Joyful Generosity

And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
Mk.12:42

The widow's mite shows radical, sacrificial giving. Her quiet generosity reflects her complete trust in God. 

The degree of my generosity is a measure of my trust in God.

About half way through an Alpha Course, if I'm leading, I give what I call my "Sermon on the Amount".  The Alpha Course is run free of charge but it is not free of costs. Donations assist greatly.  Again and again I observe those who appear less well off being among the most generous givers. 

Why is that? It appears that wealth creates its own gravity, risking a certain parsimony. 

My darling wife is a spontaneous and generous giver. Her philanthropy makes me burn with shame. 

Jesus, you love a cheerful giver. Give me a Spirit of joyful generosity.

Fully Equipped

All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
2 Tim.3:16-17

Paul points to where the source of wisdom is found. Sacred scripture.

This is why I practice Lectio Divina each morning. It is the well from which I draw living water. Do I want to be equipped and ready? Yes! 

As proclaimed in today's psalm, " The lovers of your law have great peace; they never stumble." PS.118:165

Thank you Lord for the firm ground of Sacred Scripture on which I stand. I take your peace into my day.
Saint Boniface, please pray for me.

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

Jesus lays bare the heart of our faith. Love God and love others.

Without demonstrative love, our religion is a stiff carcass. Without the active love of God and man, my faith is dead. 

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

I Am Blessed

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are... '
Mt.5:2,3

Jesus begins his great Sermon on the Mount by proclaiming blessing over all human suffering. For despair he offers hope.

As an unbeliever, I remember being drawn back to the Beatitudes, circling around them again and again. They were unfathomable to my atheist worldview. However, deep within me there was a longing for them to be true.  I see now what the attraction was. They offered hope to my state of hopelessness. 

No matter what I have to "suffer" today, and Lord spare me the martyrdom of Saint Charles Lwanga and his Companions, I can have hope. And hope leads to joy and joy heralds peace. 

Jesus, today you proclaim me blessed. Help me be a blessing to others I meet. 

Talk or Walk

Their reply to Jesus was, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.’
Mk.11:33

Jesus reveals truth to those ready to receive. The chief priests, scribes and elders weren't ready.

Jesus offered revelation but when it was rejected he moved on. I can learn from this. I have family members who have rejected Jesus. I continue to love them, to pray for them, but I move on. There is a rich and receptive harvest out there waiting to be gathered.

Jesus, thank you for the gift of faith. Give me wisdom to know when to sit down and talk and when to stand up and walk. 

Have Faith in God

Jesus answered, ‘Have faith in God.'
Mk.11:22

After the drama of cleansing the Temple Jesus remains calm and resolute. His solid foundation? Faith in God.

Jesus seems impervious to the dramatic scenes erupting about him. He does what needs to be done but remains unshaken. Faith in God is his bedrock. 

In the midst of my dust of daily battle, Jesus invites me into his calmness. "Have faith in God Mike. The mountains may move, the hills may shake but my promise of peace will never leave you. All will be well." 

Jesus, you are my rock and firm foundation. I place my trust in you.

What is it that you want?

Master, let me see again.
Mk.10:51

Bartimaeus lays his faith on the line. He is physically blind but spiritually his vision is 20/20. He sees that Jesus can heal him.

Why would Jesus ask a blind man what he wants from him? To encourage Bartimaeus to exercise his faith. Faith is oxygen to Jesus. When it is present he performs miracles. 

Jesus' response to Bartimaeus' faith is ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ This hints that Bartimaeus has received more than his sight. He has received eternal salvation.

I need to stoke up my fire of faith when asking Jesus for the miraculous. 

Master, heal my grandson. Master, restore my friend's marriage. Master, bring peace to the Middle East and to Africa. Master, increase my faith.

Bartimaeus, please pray for me.