Relevant and Reliable

‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again.
Mt.8:25,26

The disciples and Jesus are in a boat when a storm suddenly strikes. The fearful disciples wake Jesus who had been asleep. Jesus rebukes the disciples then rebukes the storm and all is calm.

This story reveals both the humanity and the divinity of Jesus. His humanity is shown in his tiredness and need of sleep. His divinity is shown in his authority over the storm. His humanity makes him approachable, his divinity makes him reliable. This is the one I follow, both man and God.

Jesus, you are relevant in your humanity and reliable in your divinity. In the storms of my life I place my trust in you. 

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Faith and Love

And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go back, then; you have believed, so let this be done for you.’ And the servant was cured at that moment.Mt.8:13

Jesus has been astounded at the faith of the Centurion who had come pleading on behalf of his sick servant. The Centurion's faith in Jesus' authority allowed that authority to work and his servant to be miraculously healed.

The Centurion's faith in Jesus and compassion for his servant stand out. Jesus would have noted both. Faith and love. These are the keys to intercession for healing. The world is full of people needing healing, physically and emotionally. In fact, this is the need of all of us. The answer? Love for the suffering and faith in Jesus to heal them.

Jesus, I bring before you my beloved family, each carrying a cross of sorts, each needing your healing. Lord, only say the word and they shall be healed.
Little Flower, please pray for us.

Easy Yoke

‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Mt.11:29,30


Enough said...

Thank you Jesus for carrying my burden.

Give up my Rights

‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’Mt.6:14,15

Jesus has just given the Lord's Prayer as an example of how to pray. He then highlights a verse.... forgive others.

The virtue of forgiveness is a common theme throughout the Bible. It seems this closest reveals God's nature. Jesus certainly emphasises forgiveness, it being one of his last actions on the Cross.

Forgiveness and Mercy are counter cultural in a world that is all about revenge. My nature demands my rights. Jesus demands that I give up my rights, that I let mercy triumph over judgement. Indeed this is my only hope when I meet him face to face... mercy, forgiveness.

Jesus, thank you for your great mercy and forgiveness extended to me. That I don't deserve this makes the gift more precious. Help me give up my rights in favour of others that I may glorify you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

An Agent of Light

‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well.Mt.5:38,39

Jesus is giving his great Sermon on the Mount, the blueprint for Christian living. Here he emphasises his new law of repayment. Pay good for evil.

Paying good for evil, working in the opposite spirit, robs evil of its power. Jesus not only said it, he lived it, ultimately climbing on the cross and handing his persecutors the nails. The result was his victory over evil and death.

I read a quote from Martin Luther-King, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." In this he was radiating his Christian world-view with its roots directly from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

It takes strength of character to do this and it always has a cost. But, good news! It always wins.

Jesus, evil in me wants revenge. Give me courage to give up my rights and be an agent of light.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Ambassador for Joy

‘What can bring us happiness?’ many say. Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord. You have put into my heart a greater joy than they have from abundance of corn and new wine.Ps.4:6,7

David writes a psalm in answer to the skeptics who seek happiness from the work of their hands. The greater, indelible joy comes from God alone.

I have lived on both sides of this divide. As I unbeliever, I remember being convinced that happiness came about only from what I seized for myself.  After discovering the joy that comes from loving others I saw how deluded I was in my tiny, self-centered world.

When joy comes from knowledge rather than possessions it can never be taken away. This joy is contagious as it is what all people seek. I can be be an ambassador of joy today.

O Lord, You have put into my heart a greater joy. Help me share this gift with others today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Three Persons One God

Alleluia, alleluia! Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: to God who is, who was, and who is to come. Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

Trinity Sunday

Today's Gospel Acclamation affirms the three persons of God... Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God the Father created me out of love. God the Son died for me out of love. The Holy Spirit empowers me to love.

I am so blessed today, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Minded doing Earthly Good

You should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come, when the sky will dissolve in flames and the elements melt in the heat. What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home.2Pt.3:11-13

Peter is writing to the Church to warn against false prophets. Here he outlines the correct attitude of believers as they wait for the return of Jesus.

We are always looking up, not down. Up is where Jesus is going to return. We are heavenly minded while doing earthly good. This gives me a positiveness when entering my day. Something good is always going to happen.

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus come.
Saint Philip Neri, pray for me