Love God Love Others

Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’
Mt.22:37-40

The Pharisees are trying to unsettle Jesus with theological questions. In answering the question of what is the greatest commandment, Jesus' reply is both simple and profound... love God and love others.

Love God and love others. Jesus holds this commandment in the supreme position. It encompasses everything that God has revealed in both the Old and New testaments. It's a commandment, not an option, for an authentic follower of Christ.

It's a commandment for me on how to live today.

Jesus, help me as I try to love you and love others today. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Clothed in Christ

“How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
Mt.22:11-14

To describe what heaven is like, Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet. In the parable the king hosting the banquet sees a man ill dressed for the event and has him banished outside.

I have to remind myself this is a description of heaven. Heaven is not a place where all people will float in and settle for eternity. Yes, all are invited but Jesus depicts strict criteria for admission; primarily, being correctly dressed. 

So what is this wedding garment I need? Saint Paul tells us in Galatians 3:27: "for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."  I must be "clothed in Christ" through baptism. This sharpens my focus not only on my own relationship with Jesus but also on others relationships with him. They need to know him so they can accept him and be clothed in him.

Jesus, our Alpha Course is about to start. Help me keep an eternal perspective as to why we are doing this; to bring more to the wedding banquet clothed in you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us. 

Generosity

I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.
Mt.20:14-16

Jesus is explaining again what the kingdom of God is like, comparing it to workers in a vineyard. The vineyard owner is seen as benevolent and generous to the last comers, paying them as much as the first.

I saw a bumper sticker a couple of months ago that made me laugh. It read, "Yes, Jesus loves you - but I'm his favourite". The truth is we are all his favourites. This seems a contradiction and in the world's eyes it is. However, in Jesus' eyes I am his favourite brother. 

My mother became a believer on her deathbed aged ninety-two. I saw the generosity of God at work. Ninety-two years of professed atheism was forgotten in an instant as mum received the promises of God in all its fullness. She was denied nothing.

Generosity is held up by Jesus as a great virtue. It's time I worked on it.

Jesus, you are generous to me. Help me be as generous to others I meet in my day.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

When All is Made New

What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 
Mt.19:27,28

Jesus has just warned that material riches can be an impediment to gaining the kingdom of heaven. Peter protests, asking what is the reward of the disciples who left everything to follow him. Jesus replies, in this life nothing but your freedom. However, in the next....

There is an eternal perspective that is essential to following Jesus. In this world the advantages can seem very few. Professing my faith gains me little kudos and much derision.  In some countries declared Christian faith can cost your life. And yet, we declare it.

I need to keep one eye firmly fixed on the promise Jesus gives. "When all is made new...", every tear is wiped away and I will share in his glory.

Jesus, your faith in the kingdom of God cost you your life. Give me faith that is based on your promises so I can endure the hardships it brings here on earth. Not only endure but call others to join me.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
Lk.1:41-43

Early in her pregnancy with Jesus, Mary travels to help her cousin Elizabeth who is also miraculously pregnant. On Mary's arrival, Elizabeth and the baby in her womb are both filled with the Holy Spirit.

Here we have the first three New Testament recipients of the Holy Spirit, Mary who received him at the conception of Jesus and Elizabeth with her child John. Not surprisingly, the Holy spirit was at work everywhere in the new unfolding of God's plan of salvation.

This remains true for all New Testament people. When I am working out God's plan of salvation in my wrinkle of time and corner of the world, the Holy Spirit is in boots and all. Come Holy Spirit!

Veni Sancte Spiritus!
Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Water into Wine

This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.
Mt.19:5,6

Pharisees are testing Jesus over a question on divorce, then allowed by Mosaic law. Jesus answers by stating that, as God is involved in marriage, it is above interference by man. 

The "until death do us part" of marriage frightens people away from it. It's easier just to live together so the door is always open to walk out when it gets hard... and it always gets hard sooner or later. 

That promise made before family, friends and God has made me dig deeper, try harder. I watch my four married children do the same. There is infinite strength on tap when two become one. I'm so glad God is involved in my marriage. He turns the water into wine. I need to tell my wife I love being married to her... today.

Jesus, you turned water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana. Turn my water into wine as I love my wife today.
Saint Thomas Moore, please pray for me.

Further Up Further In

I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.
Ph.3:13,14

Paul writes to the Church in Philippi, encouraging them in their faith by his own example.  He is straining ahead for the prize above all prizes, eternal life with Jesus.

The thing about my Christian faith is that I can never say I have arrived. At best I'm moving in the right direction. There is always a calling for me to go further up and further in. Each moment, each encounter today is a chance to surge ahead in the race. That's an exciting way to live.

Jesus, sometimes I run low on energy for the race, I falter. Fill me Holy Spirit so I am not drained but running on the overflow, further up and further in.
Saint Claire, please pray for me.