It leaves the initiative with the one invited. He is still in control. Any conversion from such an invitation is more powerful as it happens from the inside out, not the outside in. I cannot force a change of heart. The heart has to choose to change.

Come and see is the invitation of the Alpha Course. No pressure, no expectations, no cost. Just come and see. It's the invitation Jesus used. No wonder it is so effective.

Jesus, I can't invite people to come and see if there is nothing to see. Holy Spirit, rise up within me that I can be a witness to Jesus, something for people to come and see.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Prepare the Way for The Way

What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied: a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord.Jn.1:2,23

John the Baptist is interrogated by Jewish leaders to try and identify him. He denies he is anyone but a voice.

John's voice gave a simple, clear message. Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. It may be simple but it's profound. It is a call to action and an action that means change. A call to prepare the way means the way is not yet prepared. I don't like change. It can be risky, take me out of my comfort zone.

I need to trust Jesus more, trust that his plans for me are good, trust that he loves me and wants the best for me... the best for me today.

Jesus, I want to be prepared for you. I do believe in your love for me. Help me in my unbelief.
Little Flower, please pray for me.