Bear with One Another in Love

Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. 
Eph.4:1-6

Charitable forbearance has a beautiful fruit. Peace.

My wife and I have been married coming up to 48 years. We are two very different personalities and yet our marriage continues to flourish. The key? I would say we bear with one another charitably.

The world aches for this commandment to be exercised, in personal and international relationships. As the song goes, "Let there be peace on earth and let it  begin with me."

Jesus, you know my natural inclination is to put me first. Help me bear with others in selflessness, gentleness, patience and love.

He is Worth It

Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
Lk.12:51

It is strange but true. Following the Prince of Peace can cause division.

I experienced this family division on my conversion to Catholicism. My mother and sister were, how can I say it... mystified.  Since that time my mother became a believer five days before she died. My sister remains on my prayer list.

In such times, as we read in today's first reading from Ephesians (one of the greatest books ever written in my opinion), I ask for "power through his Spirit for my hidden self to grow strong". Eph.3:16

This is one of those challenging gospel readings where I have to ask, "What is Love saying here?" 

He's saying to me, "Yes Mike, your faith in me is costing you but, am I worth it?"

I've counted up the cost and, yes Lord, you are worth it.

Stand Ready

You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Lk.12:40

When will Jesus return? Wrong question. How will he find me? Right question.

Even Jesus doesn't know the hour of his return. That is only known by God the Father (Mt.24:36). For good reason. Me being me, I'd probably slacken off and then crank up the good works in a final dash to the finish line. Stack up the brownie points.

So, I'm left with the constant thought, "Is this the day?" 

Ha! My wife has just come in with a request from our daughter. She has four children at home with Chicken Pox and needs to do a supermarket shop. Am I standing ready to help?

Enough talk. Time for action!

He is the Peace Between Us

For he is the peace between us.
Eph.2:14

Saint Paul writes that pagans and Jews are now one body by the blood of Jesus.

Our  parish is a United Nations, with people from every continent. There is a beautiful unity in our diversity, by our shared faith in Jesus. It is a foreshadowing of heaven... many different peoples, one Lord all.

The peace Jesus brings doesn't require us all to be the same, thank God. We had a Fijian choir lead us last Sunday. Hearing them worship my God in their language lifted my spirit. 

So, Jesus, help me to continue to be at peace with all the different types of people in our parish. You are the peace between us.

Bend the Knee to His Furious Love

To you my friends I say: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell.
Lk.12:5

Friendly advice from Jesus. Don't fear man. Fear God.

Jesus has a wonderful way of expanding my view. I do get weighed down by the concerns of what the world is doing and can do to me. Jesus says no, that world is temporary. Look to the eternal and make sure of that destination.

Fearing God is not a paralysing terror. It's a deep reverence, awe, and respect for God’s holiness, power, and authority. It's a bending of the knee to his furious love. 

I've noticed when I have a fervent fear of God, there's no room in me for the fear of man. It's a liberating outworking of perfect love casting out all fear. 

Father in Heaven, I place my trust in your great love. May your mercy triumph over judgement.

Salvation - Assured But Not Yet Received

We must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.
Rms.8:24,25

For the believer, salvation is assured but not yet received.

When does Saint Paul say that salvation actually occurs? "When our bodies are set free" Rms.8:23.

This points forward to the Christian hope of resurrection and receiving a restored, glorified body free from pain and mortality. 

My glorified body has the final say. What a wonderful hope to carry into my day, whatever it brings.

So, when I'm asked, "Are you saved brother?"  My confident answer is, "Not yet, but I have every hope to be."

Thank you Jesus for your wonderful promise of salvation. I place my trust in you.
Saint Teresa of Ávila, please pray for us.

 

Faith and Love

What matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.
Gl.5:6

What is the first sign of faith? Love.

Paul warns against observing the Law in place of exercising faith. The Law is a yoke to slavery. Faith is the door to freedom.

There's a little Pharisee within me that quite likes the Law. It's so clean and black and white. The trouble is I could never keep it. My life is murky and grey. I need the mercy that comes by faith.

Faith is a free gift. All I need to do is receive it. 

Jesus, thank you for the gift of faith. I place my trust in you.