Bloom Where You're Planted

Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
but for those also
who through their words will believe in me.
Jn.17:20

Jesus prayed then for me now. This is such a consoling thought.

The expression "Bloom where you're planted" holds special significance for me. It was these words, spoken by a visiting priest, that tipped me over the line in wanting to become Catholic. I looked at my Catholic wife, my Catholic children and my Catholic friends and recognised the garden into which I was planted was undeniably Catholic. 

This has been a great reminder that blooming is a lifetime affair. Lord water me, cultivate me, prune me so I can add my small flower in your beautiful garden, for your glory.

Joy Fulfilled

These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 
Jn.17:13

Knowing unspeakable torment is about to fall on his followers, Jesus prays they may have unspeakable joy.

Ah, His joy fulfilled. Don't we all want it. Jesus wants it for us as well. And where does it come from? From the things he speaks, or to give it another name, The Joy of The Gospel.

The opening sentence of Pope Francis’s 2013 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), is one of his most famous quotes: 

"The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness."

The key to this joy is to encounter Jesus and accept his offer. 

Come Lord Jesus, meet me on the road of my life today as you did the two on the road to Damascus. Explain your Word and let my heart burn within me with joy and love of you. 

Courage Dear Heart

In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart: I have overcome the world.
Jn.16:33

Jesus tells it like it is. He didn't promise an easy life, but He did offer a lasting peace and the absolute assurance that the battles I face have already been won.

Jesus spoke these words knowing his passion and death was only hours away. At first it would look like the world had overcome Jesus. But the world didn't reckon on his resurrection. 

I'm reminded of the terrifying yet beautiful scene in C.S. Lewis' book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Lucy is looking down at her siblings suffering their worst nightmares while passing the Dark Island. In the midst of the horror, Aslan in the form of a bird, swoops past her and calls, "Courage, dear heart." Lucy receives hope and her hope spreads to the others. Light returns to the Dawn Treader.

Courage is born within me when I remember that Jesus is beside me, always. Every tribulation I face I never face alone. 

I can take heart today. Whatever the "world" is throwing my way right now, it operates under a defeated system.

Courage, dear heart!

Permanent Joy

Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 
Jn.16:22

Jesus tells his followers sorrow does not have the final word. Their sorrow at his death will turn into joy at his resurrection. 

This lies at the heart of my Christian faith.  Yes we experience sorrow, but we don't stay there. The joy that awaits on the other side of sorrow is a joy no one can take from us. 

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 1Cor.15:5.

Fertile Faith

You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
Jn.15:16

I am chosen and commissioned, for what? To bear fruit that will last.

Sometimes I forget who did the choosing. I think my friendship with Jesus is from my initiative. That he first chose me is mind blowing. I am a tiny speck of a seed from which a mighty tree will grow bearing eternal fruit.

Jesus sees something in me that he will use. I just need to be available and trust him. Faith makes me fertile.

Jesus, thank you for choosing me. I step out in faith today trusting that you are with me. 

What Must I Do?

 Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts.16:30

The gaoler asks Paul and Silas the most important question of his life. The answer? "Believe in the Lord Jesus."

The gaoler's vital question is my vital question. What must I do to  be saved? My answer affects not only me but my household. 

Yes Jesus, I believe. I place my trust in you. 

Convinced By God

 We lost no time in arranging a passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to bring them the Good News.
Acts.16:10

Paul and his companions had been stopped from entering various countries by the Holy Spirit. Now they were given the green light. "Go to Macedonia!"

"Convinced by God". What a great place to be in. Being sure of being in the centre of God's plans gives fervour and zeal.

Lord, speak to me in visions. Guide me by your Holy Spirit so I may have fervour and zeal for the Gospel. Saint Paul, please pray for me.

Friends

I call you friends...
Jn15:15

Friendship is elevated to its highest meaning when modeled by Jesus. I am called to be nothing less to those around me. 

I am blessed to have four men with whom I regularly pray. I call them my 3 :00 am friends. If I had a great need at 3:00 am in the morning, I know these men would respond if I called them. 

Life is made sweeter when travelling alongside friends. Friendship is something I need to intentionally cultivate, not in a forced way but in an inviting, open way. It starts by spending time with someone.

Of course, the greatest friend I have is Jesus. I love responding to his friendship by spending time with him. 

What a friend I have in Jesus,
all my sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!

Fan the Flickering Flame

In fact God, who can read everyone’s heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith.
Acts.15:8,9

God makes no distinction. Once anyone's faith is exercised, the Holy Spirit leaps in.

The Jerusalem Council stopped the Church becoming an exclusive club. The temptation is still with us to issue membership tickets to those deemed acceptable. God makes no distinction, neither should we, or more close to home, nether should I.

Faith, no matter how fragile, is the only ticket required. The beauty of this transaction is that it is purely between the recipient and God. My role is to simply fan the flickering flame. 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Less of Me More of Him

You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Jn.15:3

The branch is always cut, either from producing no fruit or from the desire to produce fruit more abundantly. Either way it gets cut.

Pruning or cutting, it's all the same. To become more like Jesus there has to be less of me. When people say, "be the best version of yourself" what they mean is become more like Jesus. He is the best version of me.

Saint Therese of Avila underscored this by saying, "Be the best God intends you to be and then set the world on fire!" 

 Jesus, let there be less of me and more of you in my life. 

Holy Happiness

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
Jn.14:27

Jesus is preparing the disciples for the trials they are about to face with his crucifixion. Trouble and fear are not his legacy. 

Troubled and fearful hearts are like a car's wheels spinning in mud. Lots of noise and action but no progress. 

What's the antidote? Peace and joy rooted in faith. When this is the state of my heart I am an effective ambassador for Christ.

St. Philip Neri is the patron saint of joy, humor, and cheerfulness, often called the "Humorous Saint". He is celebrated for his unconventional, playful methods of spiritual direction and his conviction that holy happiness and humor are essential to a good life.

Jesus, today I receive your gift of peace and bear your fruit of joy.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.  

Man and God

This is the victory over the world – our faith.
Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1Jn.5:4,5

John underscores the central tenet of Christian faith. Jesus is both man and God.

If Christ were not truly God, He could not save us. But if he were not truly human, he could not reach us. He is both. Recognising his incarnation is key to the wonderful gift of my faith. 

Yes Lord I believe you are the Son of God come to save us. I place my trust in you.

Saint Athanasius, please pray for us.