Friends

I call you friends...
Jn15:15

Friendship is elevated to its highest meaning when modeled by Jesus. I am called to be nothing less to those around me. 

I am blessed to have four men with whom I regularly pray. I call them my 3 :00 am friends. If I had a great need at 3:00 am in the morning, I know these men would respond if I called them. 

Life is made sweeter when travelling alongside friends. Friendship is something I need to intentionally cultivate, not in a forced way but in an inviting, open way. It starts by spending time with someone.

Of course, the greatest friend I have is Jesus. I love responding to his friendship by spending time with him. 

What a friend I have in Jesus,
all my sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!

Fan the Flickering Flame

In fact God, who can read everyone’s heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith.
Acts.15:8,9

God makes no distinction. Once anyone's faith is exercised, the Holy Spirit leaps in.

The Jerusalem Council stopped the Church becoming an exclusive club. The temptation is still with us to issue membership tickets to those deemed acceptable. God makes no distinction, neither should we, or more close to home, nether should I.

Faith, no matter how fragile, is the only ticket required. The beauty of this transaction is that it is purely between the recipient and God. My role is to simply fan the flickering flame. 

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

Less of Me More of Him

You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Jn.15:3

The branch is always cut, either from producing no fruit or from the desire to produce fruit more abundantly. Either way it gets cut.

Pruning or cutting, it's all the same. To become more like Jesus there has to be less of me. When people say, "be the best version of yourself" what they mean is become more like Jesus. He is the best version of me.

Saint Therese of Avila underscored this by saying, "Be the best God intends you to be and then set the world on fire!" 

 Jesus, let there be less of me and more of you in my life. 

Holy Happiness

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
Jn.14:27

Jesus is preparing the disciples for the trials they are about to face with his crucifixion. Trouble and fear are not his legacy. 

Troubled and fearful hearts are like a car's wheels spinning in mud. Lots of noise and action but no progress. 

What's the antidote? Peace and joy rooted in faith. When this is the state of my heart I am an effective ambassador for Christ.

St. Philip Neri is the patron saint of joy, humor, and cheerfulness, often called the "Humorous Saint". He is celebrated for his unconventional, playful methods of spiritual direction and his conviction that holy happiness and humor are essential to a good life.

Jesus, today I receive your gift of peace and bear your fruit of joy.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.  

Man and God

This is the victory over the world – our faith.
Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1Jn.5:4,5

John underscores the central tenet of Christian faith. Jesus is both man and God.

If Christ were not truly God, He could not save us. But if he were not truly human, he could not reach us. He is both. Recognising his incarnation is key to the wonderful gift of my faith. 

Yes Lord I believe you are the Son of God come to save us. I place my trust in you.

Saint Athanasius, please pray for us.

 

Reaching Out and Welcoming In

Whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
Jn.13:20

Jesus is very clear. After his death there is to be an ambassadorial "sending" of people, people who can be welcomed or rejected. The Church exists to be sent. Am I packed and ready?

This can also be turned around. The Church exists to welcome. People are "sent" by Jesus when they arrive at our door seeking faith, when they hear the invitation to "come and see". Are my arms open wide in welcome?

I need to be both reaching out and welcoming in. Imagine a parish made up of such people. We could change the world!

Come Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful. Kindle in us the fire of your love and we shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Go Fishing!

Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.
Mk.1:17

Jesus calls Andrew and Peter away from catching fish to catching men.

This is the call to every person who proclaims they are a follower of Jesus. Catch more people!

From this first encounter through to Jesus' ascension, the command has been the same. Go make disciples!

If I'm not "going and making", I'm being disobedient. And it shouldn't be a hardship. The Good News is good news, something people want to hear. 

Our parish Alpha Course is one way to go fishing. 

Jesus, give me boldness to go fishing.

Saint Peter Chanel, please pray for me.