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.

Good Beautiful True

Fill your minds with everything that is true... noble... good... pure... that we love and honour... that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. 
Phl.4:8

Paul gives the key to inner peace. Fill my mind with all that is good, true and beautiful. 

The good, true and beautiful can only come from God. Fill my mind with this and I fill my mind with God. The result? Hope, peace and joy.

Jesus, today I intentionally fill my mind with the good, the beautiful and the true.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Neverending Story

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Jn.21:25

John closes his Gospel by leaving it open, leaving it unfinished. I see the quill and ink beside the parchment, inviting me to continue writing.

Every believer has a unique chapter to add to the Gospel. It truly is the neverending story. 

This morning I lift the pen, pause... and write. 

Bloom Where You're Planted

Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
but for those also
who through their words will believe in me.
Jn.17:20

Jesus prayed then for me now. This is such a consoling thought.

The expression "Bloom where you're planted" holds special significance for me. It was these words, spoken by a visiting priest, that tipped me over the line in wanting to become Catholic. I looked at my Catholic wife, my Catholic children and my Catholic friends and recognised the garden into which I was planted was undeniably Catholic. 

This has been a great reminder that blooming is a lifetime affair. Lord water me, cultivate me, prune me so I can add my small flower in your beautiful garden, for your glory.