So, the Lord Relented

So the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Ex.32:14

While Moses was upon Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments the people grew impatient and made their own god, a golden calf. God's anger blazed, threatening to annihilate but Moses interceded for the people and God relented.

Intercession can move, or stay, God's hand. This reminds me of Jesus' parable of the unfruitful fig tree, where the gardener intercedes and gains extra time to coax forth fruit. Moses has gained more time for the people to regain their senses. Judgement will still come, its arrival has simply been delayed.

This encourages me on two fronts. God is merciful. Good news for a sinner like me. I've been given time to get sorted. It also encourages me to intercede, even when the situation looks hopeless. I have a daily prayer list that grows with unanswered prayer ...yet. I am to keep on praying.

Lord Jesus, thank you for interceding on my behalf. Holy spirit, rise up within me. Help me come to my senses. 

My Friend the Son of God

Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only made them even more intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he spoke of God as his own Father, and so made himself God’s equal.
Jn.5:17,18

The Jewish leaders finally settle on the point on which to condemn Jesus to death. His claim to be equal with God.

This claim of Jesus to be God's son is still the stumbling block for people today. We either dismiss him as mad, despise him as bad or accept he is speaking the truth. His works don't have the mark of a madman and certainly his closest friends who knew him well wouldn't have submitted to the tortuous deaths they did if they knew him to be insane. Nothing in his life says he was an evil man. Even his enemies admitted Jesus went about doing good. That leaves us with accepting what he said of himself as true. 

I don't bother with the possibility of Jesus simply being a wise man going about doing good. He doesn't give us that option. Truly Jesus is who he says he is... the son of God. This places everything in my day in a new perspective... Jesus, the Son of God, is in me, with me and for me. Joy is mine.

Jesus, you are my friend, you are my God. Again I place my trust in you. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Time for a Swim

Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live.
Ez.47:9

Ezekiel writes of his vision of the river of life flowing from the temple. The temple is the source of life, health and joy to all living creatures who reside in the river and on its banks.

Ezekiel's vision is an allegory of the Church. Today's psalm says "The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, the holy place where the Most High dwells." If I want life, health and joy, the Church is the place for me to live beside. Whenever I go to Mass or simply visit my parish church for prayer, it is like wading into the river of life. 

And truly, this would explain why I always feel lifted and refreshed when I leave the church building. Something spiritual happens there. I am refreshed and invigorated, like coming back onto the beach after a swim in the ocean on a summer's day. It's good to go swimming in the river of life. It's time for a visit to my parish church today I think. 

Thank you Jesus for always being present in my parish church. You are the source of my life and my joy.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me

Joy in Humility

The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not.
Lk.18:13,14

Jesus is telling the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to "some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else." He finishes by saying it is the humble who are in right relationship not only with man but also with God.

The deadliest of all sins is pride. It is pride that caused Satan's fall. It is pride that led to Adam and Eve's fall. Pride is actually the sin behind every other sin. It is by nature competitive, wanting to place me above everyone else. 

Pride's antithesis and nemesis is humility. "A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn" wites David in today's psalm. "Those who humble themselves will be exalted,” promises Jesus. Today is a good day to change my world view, to see others as better and rejoice in that, to be a joyful servant, to be less so that Jesus can be more.

God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Heart Surgery

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
With all your heart turn to me,
for I am tender and compassionate.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Today's gospel acclamation is taken from Joel 2:12-13. It calls for a complete and utter turn around, back to the compassionate embrace of God.

Today's readings all refer to the heart, the core foundational character of a person. Jeremiah accuses the people of having evil hearts. The Psalm appeals to us not to harden our hearts. The gospel doesn't mention the heart specifically but tells of people with stubborn hearts who are testing Jesus.

God is obviously interested in this central, foundational core of my being, my heart. He wants all of me, down to my very core. Then he can do the necessary heart surgery, make me a new and perfect man. 

Lord, start this heart surgery today. I want to be all for you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Add a Link

But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.
Dt.4:9

Moses is introducing the Law that will define the Jewish people from that time forward. The Law is a taonga, a treasure to be passed from generation to generation.  Like all treasures, if unguarded it can be forgotten and lost.

I sometimes think with gratitude of the chain of people who have passed on the Christian faith so that I could receive it two thousand years later. There are hundreds of people who have literally passed this treasure from generation to generation until it has passed onto me. It makes me more determined not to break the chain but to add another link.

I am at the privileged age of passing it on to my children's children. How best to do this? Being a joyfully authentic witness in day to day life is a great place to start. 

Lord Jesus, you fulfill the Law. Help me be a faith-filled witness to my children and children's children.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

One More Year

Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.
Lk.13:7-9

To underscore his call for the people to repent, Jesus tells the parable of the unfruitful fig tree. 

Jesus is introducing urgency to his call for repentance. There is a time of grace but his time is finite. It will come to an end. So who is it that needs to repent and repent quickly? All of us. We all are like sheep and have gone astray, each following his own path (Isaiah 53:6) 

Repentance is the essential first step to bear fruit. I need to seize this time of grace and keep a short account with God. Now is the favourable time, today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Jesus, forgive me Lord for my many failings. I recommit my life to you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Foundational Faith

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants.
Rms.4:13,16

Faith, or belief, are laid by Saint Paul's letter to the Roman Church as one of the foundations of Christianity and it is freely available to all.

Before entering the Church I wondered what Catholics meant when they often talked about "the faith". They would say things like "she practices the faith" or "he has lost the faith". WHen I gained faith in Jesus I understood what they meant. 

C S Lewis states that the outworking of Christianity is through baptism, belief (faith) and Holy Mass. Faith is free and it is foundational if I want to claim fulfilment of the promises of God.

Today the Church lifts up Saint Joseph, a great role model of a man of faith.

Yes Jesus, I believe. I place my trust in you. 
Saint Joseph please pray for me. 

Send Labourers

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.
Lk.10:1,2

Jesus commissions a large outreach to prepare places he is going to visit. The Church is on the move.

Today is Saint Patrick's Day and the Church focuses on mission to proclaim the Word of God. Even by today's standards a missionary outreach involving seventy two participants is large. In those times it was massive. Their job was to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God was near. 

The Church has always been missionary. This commission has never been taken off us. When it stops being exercised the Church dies. When it is exercised we flourish. I've seen this in our own parish as it hosts Alpha Courses. 

It's time for another Alpha Course I'd say. The harvest is rich.

Jesus, prepare the way for us as we prepare the way for you. You are Lord of the Harvest. Send us labourers for another Alpha Course to get underway this year in our parish. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Replace Me with Him

This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mt.20:26-28

Jesus finds the disciples arguing over who should hold places of honour next to him. He redefines greatness for them, placing the slave at the top of the heap.

Jesus has just predicted his approaching death, even his resurrection, for the third time and the disciples still don't get it. It must have been exasperating for him. Mind you, I know about his passion, death and resurrection yet I still act as if I don't get it. I sympathise with the disciples.

This question of greatness gets to the core of my malady, my self centeredness.  The magnificent-me continues to be the cornerstone against which I measure much of what I do. How is this going to benefit me, elevate me, satisfy me?

Time to recommit to replacing "me" with "Him". The starting point has something to do with the attitude of a servant.

Jesus, help me be a servant today so I may be great in your Kingdom.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Cease Evil Start Good

Wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.
Is.1:16-18

Isaiah prophesies to a rebellious nation. The call to action is to cease, learn, search, help, be just and intercede. 

This ancient prophecy is just as relevant for me today. I am a rebellious nation. Evil comes naturally and I am called to stop doing it. However, doing good needs to be learned and practiced. It seems basic but I need to be intentional about doing good. 

How am I called to do good? Think less of myself and my worldly needs and be more aware of the needs of others. Be a bearer of justice, help those who are oppressed and powerless.

Jesus, help me make goodworks my natural activity. Give me a heart less for myself and more for others.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Homeland

For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.
Ph.3:20,21

Saint Paul writes to the Philippian Church, reminding them that their hope lies in heaven, their true homeland.

There are times when I feel a foreigner as people boast of things that should be shameful, holding up wrong while saying it is right and being applauded for it. Saint Paul's letter reminds me that this is in fact true. Heaven is my homeland, this mortal coil, even on its best day, is just shadowlands. 

My job while still in this foreign land is to bring as many as possible into heavenly citizenship, starting with those I meet today.

Jesus, thank you that with you beside me I am never alone, that you are calling me further up and further in to be with you. Help me draw others to you today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Perfection, Nothing Less

You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Mt.5:48

Jesus is warming up in his Sermon on the Mount, giving hard hitting commandments like loving your enemies. He caps this with the seemly impossible command, be as perfect as your Father in Heaven.

What does Jesus mean here? I'm starting to suspect he means just what he says. I'm to be as perfect as God in Heaven, to be the image of God. This will take everything, will mean allowing everything in me to die so the new, perfect me can live. 

This is not for the faint hearted. Christianity is an all or nothing religion, anything else and we're just toying with it. Yet, the promise that comes with it is just as incredible... eternal peace, happiness, joy! In fact, this peace, happiness and joy can be mine now when I surrender my petty, fleshly desires, when I nail them to the cross. I can skip and laugh on my to my crucifixion, today...

Jesus, I surrender it all to you, all my hopes, fears and desires. I want to be the new, perfect man you always had in mind for me.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

Value Others as Greater

So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.
Mt.5:23,24

Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, comes quickly to the problem of anger. Right relationships are paramount to any sacrificial offering.

Reconciliation is something beautiful whether between individuals, families or even nations. It involves one party reaching out and starting the process. It involves the word sorry. It was world news in 1990 when East Germany's first freely elected parliament made its first business to apologise to the Jews for the Nazi led holocaust. 

Saint Paul writes "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" Ph.2:3 This stops anger in its tracks. It can be my mantra for today.

Jesus, you want to help me become perfect. Help me rid selfish ambition and vain conceit from my life.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Ask Seek Knock

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 
Mt.7:7

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, laying the foundations for Christian living. For faith to be alive and dynamic it is continually asking, seeking, knocking.

It has been said that if you were to question a group of people who have left the church you would find very few who left as a result of hearing a robust argument against their faith. Most will have simply drifted away. Faith needs to be constantly feed and reminded of its basic tenets. That is why we go to church, why we read the bible. 

If I stop asking, seeking and knocking, I start drifting. 

Thank you Jesus for your written Word, for your Holy Church. Keep me so hungry for you that I continuously ask, seek and knock.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Mercy Triumphs

God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
Jnh.3:10

Jonah has reluctantly obeyed God and preached a warning to the Ninevites. A sweeping wave of repentance crosses the city and God relents from the punishment he had planned.

The story of Jonah the reluctant prophet is well known, the more so because Jesus quotes it, as recorded in today's Gospel. Jesus holds up Jonah as a sign to what he calls a "wicked generation". The sign is a call to repentance. 

The Ninevites were infamous for their cruelty. They had much to repent yet they did and God relented. The Ninevites not only repented, they changed. Words need action to follow and action, as we see in today's psalm, comes from a contrite heart. 

This is a story of how great God's mercy is. I need God's mercy as much as any Ninevite. Sin is sin and I'm a sinner. 

Jesus, may your mercy triumph over judgement. Holy Spirit, I crush my spirit so I may be filled with yours.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Forgive and be Forgiven

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.6:15

Jesus has just taught the disciples The Lord's Prayer. He underscores the verse "And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us."

Forgiveness is at the very heart of Christian life. If I don't forgive there is a huge gap in my Christian faith and in fact I place myself under a curse. The scandal of this verse is that Jesus plainly states I am not faultless, I have failings that need forgiveness. This dents my pride somewhat. 

Everyone I encounter today will have failings. These are great opportunities to kick my little judge off his pulpit and replace him with a forgiving spirit. This brings mercy and grace into play. It makes me a thoroughly nicer person to be around, someone with whom people can feel safe.  More importantly, it moves me into a place where my own many faults can be forgiven. Oh happy day....

Jesus, help me hand judgement over to you. My role today is to be an agent of grace, mercy and forgiveness. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Beleive and Confess

If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. By believing from the heart you are made righteous; by confessing with your lips you are saved.

Rms.10:9,10

Paul writes to the church in Rome to present his basic statement of the gospel: God's plan of salvation for all peoples, Jew and Gentile alike. All who believe are made righteous. All who confess Jesus is Lord are saved.

Righteous - free from guilt or sin. There's a human law in everyone, believer and non-believer alike, that discriminates right from wrong. We know what we ought to do but we don't do it... none of us. The only way out of this dilemma that I've found is Jesus.  

Today is Sunday, a great day to go to Mass and believe and confess. There I can expect to be made righteous and get closer to my salvation. Yes please!

Thank you Jesus for saving me. I place my trust in you.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

The Doctor

‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’

Lk.5:31,32

Matthew, a despised tax collector, hosts a celebration in Jesus' honour having just been called by him to be a follower. Scribes and Pharisees criticised Jesus for associating with a house load of sinners. Jesus replies, "They are the ones I came for". 

Rather than being repelled, Jesus is drawn to the sick be it physically sick, emotionally sick or spiritually sick. Oh good and happy news! For that means Jesus is drawn to me. I do the things I don't want to do. I'm spiritually sick, a hospital case. 

Jesus calls me to repentance. That is the medicine that will make me well again. 

Jesus, you know my propensity to sin. I turn to you again Lord in repentance. Thank you for welcoming me back home beside you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Less of Me More of You

‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’
Mt.9:15

John's disciples have sided with the Pharisees on the question of fasting. They ask Jesus why his disciples don't fast. Jesus' typical reply says, in season. There's a time to fast and a time not to.

As the joke goes... "Lent is a time for prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Now, the prayer I don't mind...."  Almsgiving and fasting and the hard bits of Lent. Why? Because they oppose the core of my malady, selfishness. As Queen's famous song says, I want it all, and I want it now. Along with Frank Sinatra's "My Way", "I Want it All" could be the anthem of the World and I sing it loud.

So, back to fasting. Jesus says fasting is right at the right time. Lent is surely the right time. 

Jesus, you know my struggles with self. Help me have less of me and more of you this Lent.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

He Died I Live

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’

Lk.9:22

For the first time, Jesus speaks plainly of his coming passion, death and resurrection. He then goes on to say anyone who calls himself a follower must die daily to his old self to let his new self live.

Here's the game plan that becomes the Good News. Jesus died for my sins, was buried and on the third day rose again. We acknowledge this in the Mystery of Faith at every Mass. We proclaim your Death, O Lord and profess your Resurrection until you come again. 

Lent is a time to practice dieing to self. Prayer, almsgiving and fasting all demand I put myself second. They have me picking up my cross and following Jesus. The carrot, if you like, is the last four words of the Mystery of Faith... until you come again. That's what puts it all in perspective. I follow the one who is alive and returning to take me home. Alleluia!

Thank you Jesus for dieing so I may live. I take up my cross again today and follow you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

Set Free

Make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.
1Pt.1:14-16

Peter writes to encourage placing trust in the grace that is coming to all believers when Jesus is revealed. That trust is exercised by obedience to the Word and holiness of action.

Obedience and holiness, two things that are contrary to my natural, fleshly desires. In fact, they are impossible for me to achieve without Christ. 

Lent starts tomorrow. It's a time to exercise obedience and aim for holiness. It's a time to press into Jesus. 

Jesus, without you I am a slave to my sin. With you I am set free. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.