City of Joy - People of Gladness

Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating, because I now create Jerusalem ‘Joy’ and her people ‘Gladness.’ 
Is.65:18

The city of Joy is occupied by people of gladness. 

Now here is a command of God that is so good to obey. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever. This is why we are prophets of joy and hope in a world aching for joy and hope. 

I need to identify "joy robbers" in my life and counter them with this truth. I am a citizen of the City of Joy and gladness is my hallmark. 

Thank you Lord for the new Jerusalem, the City of Joy you are calling me to. Holy Spirit, fill me so I may be a prophet of joy and hope. 

Love God Love Others

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
Mk.12:30,31

Finally, a Scribe gets what Jesus is teaching. Love.

I'm reminded of the open-air Christian music festival I attended. A musician was speaking when a rain shower broke out. Some of us pressed up to the stage sound shell seeking shelter while others scattered back to tents. He laughed, sat down on the edge of the stage and said, "Well, all I really need to say is two things. Love God and love others". 

I've heard it said another way. "Love God, then do what you like." When I live this central Christian tenet I become a prophet of joy and hope, not far from the kingdom of God. 

Come Holy Spirit. Kindle in me the fire of your love.

The Sweet Wound

With all your heart turn to me, for I am tender and compassionate.
Joel 2:12-13

Today's Gospel Acclamation reaffirms who it is I am being called back to this Lent, my God of tenderness and compassion.

Sinful falls always look so much worse during Lent. My high ideals and promises become ashes. There's a risk of allowing the accuser to get in and make me stay sitting in the ashes.  

However, Mother Church shines a light into my mess once again. "Turn to me", says Jesus. "Stand up and lift your head". Once again his tender compassion heals and restores me. 

How sweet the wound that calls forth his mercy and forgiveness. I am a new man once again.

The Law of Love

Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. 
Mt.5:17

Jesus is emphatic he isn't replacing the Law or the Prophets of Jewish faith. He is the embodiment of everything that is good in them. 

The Old Testament is included in the Bible for a reason. The Law and the Prophets are still very valid. They are the foundation of everything that Jesus taught, of the life that Jesus lived. His completion of the Law and Prophets is the life he lived. 

As a follower of The Way, I am to live by the Law and Prophets as well. What is the New Testament difference? Love is my motivation. Love is my application. Without love, the law becomes death. 

Jesus, help me follow you by applying the Law and Prophets in love.

Yes to God

‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.
Lk.1:38

Every blessing I have received can be traced back to Mary's fiat. Her yes changes everything.

My "yes" to God will have profound results in ways I can't imagine. All it takes is faith, obedience and an openness to the Holy spirit giving life to something beautiful within me. I can give birth to something wonderful for God. 

Scary? Yes. Exciting? Yes. Life changing? For someone, always. 

Come Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful. Kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.

 

Son or Slave

We are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.
Lk.11:24

The Father restores the prodigal's sonship. He is no longer a slave but a son. 

We see ourselves in one of two ways, a slave or a son (or daughter). The unforgiving brother sees himself as a slave; "all these years I have slaved for you". This comes from thinking I need to earn God's love. 

The prodigal son was prepared to be a slave; "treat me as one of your paid servants." But the Father redefines him. He is "a son of mine". 

Whenever I find myself despondent, it's when I've lost sight of my true identity. I've stopped seeing myself rightly, seeing myself as God the Father sees me, a beloved son in whom he delights. 

This grace is outrageous, and I thank God for it daily. 

Fruitful Love

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 prophesies the chief priests and elders downfall. Why was this about to happen? Because they were producing no fruit. 

If I'm not producing fruit for the Kingdom of God I risk being denied entry. Fruit can only be harvested by cultivation, by work. It doesn't look as though I can simply drift into heaven on a cloud. Yes, I am saved by faith but if my faith produces no fruit, the Kingdom is taken from me. 

The key to fruitful work is love. Done in love the work stops being work. It becomes a joy. 

Come Holy Spirit. Kindle in me the fire of your love.