Love God Love Others

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself.

Mk.12:30,31

Jesus is answering a question, "Which is the first of all the commandments". His answer summarises all of the Law and the Prophets. Love God and love others.

Jesus' ministry on earth can be summarised in this way. All that he did and said meets these two criteria. Loving God and loving others. It follows that if I call myself a Christian, a follower of The Way, then I must do the same today.

Jesus, loving God and loving others gets difficult in the dust of daily battle. Help me keep one eye fixed firmly on you today so that I may love you and love others in all I say and do.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

 

Love My Enemies

The Jews are enemies of God only with regard to the Good News, and enemies only for your sake; but as the chosen people, they are still loved by God, loved for the sake of their ancestors. God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.

Rms.11:28,29

Paul reminds the Church that the Jews will always remain loved and chosen by God. Yes, they opposed the Good News of Jesus but only so all pagan people would benefit by hearing and receiving it.

I have been an enemy of the Good News, in my pagan years up to my thirties and even since then, every time I sin. How wonderful that God never takes back the gift given to me at my infant baptism when I was welcomed into the family of God as a beloved son. 

I have family members who are also enemies in the same sense I have been. I am no superior to them. In fact I have a special duty towards them to tell them they are still chosen, still beloved.  

Jesus, help me be Good News to people today, especially my family.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

In Sync

‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away.

Lk.14:3,4

Jesus is in a house on the Sabbath for a meal with the leading Pharisees. He sees a man among them who is ill, possibly with heart disease.  He answers his own question to the Pharisees about when best to cure by healing the man in front of them. 

It seems any time is the right time for acting with compassion. There is no higher law than the law of love. Conversely, it is sinful to delay an act of love when the need is obvious. This is also true for simply doing the right thing. Jesus says it would even be right to haul an ox out of well on the Sabbath.

There's no procrastination when it comes to doing the right thing, the loving thing. Procrastination is a weakness in me, something for me to shake off , now...

Jesus, your timing is always perfect. Help me sync my timing with yours today.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

 

No Accident

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’.

Lk.6:12,13

Jesus is establishing his core team for the ministry he is about to start. After a whole night of prayer, knowing all about their strengths and weaknesses, he chooses the twelve apostles.

There was deliberation in how Jesus picked the twelve. He knew what he was getting, from Peter the sand pile to Judas the traitor. Each would have had a purpose in Jesus' mind. Peter would become a rock, Judas would commit the greatest betrayal in history. There were no accidents, no surprises.

There's no accident in my role in Jesus' apostolic plan. Here I am, in a particular place at a particular time and I'm chosen. The chosen apostles slowly got their plan by hanging out with Jesus over three years. After the Jesus ascended it was the Holy Spirit who continued to guide them. That's where my plan is found, in hanging out with Jesus and with the Holy Spirit as my guide.

Holy Spirit, I know I am chosen. I know you have a plan for me. Help me be in the center of that plan today. 

Saints Simon and Jude, please pray for me. 

Try Your Best

Someone said to Jesus, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.

Lk.13:24

Jesus is being questioned on what number will enter heaven. He doesn't give a figure but answers with an entreaty to work on entering heaven as it will be difficult and many will not succeed. 

There's a pervading sense in the Church that the door into heaven is open wide and everybody will get there. Not according to Jesus. Time and again he says there will be sheep and goats, cries of joy and grinding of teeth, a difficult path and a narrow door. 

Following Jesus must be intentional, not a matter of drifting along. Yes salvation is easy to understand, a child can grasp it, but obtaining it takes discipline, trying my best according to Jesus. The good news is that the work is a joy. The Catholic life is life giving, a discipline yes, but a joyful discipline. This  morning prayer is an important part of that lifestyle. 

Lord Jesus, this is my best at the moment. Help me fill the rest of today with my best of efforts to gain the narrow door.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

The Joy of Hope

For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.

Rms.8:24

Paul writes to the Church of Rome, placing present sufferings into the context of future glory.  Complete salvation is yet to arrive but we are strengthened in our waiting by hope. 

A Pentecostal asks, "Are you saved brother?" A Catholic replies, "Not yet but I have every hope". Here are the versus on which we base that reply. We are in that waiting period like in World War Two. The war was won on D Day, June 6th 1944. It didn't end for another year while mop up operations had to be completed. 

My salvation has been won on the Cross.  I just have to wait patiently in the firm hope of receiving it. Like in WWII, work still needs to be done as I wait but my hope is in the glory to come. This is my joy today.

Thank you Jesus for the surety of salvation you give me. I place my trust in you.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me. 

Life

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

Rms.8:11

Paul expands on the work of the Holy Spirit. It is to give fullness of life to all who believe. 

Here is the Blessed Trinity at work. He (the Father) who raised Jesus (the Son) will give life through his Spirit (the Holy Spirit). And this life is what is on offer to all who believe. It's pretty compelling when I sit down and take it all in. 

Each day starts with a choice and it's the choice that matters, not how holy or spiritual I am. Today I choose life through the Spirit living in me. The first fruits of peace and joy a starting to grow already. Praise God!

Thank you Jesus for offering me the choice of life this morning. Be glorified in how I live out that choice today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Escape Route

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Rms.7:25

Saint Paul writes of the struggle he has between his desire to do good and his flesh that does evil. The only way free is through Jesus.

"Instead of doing the good things I want to do, I carry out the sinful things I do not want." There is the struggle of all humanity, believer and nonbeliever alike. Paul, an exemplary follower of the Law quickly says the Law is not the answer, in fact it is the problem. Keeping the Law requires human effort, an impossible task to do perfectly.

My rescuer from this battle with the flesh is Jesus with his mercy and grace. No wonder peace is the first fruit of surrender to him. I surrender from my human struggles again today and turn to Jesus. Thanks be to God for this wonderful escape route.

Jesus, you are my rock, my surety, my peace today. I place my trust in you.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Oil and Water

Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

Lk.12:51

Jesus reminds his disciples he is a radical change-agent that overrides all other allegiances. 

Why would the Prince of Peace say he has come to bring division and clearly division within families? I remember a line from the Chronicles of Narnia. "Aslan is not a tame lion." In the same manner, Jesus is not a tame God.

There is an oil and water affect that takes place when one becomes Christian. I experienced this among my own family and friends. We saw the world from different perspectives. What I would happily do and say with friends previously I no longer did. A distance, especially painful within my family, grew between us. 

Yet these are the very ones I want to reach out to with the love of Jesus. I guess the message is, don't compromise. Speak the truth but speak it in love. Be the truth but be it in love. 

Jesus, your own family misunderstood you, thought you were mad. Help me be a constant, loving witness for you within my own family.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Dead Man Brought Back to Life

Offer yourselves to God, and consider yourselves dead men brought back to life; you should make every part of your body into a weapon fighting on the side of God.

Rms.6:13

Paul writes to the Roman Church encouraging them to be dead to sin and alive in Jesus to fight the good fight.

Life is a battle and a battle to the death. When I gave my life to Jesus I died to sin and was truly born again. I remember everything seeming new and fresh and clean. And of course, it was. I was a new born babe. 

I loose sight of this "born again-ness" when the the trials and troubles of the world overwhelm me. I'm looking out over a verdant paddock with dew sparkling in the yellow glow of a spring morning sunrise. Every looks clean, fresh, new... expectant. That's my life at the moment. New mercies I see. What a gift!

Jesus, I recommit my life to you. Thank you Lord for all you have done and all you are doing in my life.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

Amazing Grace

When law came, it was to multiply the opportunities of failing, but however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater.

Rms.5:20

Saint Paul is highlighting that although the Law promises deliverance, the only available escape route from sin is the free gift of Jesus. 

Before becoming Christian, I remember wanting to live a good life, not hurt others, contribute to life. I was sincere but set up for failure. I kept doing bad things, injuring others and taking more than I gave. It was exhausting. 

The first fruit of my conversation was peace. I could stop striving. I no longer had to do it all on my own strength. I had a new friend and helper, someone who said' "Give it all to me. I'll carry it for you. And by the way, let me heal you in the process." Oh the relief.

That one word "grace" was new and liberating for me. I'm still unwrapping and unpacking the wonderous, freely given gift of grace. It continues to amaze me.  Thank you Jesus.

Jesus, your narrow way continues to be my escape route from failure. Thank you Lord for the gift of grace through faith in you. 

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

 

You Wanna Be Great?

Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mk.10:43-45

The other ten apostles are indignant with James and John attempting to gain high ranking from Jesus. Jesus sees they all want the same aggrandisement, so he defines what it takes to be great in God's Kingdom. Servanthood. 

I'm sure Jesus chose the twelve because of their brokenness. It makes them so relatable. I know if I was among the ten I would as loud as any of them in my protestations.  I want to be great and my measure of greatness is not very Christian. 

Our Christian faith is unique in its constant call to servanthood. We should be constantly fighting about who is going to be the servant. You know, standing at the door arguing about who is going through first... "After you. No, after you. No, I insist, after you. No, after you..."

Today I bend my measuring stick of greatness back to Jesus, which means back to the greatest servant of all, the Servant King.

Jesus, my spirit is willing but my flesh is so weak. It wants to be exalted. Help me take the greatest pleasure in exalting others today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Empowered to Proclaim

Do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.

Lk.12:11,12

Jesus is encouraging his disciples not to worry about acknowledging him before rulers and authorities as they won't be alone. The Holy Spirit will be with them teaching and guiding.

It wasn't until I acknowledged the real presence of the Holy Spirit as a person as real as Jesus that my faith became alive. I've experienced times when I've spoken, or led a song and afterwards wondered, where did that come from? It wasn't from me, it was from God. 

Jesus is reminding me again that I am never alone. His promise is the Holy spirit will always be with me, especially at those times when I am lifting Jesus up before men.

Holy Spirit flow 

Lead us in Your will 

Empowered to proclaim 

Holy Spirit flow 

Oh flow through us

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Set Free by Faith

When a man has nothing to show except faith in the one who justifies sinners, then his faith is considered as justifying him. And David says the same: a man is happy if God considers him righteous, irrespective of good deeds.

Rms.4:5,6

Paul underscores that our justification by God comes by faith in him alone.

Here it is again. That too good to be true good news. The mercy of God sets me free from my broken sinfulness. I don't have to earn his forgiveness, it is freely given to all who simply believe.

Christianity says let your good works flow from your forgiven-ness not let your forgiven-ness be earnt by your good works. And to affirm this state of grace I am given joy. A miserable Christian is an impossibility. Let joy be my hallmark today. 

I am forgiven. Alleluia!

Thank you Jesus for my unearned justification and joy. I place my trust in you.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

 

Jesus Sets Me Free

As we see it, a man is justified by faith and not by doing something the Law tells him to do.

Rms.3:28

Paul writes to the Church in Rome explaining that faith in Jesus settles all accounts of sin, something the Law couldn't do.

This is Good News for me, a person who can't do what he wants to do and does what he doesn't want to do. I try to be perfect but I can't. My only hope is in Jesus and in Jesus paying the price. Faith in Jesus is the key to hope, peace and joy for me... today.

Thank you Jesus for climbing onto the Cross... for me. You have set me free.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Justice and Love

The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God!

Lk.11:42

Jesus is prophesying calamity to the Pharisees and Lawyers at a feast where he is a guest. Both earn the remark "Alas" for the wrath of God they are to receive.

Jesus is nothing if not persistent in his warnings about the Day of Judgement. He is very clear about the anguish that is coming for those who are to receive God's wrath. However, he is also consistent in pointing out what can be done to avoid such judgement. For the Pharisees, practice justice and love. For the lawyers, lift off burdens.

Yes, I am saved by grace but what is the work that I should practice to show that grace has been properly received? At the moment it is love more and judge less. That just about covers everything.

Jesus, there is a Pharisee and a Lawyer in me that takes ascendancy. Help me act in justice and love. Help me be the lifter of burdens.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Put Down the Airbrush

Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.
Lk.11:41

Jesus is responding to a Pharisees' surprise at him not washing before his meal. Jesus focuses on the Pharisees' hypocrisy of excessive concern on outward appearance while ignoring the more deadly corruption of heart.

Outward appearance is paramount in the world today, stoked by the fire of social media where only the perfectly posed and edited photo is posted. I get sucked into this vortex as easily as anyone. Meanwhile in this airbrushed world misery, corruption and violence is blossoming. 

Jesus gives the Pharisee, and me, an antidote. Give alms. Almsgiving is defined as "an act inspired by compassion and a desire for justice for another". Suddenly the focus is off the appearance of me and on the needs of someone else. A far more Christian posture for me to assume today.

Jesus, you know how obsessed I get on the outside. Help me turn my focus on others I meet today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Joy Comes in the Morning

‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’

Lk.11:27,28

Jesus deflects adulation from the crowd by pointing out there is even greater joy than his and it's available to anyone. Simply hear God's word then keep it.

To hear I have to listen and to listen I need to clear away noise and to clear away noise I need to make a decision to do so. Morning prayer is a quiet time that allows me to hear God's word. No wonder my spirit is always lifted at the end it.

I've heard God's word this morning to make space in my day for him. Now I'll keep it and joy will be mine.

Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see. Joy has come in the morning.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Division is Disaster

Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses.

Lk.11:17,18

Jesus is answering accusations of gaining his deliverance power from Satan. He refutes this by pointing out a universal truth... division heralds disaster. 

Any enterprise starts with a team possessing a common vision, goal and purpose. Replace common with disparate and the enterprise collapses.  

What projects am I currently involved in? Alpha at my parish. My work place. Most importantly my family and my marriage. All of these require unity of purpose to succeed. My role in each must be an agent of unity. This works out differently for each enterprise but the result is the same... a strong kingdom, a successful household.

Jesus, help me be an agent of unity, especially in my marriage and family, that our household will stand.

Saint Philip Neri please pray for us.

Ask for Him

If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Lk.11:13

Jesus is teaching his disciples. Having given them the Lord's Prayer he now teaches on persistence in prayer, especially in prayer asking for the Holy Spirit.

This verse is key on the Alpha Course Away Day, the part of the Alpha Course focusing on the who, what, why and how of the Holy Spirit. The question is put forward, how do I receive the Holy Spirit? The answer is ask for him. Ask, ask and ask again. 

This isn't a one off event. I'm in constant need of a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit of God. 

Come Holy Spirit, refresh and refill me so I am never drained but work from you overflowing in my life. That Jesus may be glorified, come.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Mercy is Worth It

And am I not to feel sorry for Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left.

Jon.4:11

Jonah has fallen into rage because God has shown mercy to the Ninevites, arch enemies of his people. God defends his actions, saying mercy is always his prerogative. 

The outrageous grace of God continues to make us indignant. I would often prefer fire rain down from heaven on the heads on some people. I want them to get what I think they deserve. The law is so neat and tidy, black and white. Mercy on the other hand, by nature is undeserved and with uncertain outcomes. It gives the initiative back to the perpetrator who may not respond in the way I would want. 

Of course, my hyporacy is in the fact that I have been given mercy from God. Therefore am I not bound to extend mercy to others? Well... yes, but it's so hard. Yes, it's hard, but look at its fruit. Changed hearts in both the giver and receiver. This is always an inside-out job and mercy is the key. Mercy is worth it, even when it doesn't look as though much has happened. When I extend mercy the first fruits are in me, in the softening of my heart. That alone makes it worthwhile.

Jesus, you are mercy personified. Thank you Lord for the mercy you have given me. Help me be merciful to others I meet today that hearts may be changed.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Sit and Listen

But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

Lk.10:41,42

Jesus replies to Martha's complaint about her sister Mary not helping with the serving. Mary's sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to him is held up as the greater work.

It was hard getting out of bed this morning. The moment of struggle to get up for prayer is called the "Heroic Minute" for good reason. But here I am sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his Word. Truly the better part.

Martha wasn't too far off the mark. She was just doing the right thing at the wrong time. There's a time to put down the dish cloth to sit and listen. Or... continue wiping the dishes but with the right attitude. My experience is, replace resentment with gratitude and the Holy Spirit will come in.

So, today I need to be mindful about my work. Either do it with gratitude or if I'm unable to do that, put down the dishcloth, sit and listen.

Lord Jesus, you know my thoughts are often a tangle of resentment and fear. Help me still myself in you today.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Little in Speech

Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi

Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
Alleluia!

Today's Gospel Acclamation is taken from the Gospel of Matthew, 11:25 where Jesus praises the superiority of littleness. No wonder this is chosen by the Church for the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the master of this very virtue.

For the past week the Church has been circling around a core truth of Jesus' teaching, that less is more, that great strength is found in weakness, that child-likeness gains the Kingdom. 

How can I practice the virtue of littleness today? How about speaking less and listening more... just for starters.

Jesus, I always want to say the last word. Help me place a guard on my lips, speak less and listen more today, that I may become little and understand the mysteries of the kingdom.
Saint Francis of Assisi, please pray for me.

 

Leave the Door Open

As by your will you first strayed away from God, so now turn back and search for him ten times as hard; for as he brought down those disasters on you, so will he rescue you and give you eternal joy.

Ba.4:28,29

The prophet Baruch comforts Jerusalem, promising a repentant people will again be blessed by a forgiving God.

God's wrath is always followed by God's mercy. The door is left open for a repentant heart. I've walked back through that door and experienced God's mercy. It is life changing and joy giving. The promise is eternal joy, for those extending mercy as well as those receiving. I need to leave the door ajar for those who have hurt me. 

Jesus, give me a naturally merciful heart so I may give and receive your eternal joy.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Great Littleness

I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mt.18:3,4

As a memorial to Saint Therese of Lisieux the Church has chosen today's Gospel where Jesus holds up a little child as a model of greatness in Heaven.

One of the things I love about our Church is how it goes about recognising greatness. Here we have a cloistered nun in an obscure French convent, dead by the age of twenty-four, now exalted as a Doctor of the Church. Littleness is recognised as greatness.

Libraries of books have been written about Saint Therese, millions of lives affected by her example of "great littleness". She understood what Jesus was saying to his disciples. Child-likeness, not childishness, child-likeness is the key to a joyful and complete Christian life. It's time for me to peel off some of my vainglory. 

Jesus, you know I love to be exalted. Help me love to be little even more.

Saint Therese, please pray for me.