Love brings Justice

Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.
Lk.18:4,5

Fear of God and respect for man bears the fruit of justice.

Besides encouraging persistence in prayer, this parable is a warning against disregard for God and man. The unjust judge is in a perilous state. 

How can I maintain a fear of God and respect for man? Again, love is the answer. The greatest command of Jesus, love God and love others. 

We have two granddaughters receiving First Holy Communion tomorrow. My wife is just driving off to pick them up, take them to morning Mass then on to a slap-up breakfast at a café. All as a pre-Holy Communion treat. She is a legend at loving God and loving others.

Jesus, let justice be the fruit of my loving you and loving others.

Mere Servanthood

When you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.
Lk.17:10

Jesus confronts what is the greatest of human follies. Pride.

Pride will sink the noblest of ships, even those barques sailing for Peter.

I was recently on a team running a men's parish weekend retreat. The retreat was impactful and my participation was mentioned. When my darling wife repeated the feedback she had heard, false modesty had me say, "Oh, it wasn't me. It was Jesus." She replied, "Really? I think Jesus would have done it better."

Ouch. 

On reflection I gave her a more honest response. "I'm constantly amazed at how Jesus uses me."

Lord, give me a servant's heart so my greatest desire is to serve you and not glorify me.

Mercy given is Mercy Received

 “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.”
Lk.16:5,6

With hard times approaching, the dishonest steward decides to dispense mercy to win favor. 

The act of mercy steps over the tarnished motivation. Mercy given is still mercy received, no matter the self serving reason for dispensing it. 

The great reveal comes from Jesus himself in verse 9 (Why does Muma Church leave this crucial verse out of today's reading. Anyone know?) 

     "I  tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." Lk.16:9

Worldly wealth can gain eternal reward, with the caveat of applied mercy. 

Holy Spirit, prompt me to be a fount magnanimous mercy today. 

Good News

‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
Lk.15:2

The scribes and Pharisees nail it. They clearly identify what Jesus came to do.

The scribes and Pharisees proclaim the Good News as though it was bad news. The plot had been lost to them. 

There is a little Pharisee within me that, when I'm not careful, does the same. After having a genuine experience of the Holy Spirit I'm in danger of building a picket fence around it and issuing membership tickets. At such times, the Holy Spirit steps over the fence and moves on, leaving me with a... well, with a lost plot.

Some things matter. Some things don't. 

What do my neighbours really need to hear from me? That I have a friend who rose from the dead and if they welcome him in to eat with them... he will change everything.

Here's a song that has something to say about this.

https://youtu.be/NQ-VhNCWctk?si=dt3x33wtFZtT1hZR

Fully Alive

Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Lk.14:27

Jesus addresses the great crowd following him, giving the requirement for genuine discipleship. The criteria is death.

Jesus could hardly use more brutal imagery. The crowd would have seen crucifixion at their city gates. They knew the cross wasn't just a heavy burden. It was an instrument of death. 

Following Jesus involves dieing to myself. My carnal nature needs to die, daily. 

The beautiful thing is, when I'm able to successfully do this, I become more fully alive!

This passage always reminds me of the scene in the movie Over The Hedge, where the possum dad is explaining to his daughter the reason why he plays dead.

Daughter: "Isn't playing dead a little... weak?"

Dad: "Heather, how many times have I been saying? Playing Possum is what we do. We die, so that we live."

We die so that we live. So true. 

As Saint Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is a man fully alive."

Saint Charles Borromeo, please pray for us.

Too Busy

Come along: everything is ready now. But all alike started to make excuses.
Lk.14:17,18

An invitation to the heavenly banquet lies before me. Am I also too busy?

I've been retired coming up four years. I'd have time on my hands, right?  Wrong. My days have never been so full, often with requests from other people. I'm busy. Too busy?

What's the land I've acquired, new car I've bought, relationship I'm pursuing that is stealing my time with God?

What defines too busy? I'd have to say I'm too busy when I'm missing God, when I'm not hearing what he is inviting me to today. 

This morning prayer time is a good way to make sure I receive God's invitation and then act on it. What a privilege. What a joy.

Jesus, you achieved so much yet you were never too busy. Help me discern what is an invitation from the world and what is an invitation from you. 

And the Greatest is...

My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more.
Ph.1:9

When is there enough love? Never!

Love is dynamic. It is always growing, magnifying, flourishing. The heights of love in me will only be achieved when I meet Love himself. Until that day I keep looking for and learning more ways to love.

What I'm wanting is less of me and more of him. Paul talks of loving as Christ loves. That's a high bar. But when that happens, what a powerful witness to the glory of God. 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the heart of your faithful. Kindle in me the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and I shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.