Soul before Body

But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home.
Mt.9:6,7

Jesus pronounces the forgiveness of the sins of a paralytic. Scribes accuse Jesus of blasphemy so, to demonstrate his authority to forgive sins, Jesus miraculously heals the paralytic.

Jesus obviously places the health of the soul higher than the health of the body. The paralytic's physical healing only happens as an aside. Jesus was more concerned about removing the man's sins. 

While it's always good to pray for physical healing, it pays to remember the physical is temporal while the soul is eternal. The health of my soul is way more important to Jesus than the health of my body which is inevitably going to end up back in the dust.

Jesus, the world clamours to tell me my physical well being is all I should be concerned about. Help me see others as you do and  place the health of their souls as supreme in importance.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Leaping and Dancing

Instantly his feet and ankles became firm, he jumped up, stood, and began to walk, and he went with them into the Temple, leaping and dancing and praising God.
Acts3:7,8

Peter heals a crippled beggar in Jesus' name. The healed man follows Peter and Paul into the temple leaping and dancing and praising God to the amazement of all who knew him.

The beggar's friends were doing the best they could for him, carrying him to the temple gate so he could beg, but Jesus did the best. Total, miraculous healing. 

I love this story. I see myself as the healed beggar, leaping and dancing and praising God. I know this is what I'll be doing when entering heaven. What a marvelous hope to carry into my day.

Jesus, you know where I am crippled. Thank you Lord for the healing you are doing and are going to perfect in me. I leap and dance and praise you!
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Faith Hope and Love

‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. 
Mt.8:25,26

While crossing the Sea of Galilee with Jesus asleep in the boat, the disciples succumb to fear as a great storm overtakes them.  They awaken Jesus who rebukes them for their lack of faith and then instantly calms the storm.

I would have said the disciples acted in faith by taking their fear to Jesus. But Jesus says no, fear is not to be the motivator for seeking his intervention. As believers we are forbidden to be afraid as it gives oxygen to lack of faith. The motivators for seeking Jesus' intervention are faith, hope and love. Fear has no place among these virtues.

Jesus, sometimes fear is my prayer motivator. Help me reach out to you in faith, hope and love.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

A Man after God's Heart

I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.
Acts.13:22

Paul is preaching on how John the Baptist was a herald for Jesus who has fulfilled God's promise to King David.  Paul highlights how David was selected to carry out God's eternal purpose for which Jesus is the ultimate fruit.

God who knew all the treachery that David was to perform also saw the zeal of David for him. God wasn't looking for perfection, he was looking for a fervent heart. 

Each time I sin my confidence takes a hit. I call myself a phoney with no authority to do God's work. If this were true we would have no prophets or saints in the Church. Those accusations are from the devil. God knows my brokenness but calls me forward nonetheless. 

Lord, you know my heart. Thank you that you still believe in me when I can't believe in myself.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Joyful Trust

Surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciled but because we are filled with joyful trust in God.
Rms.5:10,11

Paul states we can count on God's saving mercy not only because of his son's atoning death but also because of our joyful trust in God.

Wow! My joyful trust in God is both a cause and an effect of my salvation. My joyful trust provokes  God's mercy. As a father I have experienced this with my own children. They look trustfully to me and I can't stop myself from meeting that trust. I don't want to disappoint them. 

My part to play in my salvation is to have joyful trust in God. I think I can do that today.

Thank you Father for sending your son to save me, for giving me the Holy spirit to comfort and guide me. I joyfully place my trust in you.
Saint Philip Neri please pray for me.

Do It!

Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock.
Mt.7:24

Jesus finishes his great Sermon on the Mount by stating listening to him is not enough to enter the Kingdom of God. I need to act on what I hear.

I've noticed that some people use the Alpha Course videos simply to tickle their ears. They listen but do not let it motivate them to change. They are slick presentations that can be simply entertaining. 

I'm often tempted to do the same. Some Sundays I'm just a pew-warmer. Jesus has harsh words to say to such people. "I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!" Not only is it lazy not to act on his words, it's evil.

Forgive me Lord for the days I've just been a pew-warmer. Holy Spirit, set a fire ablaze within me to be not just a listener but a doer.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Tell the Difference

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits.
Mt.7:15,16

Jesus warns of enemies pretending to be friends. Their giveaway is the results of their work.

Jesus has not long warned against judgment. Here he seems to say the opposite. I'm to judge a person by their fruits. Judgement is judgement but the call to be aware is advice to give due diligence. I'm not to be gullible, to be too easily persuaded to believe something, especially when I really want to believe it. 

We have enemies when we make a stand for Jesus. It comes with the territory. The good news is we have friends as well. The thing is to tell the difference.

Jesus, you had enemies among your so-called friends. Give me discernment to recognise not only my enemies but my true friends as well. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.