Undivided

He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Lk.11:22

Jesus has delivered a man of the spirit of dumbness and is accused of using the devil for his power. Jesus points out a divided house cannot stand, including the devil's, and then focuses on his own house by asking are you with me or against me?

There's a tension in my Christian life. Of course I'm with Jesus, in the spirit. But what do my actions say? Quite often the opposite. I'm a divided house and what did Jesus say about divided houses? They fall. 

Lent is a good time to recommit to being with Jesus and to gathering for him, rebuilding a strong foundation on the rock. Then my house will not fall.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

To Whom Else Can I Turn?

Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
Your words, Lord, are spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
Jn.6:63,68

Jesus has just placed firmly before the people his insistence that his body be eaten and his blood be drunk.  Many find this too hard and leave but not the twelve. Peter proclaims, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Sometimes following Jesus is hard. Sometimes travailing in prayer over a long period appears to achieve nothing. But it always comes down to this... "Lord, to whom else can we go? You alone have the words of everlasting life."

When everything else is shifting sand, Jesus remains the rock. 

Lord Jesus, I place my trust in you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Tear up The Book

You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?
Mt.18:32,33

Jesus answers Peter's question about how many times he must forgive with the parable of the unforgiving servant. The parable says there is no end to forgiveness because I have been extravagantly forgiven.

My selfishness, lustfulness, greediness, covetousness and general dishonesty could fill a book. God has torn up the pages of that book and thrown it into the ocean. It's time I dropped the pen, stopped chronicling the faults of others, tore up the book and tossed it into the ocean of forgiveness where mine has been thrown.

I think this is called heart surgery and like all successful heart surgery, it will give me a new lease of life.

Lord, turn my judgmental heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
Saint Peter, please pray for me.

A Warrior

I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Mt.21:43

Jesus has just told the parable of the rebellious tenants then focuses its message upon the Pharisees. God's kingdom will triumph and bear fruit but not through them. 

The kingdom of God is an unstoppable train. It will eventually triumph as sure as the sun does rise. The question is, am I part of the Church Militant that will become the Church Triumphant? Will it bear fruit through me?

I lose sight of the fact that the Church is in a battle and I need to be slugging it out in the fight. The wine from the vineyard becomes intoxicating and too often I'm just a cosy Catholic, not a warrior. 

Lord Jesus, I want to be a warrior for your kingdom. Holy Spirit, be my courage and strength. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Poverty at My Gate

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. 
Lk.16:19-21

Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus in his poverty lies ignored right at the rich man's door. 

There are a number of salient points in this parable. The death of each man was not the end of his story, just the beginning. The rich man's fault was not his wealth, it was his withheld charity. The injustice of poverty was not far away from the rich man. It was right at his gate. 

In addressing this story to the Pharisees, Jesus was building on his condemnation of their hypocrisy. They spoke much on justice but acted little in charity. This story is addressed to the Pharisee in me and I squirm. 

Lord, open my eyes to the poverty at my door. Help me be generous in my charity. 
Saint Barnabas, please pray for me.

Lenten Hypocrite

The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach.
Mt.23:2,3

Jesus warns his disciples about hypocrisy, pointing out the scribes and Pharisees has examples to avoid.

Saying must be backed up by doing, otherwise it's just more hot air and the world has enough of that already. 

There's a great song on the DC Talk album "Jesus Freak" called What if I Stumble. This song begins with a quote from Brennan Manning, author of The Ragamuffin Gospel:

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Lord, save me from being a Lenten hypocrite. 
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Generous Given is Generous Gets

Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’
Lk.6:38

Jesus lays out the law of the harvest. What I give determines what I get.

Jesus isn't a celestial Santa giving out gifts indiscriminately. There are laws in place that, like gravity, none can escape. This is one of them, the amount I measure out to give is the amount I will receive back.

This is to do with more than money. It includes time, abilities, attention... everything. How's my almsgiving going this Lent?

Lord Jesus, I am tight fisted. Help me gain a generous heart. 
Saint Barnabas, please pray for me.