Ambassador

I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.
Jn.7:29

Jesus had a clear knowledge of who it was that sent him into the world. He was an ambassador for the Father. 

As it was for Jesus, it is important I know who I am and where I come from.

The final words spoken by the priest at the end of Mass roughly translate from the Latin phrase "Ite, missa estto" to "Go, it is the sending". At the end of every Mass I am sent. Sent where? Into the world. To do what? Make disciples. 

I am an ambassador for Christ representing Christ’s character, sharing his love, and fulfilling a divine mission in daily life, treating the world as a temporary assignment. 

I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.

A Man of Honour

Joseph; being a man of honour...
Mt.1:19

Oh to be worthy of this epitaph.

We know little facts about Saint Joseph but we can perceive much about his character by looking at the woman he married and the son he raised. A healthy tree produces good fruit. 

I have four daughters and they all speak of the ideal man being someone who will love, protect and provide. Saint Joseph is a role model of true manhood.

Honour signifies high respect and moral integrity. Could these words be applied to me? What fruit do I produce?

Saint Joseph, please pray for me. 

The Power of Many

I can do nothing by myself.
Jn.5:30

Jesus underscores that he is no Lone Ranger, he is a son doing the will of the Father.

I sometimes think the song "I did it My Way" is the song to hell. My desire to do it my way usually has me turning my back on doing it God's way.  

I can only achieve anything worthwhile with the help of God and the help of others. There is no such thing as a well rounded individual. I have weaknesses alongside my strengths. But there is such a thing as a well rounded team, where everyone contributes their unique strengths.

A good leader is one who identifies strengths (giftedness) in others and calls them forward. This is topical for me as I'm currently helping build a team for a parish Alpha Course. 

Holy Spirit, help me see the gifts of each team member and place them in positions where they can naturally work with generosity and joy.

 Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, please pray for me.

God Be Merciful

Two men went up to the Temple to pray...
Lk.18:10

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector strikes at the very center of my brokenness. Pride.

Today's first reading from Hosea contains a verse that takes me back to my early Christian days.

He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us;
he has struck us down, but he will bandage our wounds;
(Hosea 6:1)

This was a line in a song by Kevin Prosch, an American Christian worship leader who influenced me at the time. I still enjoy his worship style. Sadly, he scandalized many by publicly confessing to adulterous affairs. For some he became a pariah, a tax collector if you will. 

I look at such people and shudder, not from revulsion but from seeing myself in them. I am human. Nothing human is alien to me. There but for the grace of God go I.

God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Love God Love Others

There is no other commandment greater than these.
Mk.12:31

A scribe, usually an adversary of Jesus, becomes one who asks, seeks and knocks. In return he is given the pearl of great price, the greatest commandment. Love God and love others.

During this season of Lent, as I am called to the sacrificial practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, I am reminded that while these are good, they are not the greatest.

The greatest is love. Why? Because God is love. When I love, the kingdom of God is close at hand.

Jesus, today I receive your love so I may give it away. 

Fulfill the Law and the Prophets

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Mt.5:17

Jesus' fulfillment of the Law gives a freedom that perhaps could be summarised: "In all things love God and love others, then do what you like."

I live next to a school play field. I've noticed the children play all over the field, including right up against the fence. Never have I seen a child stray over the fence. There's a lot of joyful noise and laughter from that field. 

Metaphorically speaking, being a convert I've lived on both sides of the fence. Without a doubt my life has more peace, hope and joy living under the "authoritarian" law of the Church. As Moses says in today's first reading, "Observe the Law, that you may have life."

Jesus, today I will love you and love others to fulfill the Law and the Prophets in my life today. 

Bound By Forgiveness

Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?
Mt.18:33

The unforgiving servant failed to fully receive the forgiveness offered him. He never paid it forward.

Forgiveness is by nature reciprocal. Once received it binds me to be forgiving. If I fail in this it shows I never received forgiveness in the first place. 

Jesus insists on this because of the power of forgiveness to heal. Imagine a world experiencing a wild outbreak of forgiveness, where foes laid down their arms and said, "Brother, forgive me. I was wrong."

Let's pray it in, starting with me. 

Forgive me Lord so I may forgive. 

Son or Slave

This son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.
Luke 15:24-32

No one is beyond the outrageous love and mercy of God. 

The father went out twice, once for each son. Mercy and Grace were offered to both. The younger son saw himself as a disinherited son. His sonship was restored. The older son saw himself as a slave and a slave he remained. 

How do I see myself? When I approach God, is it with the attitude, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed you."? Or is my attitude “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” Honestly, I'm a mix of both sons.

Son or Slave? How I see myself determines my identity. Ultimately, my identity should be that of the father, a channel of mercy, grace and love. 

Father, help me see myself rightly as you see me, infinitely lovable and infinitely loved. 

Saints Perpetua and Felicity, please pray for me.

Produce its Fruit

I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Mt.21:43

Jesus' warning to the Pharisees is also a warning to me. Do I want to inherit God's kingdom? Then produce its fruit.

Faith, hope and love. The imperishable fruit of God's kingdom. How can I produce such fruit? Jesus suggests that "good soil" people possess noble and generous hearts that listen to God's word and act on it (Lk.815). 

Jesus, help my day be one of active faith, hope and love. May your kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven in my little corner of the world. 

Give Him the Lot

And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table.
Lk.16:20,21

Suffering at the rich man's very gate wasn't enough to penetrate his indifference. 

This parable always leaves me feeling uncomfortable. It immediately calls forth an image of the last beggar I passed by.

I remember a time when my wife and I were staying on the shore of Lake Como, Italy. Going to Mass we literally had to step over a beggar to get inside the church. I had already decided to place 20 Euros on the collection plate but, being a midweek Mass, no collection was made. I told Kate I'd give 5 Euros to the beggar on the way out, feeling very generous. Her response was typical of her. "Give him the lot you scrooge." 

If I want to meet Jesus outside the sacraments, I'm pretty certain to find him in the poor. 

Jesus, heal me of my indifference. Break my heart with the things that breaks yours.

Fight to Serve

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.
Mt.20:26-28

Jesus defines what his kingdom is to look like. Not one where people fight for power and control but one where people fight to be the least and to serve.

I'm reminded of a family joke I would play with my children. On approaching a door I would stop and say "After you." My chiid would reply, "No, after you." I would return, "No, I insist. After you." She would reply "No, no, no. Please, after you!" and so on... Meanwhile the rest of the family are backed up behind us and shouting, "Get out of the way!"

This upside down pyramid of power with the pinnacle at the bottom is counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. If I'm not living by this rule I'm no longer salt and light, I'm simply in the world and of the world. 

Jesus, help me be less so that you may be more. 

Sacrafice of Thanksgiving

A sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me.
Ps.49:23

God is honored more by what comes from my heart than from my hands. Gratitude is a good start.

There's humility in gratitude. I'm made aware of blessings that I don't deserve. I'm thinking of another's good works before my own. Gratitude is sacrificial by nature. I put aside me to honour another.

Lord, I offer you today my sacrifice of thanksgiving. All I have comes from you.

Charitable True or Necessary

Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves.
Lk.6:37

Jesus' warning is stark and concise. Judgement results in judgement.

My judgement of others says more about me than those I judge. And what it says ain't pretty. I'm insecure in my own identity as a loved son. 

When I see myself rightly as the beloved I see others rightly, brothers and sisters in need of loving as much as I do. 

Are my thoughts charitable, true or even necessary? Good questions to ask before I ever speak.

Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.