...we teach spiritual things spiritually. An unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense; it is beyond his understanding because it can only be understood by means of the Spirit. A spiritual man, on the other hand, is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by other men.
1Cor.2:13-15
Saint Paul continues his great letter of teaching and correction to the Church of Corinth. The "unspiritual" man he describes then is just as prevalent today. It has become a modern religion, not to accept anything of the Spirit of God.
But what of the spiritual man? According to Saint Paul, he can see the value of everything. This is so true. The spiritual men I know are men who have a peace and a joy about them. They are optimistic, seeing the value of everything.
Today I chose to live as a spiritual man.
Lord Jesus, You are the ultimate spiritual man. I follow your footsteps today knowing my full value is in You.
Little Flower, Please pray for me.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Foolishness of the Cross
The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save.... And so, while the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ;
1Cor,1:18,22
Corinth in the ancient world was a great and populous port and so was a magnet for for every sort of philosophy and religion. It was a notorious center of immorality. Paul's letter's to the Church of Corinth gave much-needed instruction and guidance. The lives of Christians flew in the face of the lives of those who surrounded them. The foolishness of the Cross offended everyone and it was tempting for the Church to water down that part of their faith. Paul put a stop to that!
Things haven't changed much in two thousand years. Every philosophy, religion and immorality abound in the society I live in. Even among Christians the cross is offensive; "you Catholics are obsessed about the crucifix". Well, yes I am. It reminds me of the greatest act of love the world has ever known. It reminds me of how much God loves me. Today I will undertake a veneration of my crucified Lord.
Lord Jesus. You lived, died and rose again! Alleluia! Thank you for your great act of love by climbing on that cross and handing out the nails. Because of this I am saved.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
1Cor,1:18,22
Corinth in the ancient world was a great and populous port and so was a magnet for for every sort of philosophy and religion. It was a notorious center of immorality. Paul's letter's to the Church of Corinth gave much-needed instruction and guidance. The lives of Christians flew in the face of the lives of those who surrounded them. The foolishness of the Cross offended everyone and it was tempting for the Church to water down that part of their faith. Paul put a stop to that!
Things haven't changed much in two thousand years. Every philosophy, religion and immorality abound in the society I live in. Even among Christians the cross is offensive; "you Catholics are obsessed about the crucifix". Well, yes I am. It reminds me of the greatest act of love the world has ever known. It reminds me of how much God loves me. Today I will undertake a veneration of my crucified Lord.
Lord Jesus. You lived, died and rose again! Alleluia! Thank you for your great act of love by climbing on that cross and handing out the nails. Because of this I am saved.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Song of Ascent
Happy are all who fear the LORD, who walk in the ways of God. What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper:
Just so will they be blessed who fear the LORD.
Psalms 128,1-2.4-5.
Psalm 128 is a song of ascent, a song to sing as we are going to the House of the Lord. It is a song of rejoicing from a man who fears the Lord. It is my song, a song I will sing today...
Just so will they be blessed who fear the LORD.
Psalms 128,1-2.4-5.
Psalm 128 is a song of ascent, a song to sing as we are going to the House of the Lord. It is a song of rejoicing from a man who fears the Lord. It is my song, a song I will sing today...
1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways.
who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
6 and may you live to see your children's children.
Peace be upon Israel.
Peace be upon Israel.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Come and See
Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth. But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jn.1:45,46
Jesus has just started His public ministry and is calling His disciples as He appears to randomly meet them on the road. There is a beautiful dynamic happening here. Jesus calls Andrew who then calls his brother Peter. Jesus calls Philip who then calls his friend Nathanael. Jesus attracts through established relationships. The invitation from Jesus to Andrew was, "Come and see". It was the same from Philip to Nathanael, "Come and see".
My most effective evangelism is to those with whom I'm already in relationship, starting with my own children. I need an authentic Catholic lifestyle to show when I give my invitation; "Come and see".
Lord Jesus. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help me reflect this in my life to show my loved ones when they "Come and see".
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Jn.1:45,46
Jesus has just started His public ministry and is calling His disciples as He appears to randomly meet them on the road. There is a beautiful dynamic happening here. Jesus calls Andrew who then calls his brother Peter. Jesus calls Philip who then calls his friend Nathanael. Jesus attracts through established relationships. The invitation from Jesus to Andrew was, "Come and see". It was the same from Philip to Nathanael, "Come and see".
My most effective evangelism is to those with whom I'm already in relationship, starting with my own children. I need an authentic Catholic lifestyle to show when I give my invitation; "Come and see".
Lord Jesus. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help me reflect this in my life to show my loved ones when they "Come and see".
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Humility
'The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted.’
Mt.23:11,12
Jesus has just silenced the Sadducees and Pharisees and then warns the people not to copy what they do as they do not practice what what they preach. He then goes on to describe the life of humility that is a sign of a true believer. The lifestyle Jesus promotes is one of humility, smallness, other-focused, selfless; all things that are the opposite to what the world promotes, the me-centered life.
The upside down world of last-shall-be-first and least-shall-be-greatest that Jesus calls me to is actually the right way up world. Everything is in order when I live this way. Let's see if I can live it... today.
Lord Jesus, You know my self centeredness. Give me the attitude of humility that I may be exalted in Your eyes.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Mt.23:11,12
Jesus has just silenced the Sadducees and Pharisees and then warns the people not to copy what they do as they do not practice what what they preach. He then goes on to describe the life of humility that is a sign of a true believer. The lifestyle Jesus promotes is one of humility, smallness, other-focused, selfless; all things that are the opposite to what the world promotes, the me-centered life.
The upside down world of last-shall-be-first and least-shall-be-greatest that Jesus calls me to is actually the right way up world. Everything is in order when I live this way. Let's see if I can live it... today.
Lord Jesus, You know my self centeredness. Give me the attitude of humility that I may be exalted in Your eyes.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Love God and 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.
Matthew 22:37-39
To try and discredit Jesus the Sadducees had just given their "fish-hook" question about marriage which Jesus had deftly answered. Not to be outdone, the Pharisees now have a go with the "What is the greatest commandment?" question.
The answer Jesus gives the Pharisees gives the most simple blueprint for the Christian lifestyle: Love God and love others. On this every law and utterance of the prophets rests. This means that everything I think, do and say must be measured against this... Has what I've just thought, done or said been an expression of loving God and loving others? What a challenge for me today!
Lord Jesus. You are love personified. Be ever before me today that all I do is love You and love others.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Matthew 22:37-39
To try and discredit Jesus the Sadducees had just given their "fish-hook" question about marriage which Jesus had deftly answered. Not to be outdone, the Pharisees now have a go with the "What is the greatest commandment?" question.
The answer Jesus gives the Pharisees gives the most simple blueprint for the Christian lifestyle: Love God and love others. On this every law and utterance of the prophets rests. This means that everything I think, do and say must be measured against this... Has what I've just thought, done or said been an expression of loving God and loving others? What a challenge for me today!
Lord Jesus. You are love personified. Be ever before me today that all I do is love You and love others.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Outrageous Grace
“The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you;..."
Mt.20:12,13
Jesus is describing to His disciples what the kingdom of heaven is like, using a parable of a landowner hiring at the eleventh hour. Jesus is highlighting the scandal of God's mercy; all are treated the same. There is nothing we can do to earn more mercy from God.
This is good news for me. I entered the Church at age 35. I had a good number of years "standing idle in the market place" before I accepted the Lord's covenant. I am so grateful that those wasted years are not held against me.
But the pharisee within me asks, "Then why work at all if effort accounts for nothing?" That question misses the whole point. The blessing comes not from length of service but from simply being IN service. The wonder of this scandalous generosity of God is that it is NEVER too late. Any time is a good time to enter into the service of God. And if this be so, why delay it?
Lord Jesus, thank you for your scandalous mercy given to me. Thank you for your generosity towards me. Thank you for treating us all the same with your outrageous grace and love.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Mt.20:12,13
Jesus is describing to His disciples what the kingdom of heaven is like, using a parable of a landowner hiring at the eleventh hour. Jesus is highlighting the scandal of God's mercy; all are treated the same. There is nothing we can do to earn more mercy from God.
This is good news for me. I entered the Church at age 35. I had a good number of years "standing idle in the market place" before I accepted the Lord's covenant. I am so grateful that those wasted years are not held against me.
But the pharisee within me asks, "Then why work at all if effort accounts for nothing?" That question misses the whole point. The blessing comes not from length of service but from simply being IN service. The wonder of this scandalous generosity of God is that it is NEVER too late. Any time is a good time to enter into the service of God. And if this be so, why delay it?
Lord Jesus, thank you for your scandalous mercy given to me. Thank you for your generosity towards me. Thank you for treating us all the same with your outrageous grace and love.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
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