Wednesday 3rd December 2008
SCRIPTURE
The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
Ps 23:1
OBSERVATION
Today's Mass readings are all about our God who provides. Isaiah foretells of the time when "the Lord of Hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines". The Gospel from Matthew reminds us of the great miracles of Jesus healing the sick and lame and then feeding the 5000. The 23rd Psalm portraits our God as the loving shepherd, feeding, guiding, protecting, giving rest.
APPLICATION
Sheep show their emotions very nakedly. When they are scared or agitated their frantic actions and noise leave you in no doubt. Likewise, when they are at peace and relaxed their still quietness reflects this. The same with me...
Today, I will let the Lord be my shepherd, and His promise is, I will lack nothing, ...not a thing!
PRAYER
Thank you Jesus. Baaaa...
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Look Above and Beyond
Tuesday 2nd December 2008
SCRIPTURE
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD
Isaiah 11:1,2
OBSERVATION
Jerusalem is surrounded by an enemy army and yet Isaiah is giving his beautiful prophesy about the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. He is able to look beyond the hopelessness of the present situation and see over the horizon to the promises of God.
APPLICATION
Thank goodness God's promises don't rely on how I feel or on what is currently happening. The tyranny of now attacks me from the moment I awake until I lay down to sleep. The physical world creates a spiritual haze.
This Advent, like Isaiah, I lift my head to see over the horizon and gaze on the promises of God, fulfilled in His Son; the only sure and certain one I can rely on.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, today when I'm feeling crowded in, inspire me as you inspired Isaiah to look above and beyond and find Jesus.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
SCRIPTURE
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD
Isaiah 11:1,2
OBSERVATION
Jerusalem is surrounded by an enemy army and yet Isaiah is giving his beautiful prophesy about the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. He is able to look beyond the hopelessness of the present situation and see over the horizon to the promises of God.
APPLICATION
Thank goodness God's promises don't rely on how I feel or on what is currently happening. The tyranny of now attacks me from the moment I awake until I lay down to sleep. The physical world creates a spiritual haze.
This Advent, like Isaiah, I lift my head to see over the horizon and gaze on the promises of God, fulfilled in His Son; the only sure and certain one I can rely on.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, today when I'm feeling crowded in, inspire me as you inspired Isaiah to look above and beyond and find Jesus.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Stay Awake!
Sunday 30th November 2008 - First Sunday of Advent.
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said to His disciples: “Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come”.
Mark 13:33
OBSERVATION
Jesus goes on to tell a parable about a man travelling abroad, leaving his servants in charge. The inference is that He is the one leaving and that one day He will return. His advice? …Stay awake and keep busy at your allotted task. You must not be found “asleep” on His return.
APPLICATION
This reading is especially interesting as it is the first Gospel of Advent, a time of expectancy, of preparing the way for Him who is to come. The distant Advent focus is Christmas and the arrival of baby Jesus, but a parallel focus is the second coming of Jesus, which will be the end of this time and this world. Am I awake, ready for His sudden return? I’m drowsy at best… This Advent “wakefulness” is to be my goal.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, help me stay awake and be focussed on readiness for Jesus inevitable return.
Mary, expectant mother of Jesus, pray for me.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Hear then what Yahweh asks of you...
21st July 2008
SCRIPTURE
What is good has been explained to you, man;
this is what the Lord asks of you:
only this, to act justly,
to love tenderly
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
OBSERVATION
Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, foresaw the destruction of Israel as punishment for a life of religious and social corruption. The way of life pleasing to God has been clearly explained to mankind, has been clearly explained to me. It is the life of Justice, Mercy and Humility. This word is as relevant today as it was to the Israelites of 740 BC.
APPLICATION
Justice, love and humility can apply to every part of my life. Public or private, at work or at home, I have the opportunity to please God. And not only please God but also please myself. For what is a more fulfilling way to live than to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with my God? This is what it means to be fully human, fully alive.
PRAYER
Spirit of justice, love and humility; fill me today that Jesus may be glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
SCRIPTURE
What is good has been explained to you, man;
this is what the Lord asks of you:
only this, to act justly,
to love tenderly
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
OBSERVATION
Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, foresaw the destruction of Israel as punishment for a life of religious and social corruption. The way of life pleasing to God has been clearly explained to mankind, has been clearly explained to me. It is the life of Justice, Mercy and Humility. This word is as relevant today as it was to the Israelites of 740 BC.
APPLICATION
Justice, love and humility can apply to every part of my life. Public or private, at work or at home, I have the opportunity to please God. And not only please God but also please myself. For what is a more fulfilling way to live than to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with my God? This is what it means to be fully human, fully alive.
PRAYER
Spirit of justice, love and humility; fill me today that Jesus may be glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Boldly Humble
Tuesday 24th June 2008 - Birth of Saint John the Baptist
SCRIPTURE
And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel.
Lk.1:66,80
OBSERVATION
Today the Church celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, the one of whom Jesus said no greater had been born. John's greatness seems to be that he shone his light everywhere except on himself. His attitude of "I must be lesser that He may be greater" in turn made him great in the eyes of Jesus - in the eyes of God.
APPLICATION
John was bold, but boldly humble. You would think there would be a tension there but John did it naturally. What a lesson!
I can be called to bold leadership but must perform that leadership with humility. This is great protection against the vice of pride, my old enemy.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, let me not shrink from the bold plans God has for me, but give me humility in living out those plans.
Saint John the Baptist, please pray for me.
SCRIPTURE
And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel.
Lk.1:66,80
OBSERVATION
Today the Church celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, the one of whom Jesus said no greater had been born. John's greatness seems to be that he shone his light everywhere except on himself. His attitude of "I must be lesser that He may be greater" in turn made him great in the eyes of Jesus - in the eyes of God.
APPLICATION
John was bold, but boldly humble. You would think there would be a tension there but John did it naturally. What a lesson!
I can be called to bold leadership but must perform that leadership with humility. This is great protection against the vice of pride, my old enemy.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, let me not shrink from the bold plans God has for me, but give me humility in living out those plans.
Saint John the Baptist, please pray for me.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Remove the Plank
Monday 23rd June 2008
SCRIPTURE
Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.’
Mt.7:15
OBSERVATION
Jesus is nearing the end of His Sermon on the Mount. His message is hard-hitting and personal. There is no one who should not be squirming on hearing this.
APPLICATION
Of course, this teaching applies to me. Judging others would have to be one of the most common sins I commit. Interestingly, Jesus doesn't deny that my brother may well have a splinter in his eye. The point is, so have I. My blindness to my own splinter turns it into a plank. I am still to help my brother remove his splinter, but only after I perform surgery on myself first. Then, and only then, can I see clearly enough to truly help my brother.
Today every time the "Little Lawyer" in me rises up it will be a reminder for me to look at my own short comings first before saying or doing anything else.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, give me clear vision and a steady hand to perform my own eye surgery.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
SCRIPTURE
Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.’
Mt.7:15
OBSERVATION
Jesus is nearing the end of His Sermon on the Mount. His message is hard-hitting and personal. There is no one who should not be squirming on hearing this.
APPLICATION
Of course, this teaching applies to me. Judging others would have to be one of the most common sins I commit. Interestingly, Jesus doesn't deny that my brother may well have a splinter in his eye. The point is, so have I. My blindness to my own splinter turns it into a plank. I am still to help my brother remove his splinter, but only after I perform surgery on myself first. Then, and only then, can I see clearly enough to truly help my brother.
Today every time the "Little Lawyer" in me rises up it will be a reminder for me to look at my own short comings first before saying or doing anything else.
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, give me clear vision and a steady hand to perform my own eye surgery.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Better Tast Experience
Tuesday 10th June 2008
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
Mt.5:13
OBSERVATION
Jesus has just started His sermon on the Mount and has delivered the Beatitudes to the crowds. His teaching now becomes more personal, speaking into the lives of His disciples, into my life.
APPLICATION
I enjoy a little salt on my food. It enhances the flavours, creating a whole new and better taste experience. What a powerful analogy for the Christian life.
But it begs a question... am I creating a new and better experience for those about me?... or have I become tasteless, just the same bland flavour as the world?
I want to make a difference, add zest and zeal to the lives of those around me. Then they can praise my Father in Heaven.
PRAYER
Holy spirit. You are the source of tang in my life. Increase Your Zest in me that Jesus may be glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
Mt.5:13
OBSERVATION
Jesus has just started His sermon on the Mount and has delivered the Beatitudes to the crowds. His teaching now becomes more personal, speaking into the lives of His disciples, into my life.
APPLICATION
I enjoy a little salt on my food. It enhances the flavours, creating a whole new and better taste experience. What a powerful analogy for the Christian life.
But it begs a question... am I creating a new and better experience for those about me?... or have I become tasteless, just the same bland flavour as the world?
I want to make a difference, add zest and zeal to the lives of those around me. Then they can praise my Father in Heaven.
PRAYER
Holy spirit. You are the source of tang in my life. Increase Your Zest in me that Jesus may be glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
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