Shout Less Listen More

"What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place."
Lk.7:31,32

Jesus vents his frustration with the fickleness of people with which he is trying to communicate. He damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

"Children shouting at one another while they sit in the marketplace". Boy, doesn't that describe our social media saturated society. Everyone shouting, no one listening, all very shallow. 

This is a good reminder for me to be more mindful of my social media use. I've recently started a new discipline by observing "No Device Sundays". It's quite liberating. I started talking with my family. They seem like nice people.

Jesus, help me shout less and listen more.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Joyous Life

When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. 
Lk.7:13

Jesus has encountered a funeral procession for a widow's only son. The widow is understandably distraught. Jesus' compassion hints at what he is about to do to take away the widow's reason for sadness. Her son is to be raised back to life.

This is a beautiful story because it highlights Jesus' spontaneous compassion. He came to bring life and joyous life at that. That was the direction his compass was set.

Today I need to re-calibrate my compass to lifegiving joy.

Jesus, you naturally bring life and joy. Help me be a joy bearer to those I meet today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Condition of the Heart

A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.
Lk.6:45

Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, highlighting the condition of a person that matters to him, the state of the heart.

Jesus constantly talks about a person's heart, that is, one's innermost character, feelings, or inclinations. These can be good or bad. What fills my heart? If I'm honest, a bit of both. The litmus test is to listen to what flows from my mouth (eeek!). 

Jesus, today may the words from my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing unto you.
Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, please pray for me.

Eliminate Judgement Accentuate Mercy

Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance; and the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus.
1Tim.1:13,14

Paul writes to Timothy, starting with a confession of where he has come from, ignorance, and what has saved him, mercy.

It's good for me to recall the ignorance I have come from. It helps me be empathetic with those I encounter who are ignorant of Jesus. It's even better for me to recall the mercy that has been, and is being, shown to me. That dictates the way in which I reach out to the ignorant. 

Jesus, being merciful isn't easy but it's essential if I am to be an authentic witness for you. Help me eliminate the judgement within me and accentuate the mercy.
Our Lady of Sorrows, please pray for me.

 

Offer Hope

For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.
Jn.3:17

Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus the purpose of his mission, not to condemn the world but to save it.

Before I was a believer I didn't need to be condemned, I already knew I was basically rotten. What I needed was hope, hope of being saved. If I am a true follower of God's Son, I should be continuing his mission of offering hope of salvation to the world. 

It's high time my parish ran another Alpha Course. It's not the only way to offer Jesus' message of hope but it's the best way I've come across so far. 

Saint Helena, please pray for me.

Good Times and Bad

 

Happy are you who are poor, ...who are hungry, ...who weep.

Luke 6:20-26

Jesus starts his sermon on the mount with the challenging and counter cultural litany of the Beatitudes. 

The Beatitudes are unsettling. At first reading they can sound as though Jesus is endorsing the hardships of poverty, hunger and sadness as the preferred state of living. I don't believe so. Certainly in my own life, suffering is where I tend to open up more to God and invite him in. It's in those times I am closest to God who knows all suffering. It's in those times I am blessed.

Lord Jesus, I want to invite you into my life in the good times and in the bad. I invite you in today.

Saint John Chrysostom, please pray for me.

A Man of Honour

Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. 
Mt.1:19

Mary is honoured today because of her yes to becoming the mother of Jesus. Her yes drew out a yes from an essential second player in the drama of God's incarnation, Joseph.

Very little is written about Joseph but what is recorded says a lot; "Being a man of honour".  Oh, that these five words could be said about me. Honour is the quality of not only knowing, but doing what is morally right. 

As a tree is defined by its fruit, the character of Joseph is revealed by his wife, by his son. The Holy Family reflects the character of the man. 

Fatherhood is a blessed and scared role given to me. Jesus, help me be a man of honour as I father my family.

Saint Joseph, please pray for me.