Handbook for Life

All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
2Tim.3:16,17

Paul is pointing his disciple Timothy in the direction where truth can be found when there is false teaching. Inspired scripture refutes, guides, teaches and equips.

Here is a reminder as to why it is profitable to study scripture. Do I want to be dedicated to God and equipped for good work? Then regularly study scripture. It is my spiritual food, my handbook for life.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word that equips and guides. 
Saint Jerome, please pray for me.

You Will See Greater Things

You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.
Jn.1:51

Responding to Philip's invitation to come and see, Nathaniel encounters Jesus. Jesus tells Nathanel he will encounter more than what is before him. He will see all of heaven and its angels.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Archangels, Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. We are told to lift our gaze to heavenly places as Jesus foretold Nathaniel. There is a supernatural element to life. Yes it's mysterious and intangible, but Jesus is Lord of there as well. 

As the psalmist says in today's Psalm, "In the presence of the angels I will bless you."

Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, please pray for us.

The Cost of Following

Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’
Lk.9:59,60

Luke records Jesus being straight up about the cost of following him. Priorities change for the follower of Christ.

Burying the dead is a great act of charity, read Tobit to be convinced. The Church is famous for always doing this. The greatest desecration to a person is to leave their dead body to the birds and wild animals. Yet here is Jesus apparently casting it aside. 

The point Jesus is making is there is a cost to following him. New duties are given. He is asking me if I'm prepared to pay that cost and perform those duties. When I say yes to Jesus what becomes my duty? Spreading the Good News. 

The good news about spreading the Good News is it becomes a great joy. When I'm doing that then I'm truly a follower. 

Jesus, the demands of the world can distract me from my duty. Help me spread the Good News and always keep an eye firmly on following you. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

Be Real

Job broke the silence and cursed the day of his birth. This is what he said: "May the day perish when I was born, and the night that told of a boy conceived. Why did I not die new-born, not perish as I left the womb?"
Job3:1-3,11

After a week of silent, afflicted misery in front of his three friends, a great lament breaks out from Job as he curses the day he was born.

Job is starting to get real with God, not cursing God but laying before him how he is feeling. Nothing is held back. Knowing the end of this story where Job is given back double everything he lost, this is the starting point of his recovery. It's a long path but he is starting to move out of his despair. He is lancing the boil.

God wants me to be real with him, wants me to stand naked before him. When this happens God can start to rebuild. The best material for God to work with is a pile of broken bricks, not a solid wall. 

Thank you Jesus that you invite me to be real with you, that I don't need to pretend. That's what friends do.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Less of Me

Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.
Lk.9:48

To silence the arguments among the disciples over who among them is the greatest, Jesus places a child beside himself and says, "Welcome this child and you are welcoming me. Here is your greatness."

Humility is a sign of greatness in Jesus eyes. Having preference for the weak, the poor, the small is a sign of distinction. All this, of course, goes against my natural inclination to put me first, to exalt myself. There needs to be less of me in my thoughts. 

Jesus, you modeled true greatness through servanthood. Help me be a servant too. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

The Long View

At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”
Lk.9:43,44

Jesus predicts his death for the second time, looking beyond the adulation of the crowds, keeping in focus the reason he came... to suffer and die for my sins.

Jesus kept the long view. He knew time on earth is temporary for all mankind and as a man he was not exempt. It's sobering to remember that one day I will draw my last breath. Today, now, takes on added value. How precious is the breath I draw at this moment. 

Jesus also knew death is not the end of the story. Death will not be the end of my story. I step into today loving the life I have been given but also with one eye firmly fixed on where my hope lies when I die. 

Thank you Jesus that as good as today is, it is not all that there is. My joy is in you and where you are calling me. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Who Do I Say He Is?

‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ It was Peter who spoke up. ‘The Christ of God’ he said.
Lk.9:20

Jesus is questioning his disciples on who the crowds say he is. He then zeros onto them, asking who they say he is. Peter's reply nails it. The Messiah of God. 

If my faith is anything it is personal. The very first prayer I ever made was to "the God of Kate, if you're up there." I was searching and that was a starting point. I couldn't stay there. Who do I say he is? Jesus is my God. I am his. He is mine. 

Jesus, you are my friend, you are my God. Walk beside me today I pray.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Life is Short

Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart. Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants.
Ps.89:12,13

Psalm 89 is attributed to Moses, a man of God. He identifies knowledge of our mortality as a sign of wisdom. Being aware of the shortness of this life makes us keep a firm eye on eternity and where we want to spend it.

I'm approaching retirement, a major cross road after fifty years of paid employment. Surely this is a time to reflect on my shortness of life. Thank God I follow him who has conquered death and promises eternal life. 

Jesus, you are my hope, my peace, my joy. I step into today knowing yes, my life here is short but my life with you is eternal.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

He Invites Me - I Invite Him

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.
Mt.9:9,10

Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector to follow him. Matthew immediately responds, leaving his livelihood, his former way of life and inviting Jesus into his home. To everyone's surprise, Jesus accepts the invitation.

Matthew did more than follow Jesus, he invited Jesus into his very life. Jesus then responded to Matthew's invitation, boots and all. That seems to be how conversion works. Jesus invites me. I invite him. I accept him for who he is, man and God. He accepts me for who I am, saint and sinner.

This is a daily process, starting today.

Jesus, I invite you into my life today. Be my companion and guide.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Noble and Generous

As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.
Lk.8:15

Jesus is explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples. As opposed to the rocky ground, the thorn covered ground and the exposed path ground, the rich soil giving a bountiful harvest is people with noble and generous hearts. 

Jesus is talking of people with high moral principles and a readiness to give more. This would not describe me each time I sin, in thoughts or deeds. Nobleness and generosity are virtues worth the effort of training and practicing. Jesus says it will take perseverance, that is persistence despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.  

Jesus, I have high ideals but lack persistence. Help me practice nobility and generosity until they define the quality of my heart.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

Pssst... Have you heard the Good News?

I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; 
1Cor.15:3,4

Paul reminds the Corinthian Church what the Good News is that they had been taught so they will not stray or be persuaded by other false teaching.

It's good to be reminded of what the Gospel, the Good News, actually is. It's not long or complicated. Jesus died for my sins, he was buried and he rose again on the third day. This simple truth is the rock on which I build my Christian faith. It's the ultimate Good News that is worth telling others so they also may be set free. 

Thank you Jesus for paying the price of my sins and setting me right with God the Father. Holy Spirit set a fire within me to tell the Good News to others.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Sign of His Love

Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.
Jn.3:16

Today is the feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Church chooses to include the most famous verse of scripture. Why? Because it reveals God's game plan the most succinctly.

This reminds me of the bumper sticker I saw a few months ago reading, "Yes, Jesus loves you but I'm his favourite." There's truth in the joke. Yes, Jesus died for all but that also means he died for me. God loved me so much that he gave his only Son, so that I who believe may not be lost but have eternal life. 

Jesus, your death on the cross is the ultimate sign of your love for me. Thank you Lord.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me. 

Serve with Gladness

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy.
Ps.99:1,2

Psalm 99 is a Psalm of grateful praise. The simple act of serving God, irrespective of appeared results, is enough cause to be glad.

Last night a number of guests and a couple of hosts didn't make the online Alpha Course. It is tempting to become despondent. But, today's psalm reminds me that my joy isn't dependent on the apparent success or failure of the Alpha Course. No, my joy comes from simply serving Jesus as best as I am able.

Jesus, you know my serving is imperfect, that sometimes I drop the tray. But what a great honor it is to serve you. I am glad to do it.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Start Digging

Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. 
Lk.6:47,48

Jesus warns that calling him Lord is not enough. We are to listen to him and then act on what we hear.

Jesus acknowledges that floods will come, the storm will be unleashed, hard times will happen. How to survive the storms is his focus. He shows how the good foundations required are to be built...  by listening to him and then acting according to what I hear. 

The best way for me to listen to him is to read his word and receive his sacraments. Both are available for me today. Time to start digging...

Thank you Jesus for the gift of your word in sacred scripture. Thank you Jesus for Holy Mass. I build my foundation on you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

The Plank in my Eye

How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.
Lk.6:42

Jesus is giving his Sermon on the Mount, here focussing on the vices of hypocrisy and judgement.

It seems wicked hypocrisy and judgement have been part of the human condition for millennia. I'm in good company, good in the sense of a good number. Hypocrisy and the associated evil of judgement being common human conditions is no excuse not to fight them. 

Jesus' assertion is that there is always a greater fault in me than there is in the brother I am judging. The antidote? Work on my own faults first before attempting to work on the faults of others. 

This is a lifetime work, which is perhaps Jesus' point. I'll never be in a place where I can say I'm faultless. This means I'll never be in a place where I can rightly judge others.

I need to root out hypocritical judgement from my life, starting from today...

Jesus, I am a hypocritical judge. Help me assume a natural attitude that others are always in a better state of grace than myself.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Fatherhood

Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream...
Mt.1:19,20

The story of Jesus' birth is told as the Church celebrates the birthday of Mary his Mother. A crucial role in God's plan of salvation is that of Joseph. Not one word of Joseph's is recorded yet we know much about him from the woman he married and the son he raised.

A friend is burying his father tomorrow. A significant event in a man's life is the death of his father, no matter what their relationship was like. For my friend, his relationship with his dad was a good one. Having known both men, I see much of the father in the son. Similarly, we can see much of Joseph in the boy he raised, Jesus. 

My role as a father to my five children remains important until the day I die. 

Jesus, inspire in me authentic fatherhood to my children. Each is different but they all need one thing, my unconditional love.
Saint Thomas Moore, please pray for me.

Happiness Awaits the Underdog

Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:
‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you...
Lk.6:20-22

Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount by championing the poor, the hungry, the mourning and the persecuted. He declares happiness awaits the underdog. 

This was good news two thousand years ago and is good news now. Predicted losers become winners for the ones on whom Jesus fixes his eyes, his disciples. 

Following Jesus brings happiness, no matter what is happening. I follow him into my day today...

Thank you Jesus for being my champion. I follow you into my day with joy in my heart.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Fruit

Alleluia, alleluia!
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord,
to go and bear fruit that will last.
Alleluia!

Jn.15:16

Today's Gospel Acclamation is Jesus proclaiming that I did not choose him. No, he has chosen me and chosen me for a purpose... to go and bear lasting fruit for him.

The Christian life isn't one of aimlessness, it's a life of purpose. The way to fulfill this purpose of lasting fruit is many and varied. It can be the life of a cloistered nun, the life of a father raising his children, the life of a third world missionary. The question is, what is my fruit bearing life? 

My life has been one of seasons, from pouring myself into my five children, working on my marriage, and involvement in Church and parish ministries. I guess the real question is, am I bearing fruit that will last? 

Lord, sometimes my efforts seem fruitless. Help me be zealous for you even when the soil appears to baren.
Saint Paul, please pray for me.

I Want it All

Alleluia, alleluia! 

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; 

no one comes to the Father except through me. 

Alleluia!

Jn14:6

Today's acclamation is from Jesus'reply to Thomas who has asked, "Lord, show us the way so we know where you're going." Jesus replies saying follow me not only for the way but for truth and life as well. 

Here again is Jesus testifying to his divinity. He's saying I don't need to look anywhere apart from him. The way, the truth and life encompasses everything. Jesus has it all. Here's another day dawning for me to follow him... and have it all.

Jesus, you are my all in all. I place my trust in you.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

The Light of Life

Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia!

Jn.8:12

In today's Gospel Acclamation Jesus speaks to the crowd proclaiming who he is, God, and what he brings, life.

A unique quality of Jesus is that he speaks clearly of his divinity. We either believe he was mad, or extremely evil or who he says he is. He doesn't give any other options. As there is no evidence of him being mad or bad I choose to believe he is who he says he is, the light of the world who brings life.

Thank you Jesus for bringing me the light of life as I stumblingly follow you. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Clean Hands Pure Heart

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things.

Ps.23:3,4

David defines what is the character of the man who is close to God, a man with clean hands and a pure. heart.

David's character reference is both simple and profound. Every man knows what unclean hands and an impure heart are. Usually they involve sexual sin. The desires of the heart always guides the work of the hands. 

The good news is this is the key to the antidote. The heart's desires can be controlled and directed. With practice and God's help, good thinking habits can replace the bad... starting today.

Jesus, I cringe when I remember you know the thoughts of my heart. Help me purify my heart that my hands may always be clean before you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.