New Heaven New Earth

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.

Apoc.21:1,2

Saint John sees the book of life being read for every soul that ever lived for the final judgement. The old world is then cast into the fiery lake and a new heaven and new earth, a new creation, comes from heaven for those judged worthy.

This vision is truly apocalyptical, depicting total destruction of the world. Yet it finishes with a great promise of eternal glory. This reminds me of the final book in the Narnian Chronicals, The Last Battle. C.S. Lewis describes the children entering a new world that is strangely familiar. They finally realise it is the old Narnia but so much more beautiful and clear and perfect, made of colors yet unseen, fruit with flavors yet untasted. More importantly they recognise Aslan who has turned into someone who is the perfection of his former lion-self.  

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

Satnd 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 is preparing his disciples for the end of time. While unbelievers faint with fear, we the Church are to stand up and lift our heads. Why? For our Savior draws near.

This is the great message of hope from Jesus. The time where every tear will be replaced with shouts of joy is a promise from him. And Jesus keeps his word. This is a foundation stone for my joy today. No matter what happens, Jesus will return and I can stand and lift my head.

Thank you Jesus for your promise of liberation. I stand on your promise today and claim the joy it brings into my world.

Saint Philip Neri, patron saint of Joy, please pray for me.

 

Cry Out with Joy

Let the land and all it bears rejoice, all the trees of the wood shout for joy at the presence of the Lord for he comes, he comes to rule the earth. 

Ps.95:13

The psalmist sings of God's return at the end of time to rule and judge all the world.

Nearing the end of the calendar year the Church has us again focusing on the end of time. Here we learn there will be a great cry from everything and everyone when Jesus returns. For some it will be a cry of horror, for others a cry of joy. The surety and finality of end times judgement will not escape anyone.

What can I do to ensure my cry will be one of joy? Again I am reminded of Jesus' parable of the sower where he describes the rich soil as "people with a noble and generous heart who hear the Word and tend to it". The fruit of a noble and generous heart is to hear God's Word and act on it. 

So, to be found acting on God's Word is a good place to be when Jesus returns. He may return today...

Lord Jesus, I want my cry to you when you return to be a cry of joy. Give me courage and strength to act on your word, to tend to it today.

Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc and Companions, please pray for me.

 

Use or Lose

I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Lk.19:26

Jesus is telling the parable of the ten gold coins. The man who was fearful and hid his coins rather than investing them was rebuked by his lord and stripped of the little he did have.

We all have been given something of value from God to invest for him, even if it is just the breath we draw, life itself. What is my gift of value, apart from life? 

I think I am able to teach and to lead. Alpha has been a place I can exercise these talents, perhaps explaining why I resonate so much in that ministry. 

Today's reading reminds me of the principal, "Use it or lose it" and the using is to be for God's glory, not my own. 

Jesus, you have given me much. Help me be not fearful but bold in using what I have been given, for your glory.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Love

I am writing now, dear lady, not to give you any new commandment, but the one which we were given at the beginning, and to plead: let us love one another.
2Jn.5

Saint John writes of the supreme commandment given since God first established his covenant. Love one another.

There are many ways I relate to others. Only one has been given any credence by God. I am to love. Here lies the key to happiness and fulfillment in my life. Today's psalm says, "Happy are those who follow God's Law". What is that law? According to Jesus it is to love God and love others. Here is my marching orders for today...

Jesus, you are perfect love. Fill me with your love that I can love others I meet in my day.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Family

I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord.

Phil.15,16

Paul writes to Philemon, a wealthy man and slave owner, asking him to accept a former slave now as a brother.

What can a prisoner, a wealthy man and a slave have in common? In this story it is Jesus. Here we have a wonderful example of what the family of God looks like. Very different individuals bound together in a familial relationship through Jesus. 

This was the unique characteristic of the early Church and continues to be the unique characteristic of the Church today. The Alpha Course we've just finished is an example. Different people in every way yet we discovered a common bond, each of us is loved by God as sons and daughters. This immediately makes us brothers and sisters, makes us family.

Thank you Jesus for calling us together into one body, into family. Help me see all I meet today as sons and daughters, loved by God and so my brothers and sisters.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

 

Heaven is Home

For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the Savior we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ph.3:20

Saint Paul reminds the Philippian Church that heaven is their home and home is where they to be facing while waiting for the return of Jesus.

The world about me screeches that here is my home. When I listen to this I become grasping, trying to grab and hold more of the world. Jesus says this is just shadowlands, that even the best of days is just a glimmer of what is to come. Today I am in the world but not of it. Heaven is my home.

Thank you Jesus for calling me further up and further in. I place my trust in you.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me. 

Welcome and Eat with Me

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

Lk.15:1,2

Jesus is accused of breaking the Law by welcoming sinners. Jesus not only doesn't deny this but affirms the welcoming of sinners as true religion.

Grace is what makes Christianity unique among all religions. The outrageous welcoming of sinners, just as they are, gives Christianity its standout appeal. Firstly, this is Good News for me. I am a sinner yet Jesus loves to hang out with me. Secondly, this clearly spells out my obligation to other sinners. Don't judge them, welcome them. 

Jesus says, "Is there no one here to condemn you? Then neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more".  It is by first accepting the person just as they are that inner conversion can then take place. That was my experience. Today is the day for me to welcome sinners and eat with them.

Jesus, thank you for welcoming me and eating with me. Help me welcome and eat with others.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

Joyful Zealot

Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful.

Rms.12:11 

Saint Charles Borromeo

Saint Paul writes to the Church in Rome, encouraging the communal life they should lead, loving one another and working for the Lord, in other words be love in action.

Working with zeal brings its own satisfaction. Hope always brings with it joy. Joyful zealots. What a great witness such people are. 

Jesus, you were a joyful zealot. Help me follow your example and be a worthy witness for you.

Saint Charles Borromeo, please pray for me.

 

 

Deadly Distractions

Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.

Lk.14:21

Jesus tells the Parable of the Great Banquet to prophesy what will happen at the Great Banquet of God's Kingdom. All are are invited but only the weak, the poor, the lame, those at the bottom of the heap with no worldly attachments accept the invitation. 

Worldly attachments can be a tool to bring people into the Kingdom or deadly distraction. The latter is more often the case. The antidote is to seek first the Kingdom of God. This means investing my first, my best for Jesus. The other stuff is then seen in right perspective, reconstituted dust. 

Jesus, you know my attachment to things. Help me place you and your love for others in first place.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.