The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Put God’s armour on so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world, the spiritual army of evil in the heavens.
Eph.6:11,12

Paul warns us that we are in a battle against spiritual forces of evil, so we are to equip ourselves for battle. 

That a power of evil exists is less debated than the fact that there is a power of good. Acknowledging there is an enemy is the first step to defending against and then defeating him. 

I am not to fear this present darkness. The antidote is summarised in James 4 verse 7. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.". The way to resist the devil is to put on the armour of God. 

Thank you Jesus that you are captain of the victorious army, the Church Triumphant. The battle belongs to the Lord. I place my trust in you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Travel Light

Someone said to him, ‘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.13:23,24

Jesus warns that the way to God's Kingdom is not wide and easy but requires letting go of much baggage.

My darling wife insisted on a massive suitcase when we travelled around Italy and France. Of course, I always ended up handing over my modest 10 kg bag to her while I wrestled her behemoth on and off trains. The most difficult part of the task was always the narrow doors.

The lesson in today's Gospel for me is, travel light. I remember a joke about the wealthy man who, when he died, brought sacks of money with him. Saint Peter and the pearly gates spys the bags of money and says, "Oh... goody. We'll be able to use that to... um... play Monopoly". 

The point is, baggage from this world restricts my movement into God's Kingdom. Travel light...

Jesus, I tend to grab and horde. Help me open my grasping hands and let go... and travel light.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Review Regret Repent

Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.
Lk.13:4,5

Jesus twice refers to contemporary calamities claiming the lives of innocents, people slaughtered by Herod while in the act of worship and bystanders killed under a collapsed tower. Despite their innocence the people had perished and Jesus says so will we unless we repent.

Repentance... reviewing and regretting past wrongs. Jesus presents repentance as the key to life that every one of us needs, that I need. I have sinned and have followed my own path.  The Church helps me here. It's time for the confessional...

Thank you Jesus for offering the key to fullness of life through repentance. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Unity

Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. 
Eph.4:2-4

Paul calls the Ephesian Church to unity which is a sign of Christian maturity.

Part of the attractiveness of my local parish is the unity shown by the people. We are a community made up of people from all over the world, of old and young, of wealthy and not so wealthy. Yet, there is a wonderful oneness among us based on our common faith. 

Charity, selflessness, gentleness, patience.... all virtues I need to practice more. 

Lord, unity is the mark of an authentic Christian community. Help me be a unity maker in my parish and in my family.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Become His Love

 Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.
Eph.3:16-19

Paul prays for the Ephesians and indeed for all the Universal Church, for me... to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that the love of Christ completely possesses me.

This is the ultimate blessing, to call on a person the utter fullness of God. It's a blessing I call over my wife and children. It's a blessing I wish for all of my grandchildren , for Alpha Course guests and hosts, for my parish and local Church.

Lord Jesus, I ask that my hidden self may grow strong so that I know your love and become your love... starting today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Yes No Not Yet

Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. 
Lk.18:7,8

Jesus has just told his parable of the persistent widow, underscoring his promise that persistence in prayer will always bear fruit.

I have a daily prayer list with names of people who have been on the list for years, my prayers as yet unanswered. I've heard it described there can be three types of answers to prayer from God... yes, no or not yet. The Yes's" are easy to recognise. The "no's"  can be harder to accept. The main thing is to keep praying for the "not yets". 

Jesus, I know all authentic prayer is heard by you. I trust that at the right time you will give the right response.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Hope-filled

Chosen to be, for his greater glory, the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.
Eph.1:11,12

Paul defines who the people of the Ephesian Church are, people of hope. 

As a believer in Jesus I am a person of hope, hope based on the promises that come from his love. Jesus knows the world is in desperate need of hope. He has made his Church emissaries of hope to the hopeless. I am to be an emissary of hope to all I encounter today.

Jesus, again I place my trust and hope in you. Holy Spirit, fill me so I may be a hope-filled witness today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

I Am Chosen

Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ,
to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence,
Eph.1:4,5

Paul starts his great epistle to the Ephesian Church by zeroing in their identity. Who are they? They are the chosen.

I promote the Alpha Course by saying it will give a renewed identity and sense of purpose. Here is Saint Paul saying the same. Who am I? I am chosen. For what purpose? To live in and through love. It's pretty simple really.

Lord Jesus, I step out into this day as chosen, chosen to live, chosen to love. Holy Spirit be my guide.
Saint Paul, please pray for me.

Faith felt through Love

Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.
Gal.5:5,6

Paul exhorts the Galatian Church not to waste time trying to be made righteous through the Law which is slavery. Faith in Jesus alone is the key to righteousness, shown by its power of love. 

We're all little lawyers which is what makes the Law so attractive. Everything is so neat and black and white. People either measure up or they don't. The problem is the Law excludes love, which excludes mercy, grace, forgiveness... which excludes God. 

I've got to kill that little lawyer within me and stir my faith in the God of grace, mercy and forgiveness. Then love naturally flows... in power. 

Jesus, you alone are the antidote to my slavery to the Law. Let my faith in you make its power felt through love.
Saint Paul, please pray for me.

Hearts that Seek will Rejoice

O sing to the Lord, sing his praise; 

 tell all his wonderful works! 

Be proud of his holy name, 

 let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.

Ps.104:2,3

The psalmist calls us to lift our voices in praise to God. All who seek the Lord can rejoice.

There's joy just in seeking. "Seek and you will find," says Jesus. Even before finding, joy is promised. This joy is based on hope and yearning for fulfillment of that hope. The joy of finding is something more again.

Today is our Alpha Away Day, a day of seeking. I can expect joy to be part of the day.

Thank you Jesus that you are a joy to seek and a greater joy to find.  Holy Spirit, be our joy as we seek today.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

I Lift, He Draws

Alleluia, alleluia! 

The prince of this world will now be cast out, 

and when I am lifted up from the earth 

I will draw all to myself, says the Lord. 

Alleluia!

Jn12:31-32

Today's Gospel Acclamation quotes Jesus predicting his death by crucifixion and the benefit it will provide, the drawing all mankind to himself.

This scripture reminds me of my mission... to lift Jesus up. He does the drawing in people's hearts. I just do the lifting.

Tomorrow is our Alpha Away Day, a time where the Holy Spirit is invited into people's lives. With the Holy Spirit in, the prince of this world is cast out and Jesus is lifted up. Alleluia!

Veni Sancte Spiritus. Come Holy Spirit and help me lift Jesus up so all may be drawn to him.

Saint John, please pray for us.

Ask Seek Knock

What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? 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:11:11-13

Jesus is encouraging his disciples to take the initiative and simply ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Our Father in heaven will definitely respond.

This particular scripture has been on my heart lately as we lead up to our Alpha Course Away Day. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, not forcing himself on anyone. But when we ask, seek, knock... he rushes in. Why do I need a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit? To lead and guide me into an ever more intimate relationship with Jesus.

Veni Sancte Spiritus. Come Holy Spirit. Fill me with your presence and power that I may love Jesus more.
Saint Paul, please pray for me.