Point to Jesus

Even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
Jn.10:38

Jesus resolutely sticks to his scandalous claim that he is the Son of God. His works display the truth that the Father is in him.

There is a place for signs. Jesus confirmed the preaching of the disciples with signs and wonders. This is ok as long as the signs are used how they are intended. They are not to be an end in themselves.  Signs point the way, they point to Jesus.

My work is to do the same.

Jesus, may my work always point not to me but to you.

Saint Therese, please pray for me.

My Own Glory

If I were to seek my own glory that would be no glory at all; my glory is conferred by the Father.
Jn.8:54

In sensing his approaching passion and death, Jesus becomes more insistent in saying who he is, one sent and glorified by God the Father. 

Now here is a saying worth remembering. "If I were to seek my own glory, that would be no glory at all." How often do I seek my own glory? Often and it's no glory at all. There's pride within me that wants to be glorified. 

The antidote of course is humility. Let's try less of me and more of God, just for a day for starters. 

Saint Therese of Lisieux, please pray for me.

Set Free

If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
Jn.8:31,32

Jesus unflinchingly defines to the Jews what it takes to be set free from slavery to sin. Follow his teaching, know the truth and the truth will set them free.

There are lots of people proclaiming their version of the truth. Social media is choked with it. On this point Jesus is uncompromising. The truth that sets people free can only be found by following him. Anything else, no matter how moral or good, is an empty promise. 

Following Jesus' word starts with allowing myself to be loved, loved by God no matter what I've done. When I let that truth soak into my inner being I am set free.

Thank you Jesus for loving me, for seeing gold in my miry clay. You have set me free.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Never Alone

And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.
Jn.8:29

Jesus is answering disputes over who he is. He is the one sent by the Father, not only sent but accompanied.

Here is a wonderful promise. When I am sent by Jesus I am never sent alone. He accompanies me. The Holy Spirit comforts and guides me. And not only that. All I have to do is lift Jesus up. He does the drawing of people's souls. 

Thank you Jesus for your companionship today. Come Holy Spirit, be my guide and comforter.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Timing

They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.
Jn. 7:30

Jesus unflinchingly proclaims again he is sent by God the Father, infuriating the Jewish leaders. Jesus' inevitable trap looms larger on the horizon, waiting for the right time to snap. 

Timing is everything. From the charge of a cavalry brigade on the field of battle to the swing of the conductor's baton, timing determines its effectiveness. The Jewish leaders had Jesus' end all planned, just waiting for the right time. 

There's a right time for everything in my life, the trick is to sense the right time and then act. 

Lord Jesus, your timing was perfect. Give me the right sense of timing in my day, my year, my life.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Whose Approval Do I Seek

How can you believe, since you look to one another for approval and are not concerned with the approval that comes from the one God?
Jn.5:44

Jesus again rebukes the Pharisees for their self-serving hypocrisy. They have placed themselves as the arbitrators of what is good, ignoring the approval of God.

This is part of a long discourse from Jesus against the Pharisees where I want to shout out, "Sock it to 'em Jesus!"  But wait a minute, where do I seek approval? Not always from God alone.

Jesus says belief comes solely from seeking God's approval. I call myself a believer yet man's approval can sway me. 

God save me from seeking approval from the world. Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

He has Torn Us but will Heal Us

Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us;
he has struck us down, but he will bandage our wounds;
Hs.6:1

God speaks through the prophet Hosea, pining for his chastised people to return to him with repentant hearts. 

This is so much like a loving father to his children. Yes, he has torn them but he will heal them. Yes, he has struck them but he will bandage them. The child, or in this instance me, is wiser and even more secure in the father's love. 

This is not very PC parenting in the world's eyes, but it works. I sin I suffer. The short, sharp, shock is followed by loving healing. The law of the harvest (I reap what I sow) is unavoidable like the law of gravity and it's a hard law to learn.

Father, help me always keep one eye firmly fixed on your unquenchable love for me.
Saint Therese the Little Flower, please pray for me.