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.

Joy Fulfilled

These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 
Jn.17:13

Knowing unspeakable torment is about to fall on his followers, Jesus prays they may have unspeakable joy.

Ah, His joy fulfilled. Don't we all want it. Jesus wants it for us as well. And where does it come from? From the things he speaks, or to give it another name, The Joy of The Gospel.

The opening sentence of Pope Francis’s 2013 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), is one of his most famous quotes: 

"The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness."

The key to this joy is to encounter Jesus and accept his offer. 

Come Lord Jesus, meet me on the road of my life today as you did the two on the road to Damascus. Explain your Word and let my heart burn within me with joy and love of you. 

Courage Dear Heart

In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart: I have overcome the world.
Jn.16:33

Jesus tells it like it is. He didn't promise an easy life, but He did offer a lasting peace and the absolute assurance that the battles I face have already been won.

Jesus spoke these words knowing his passion and death was only hours away. At first it would look like the world had overcome Jesus. But the world didn't reckon on his resurrection. 

I'm reminded of the terrifying yet beautiful scene in C.S. Lewis' book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Lucy is looking down at her siblings suffering their worst nightmares while passing the Dark Island. In the midst of the horror, Aslan in the form of a bird, swoops past her and calls, "Courage, dear heart." Lucy receives hope and her hope spreads to the others. Light returns to the Dawn Treader.

Courage is born within me when I remember that Jesus is beside me, always. Every tribulation I face I never face alone. 

I can take heart today. Whatever the "world" is throwing my way right now, it operates under a defeated system.

Courage, dear heart!