What's the Motive

A leper now came up and bowed low in front of him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ 
Mt.8:1-3

Jesus has just completed his Sermon on the Mount. His first act from spontaneous compassion is to heal a leper. 

The Sermon on the Mount is the longest recorded teaching from Jesus. It's as though Jesus says "Enough talk", as he instantly heals the leper. He is almost impatient to heal. 

For Jesus, there was a time to teach and a time to act. For me, there is a time to listen and a time to act. Listening without acting is not an option in the Christian life. I just need to be sure the action is motivated by love. 

Jesus, sometimes I'm impulsive not from love. I can be impatient, judgemental, and angry. Help me check my motivation before acting.
Saint Peter, man of tamed impulsiveness, please pray for me

Loosed on Earth

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
Mt.16:19

The greatest authority Jesus could give the Church was the authority to forgive sins. Authority over demons, over sickness, even over death are all lesser. As the Pharisees acknowledged, only God can forgive sins. 

The most anticipated event of my reception into the Church was receiving Holy Communion. A very close second was receiving absolution in the sacrament of confession. I strained for the peace I knew only this sacrament could give. 

It's time I again darkened the doorway of the confessional.

Saints Peter and Paul, please pray for me.

The Narrow Gate

Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Mt.7:13,14

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount with a warning that the road to hell is deceptively easy and attractive while the road to eternal life can be difficult and requires effort.

This is counter to popular belief, even within the Church, that you have to work to go to hell and that most people will simply drift into heaven without effort. 

I'm finding that, yes, following Jesus involves sacrifice, selflessness, discipline, lifting up others, self denial... in short, it requires effort. But, I'm also finding it a joyful way to live here and now. The benefits aren't just eternal but also temporal.

Lord, help me choose the narrow gate today, the difficult way that leads to you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Where's my Heart

Store up treasures for yourselves in heaven.
Mt.6:20

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, warning of the destruction that follows earthly lust and endorsing the benefits of heavenly treasure.

There is a tension here for me as I live in the world. Worldliness is required to eat, to sleep, to work, even to love. What I'm hearing Jesus say is that while engaged in my world, keep one eye firmly fixed on heaven.  That keeps it all in perspective. 

Saint Paul, please pray for me.

It Starts with Forgiving

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 chooses to highlight one particular verse from his newly given prayer to the Church. Forgive us as we forgive others.

This puts the "love your enemies" and "pray for those who persecute you" commands into action. My loving and my intercession can only come from my first forgiving. Jesus knew that following him is as easy and as difficult as that.

Saint Stephen, please pray for me. 

Rest

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. 
Mt.11:28

Jesus offers what every human soul is seeking. Rest.

When I am rested I am at peace. When I am at peace I have greater energy to love. When I love I can get overburdened. When I am overburdened I can go to Jesus for rest. 

The true circle of life.

Saint John the beloved, please pray for me.

Be a Peacemaker

Go and be reconciled with your brother first.
Mt.5:24

Jesus provides the way to stop anger in its tracks. Be reconciled. 

To reconcile is to restore, in this case to restore friendly relations. Unbridled anger always leads to sin, at its worst in the form of murder. Reconciliation defuses the destructive force of anger. 

One who reconciles is a peacemaker. Jesus says peacemakers are blessed and are called the children of God. They most closely express God's character.  

I've found that offering reconciliation often involves giving up my rights. If I am an authentic follower of Jesus I can do no less.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Salt and Light

You are the salt of the earth... you are the light of the world.
Mt.5:15,14

Jesus uses simple analogies to present what his disciples are to be in the world. Salt and light.

Salt and light make a huge difference to the environment they are in. The world ignores self absorbed, inconsequential Christians. If I'm not making a difference, it's questionable as to whether I'm authentically Christian. 

Lord, today may the world see my good deeds so our Father in heaven may be glorified.
Saint Anthony of Padua, please pray for me.

Be Joyful

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.
Ps.145:8,9

Today's psalm proclaims the compassion and goodness of God. It could well be added to the canticle of Tobit whose sight has just been restored in the first reading.

Praising God for his transcending goodness is a great way to step into my day.

Thank you Lord God for your mercy, your forgiveness, your love. Help me reflect your love for those I meet today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Love God and Love Others

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ 
Mk.12:28

Jesus gives the first and the second greatest commandments in answer to the scribe's question. Love God and love others.

An authentic question from a scribe is rare. Jesus's definition of the two greatest commandments draws an acclamation of faith from the scribe that is so great Jesus proclaims he is very near to the kingdom of God. 

Love God and love others. Here are the supreme marching orders for every Christian, marching orders for me. It's that simple and that difficult. It defines what makes life worth living. 

Saint John the beloved, please pray for me.

Bear Fruit

Next morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered to the roots. Peter remembered. ‘Look, Rabbi,’ he said to Jesus, ‘the fig tree you cursed has withered away.’ Jesus answered, ‘Have faith in God.'
Mk.11:20-22

A fig tree is cursed for bearing no fruit, even though it is out of season. Faith produces fruit no matter the season.

This appears to be a curious event.  Jesus curses a fig tree for having no fruit, even though the time was out of season for figs. I would have thought Jesus could have forgiven the fig tree for being seasonal. But Jesus emphasises that fruit for God's kingdom should appear no matter the season. How? By faith.

I'm in a season of later life. Too old for fruit? Not according to Jesus. 

Saint Peter, please pray for me.

Exercise Faith

Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbuni,’ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.’ 
Mk.10:51

Persistent shouting from the blind beggar Bartimaeus earns him an audience with Jesus. He asks Jesus for a miracle healing and his faith in Jesus earns the miracle.

Why would Jesus ask a blind beggar what it is he wants? Is it not obvious? Yes, his blindness is obvious, but his faith is not. It was faith Jesus was looking for. "Go, your faith has saved you", says Jesus to Bartimaeus and immediately his sight is restored. 

It is good to name what is needed as this exercises faith. From faith comes miracles. I'm praying in faith for healing for a friend with multiple stage four cancers. 

Lord Jesus, you raised Lazarus from the dead. You can heal my friend, for your glory.
Bartimaeus, please pray for us.