Time to Party

In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. 
Lk.5:29

In response to Jesus' invitation to follow him, Matthew hosts a banquette in his honour. His "Yes" is emphatic and public.

Would people know I am a follower of Jesus as everyone knew Matthew was? The western world has a way of cowering the Church into becoming Closet Christians. We conform rather than confront. 

Yet, there is something very appealing in Matthew's response. I would love to attend his party. I have a feeling there would be lots of laughter and joy. Laughter and joy are attractive. 

Saint Matthew, pray I may have your zeal and joy in following our Lord.

Set the Oppressed Free

Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke.
Is.58:6

The list of acceptable fasting that pleases God starts with an emphatic, "Set the oppressed free!"

Anyone who does not follow Jesus is a prisoner to something else. We have a God space within us that we yearn to fill. And so we should, with the one true God. 

I can set people free of idols when I introduce them to Jesus. The Alpha Course is one way of doing this. Prayer is another.

Saints Perpetua and Felicity, please pray for me.

 

Happy Lent

I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of the Lord your God.
Dt.30:19

It always comes down to my choice. Blessing or curse, life or death. It's my call.

How wonderful is today's psalm response; Happy are they who hope in the Lord. Lent can be a time of happiness and joy. How? By me choosing life in all the choices I will face. 

Holy Spirit, giver of life in the womb of Mumma Mary, help me choose life and gain joy. 

The Upside Down Pyramid

Many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Mk.10:31

Jesus calls me to radically change my point of view on life to a perspective opposite to the world's. 

A metaphor for the life Jesus calls me to is an upside down pyramid. From Jesus' standpoint, the least are the greatest, the last are first, the weak and defenseless enter the Kingdom to become rulers. The Church agrees with this. Popes are called servants of the servants of God. 

So, that carnal desire in me to be the best, the greatest, the smartest needs to be nailed to The Cross and crucified. This Lent could be a good time to change my perspective, a good time to turn the pyramid upside down.

Jesus, you know how I strive to be the greatest. Help me strive to be the least so I may be great in your sight.

Lack and Love

Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack...'
Mk.10:21

While the rich young man is sincere in wanting to live a life closer to God, his piety is not enough. Rather than his lack repelling Jesus, it causes him to love the young man even more.

I would say the rich young man is most likely living a more holy life than me. I understand the disciples when they say "Who can be saved?" This is where God's love kicks in for me, the love that is patient, kind, that keeps no record of wrongs, that trusts and hopes.

Yes I lack much, but yes, I am loved much. With Jesus, lack and love seem to go together. Here is the source of my hope and joy.

The Lord is My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.

Ps.22:1,2

With Jesus shepherding me, what more do I need? Nothing!

This well known psalm lists how I am blessed in following Jesus.

He gives me rest

He revives me

He guides me

He comforts me

He feeds me

He anoints me

He blesses me

He provides an eternal home for me

Oh, yes... The Lord is my  shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.

 

Friend

But who do you say that I am?
Mk.8:29

Jesus asks his disciples, and me, the ultimate question. My answer determines my destiny.

Jesus was either mad, bad, or who he said he was. Nothing in scripture, or secular recorded history from his times, supports him being mad or bad. 

Was he just "a great prophet"? Jesus doesn't give us that option. He alone among the founders of great religions doesn't point to God. He points to himself. "I am the way, the truth, the life." 

There are many, many names given to Jesus, different names that I use depending on what is happening in my life. Today I name him Friend. 

Prophet of Joy and Hope

Alleluia, alleluia!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our heart
that we may see how great is the hope
to which we are called.
Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation (Ep.1:17)

Enlighten the eyes of our hearts to see what? Great hope. 

Hope is a wonderful thing to possess. It allows prisoners to be free, the sick to see beyond their illness, the poor to feel rich. It changes everything when we have it and everything when we don't.

Lord Jesus, you are my unshakable source of hope. Let me be a prophet of joy and hope to those I meet today.

Remember and Have Faith

Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception?
Mk.8:17

The disciples thoughts are so preoccupied with their lack of food that they fail to recognize the infinite source of everything that is with them. Jesus.

The cares and worries of this world choke the seed of faith, at least that is my experience. My wife is better at turning to Jesus in tough times. 

I remember once when our family was young and we were in financial woes. Kate made a list of all the bills we were facing and placed it before a crucifix during family prayer time. We then prayed to God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills to help us meet our financial obligations. Over the next few weeks, through a bit of austerity plus me receiving a bonus from work (never happened before), the bills were paid. This was faith building for the children and for me.

"Do you not  remember the five loaves feeding the five thousand?" asks Jesus. Yes Lord, I remember and I place my trust in you.

Pass it On

He took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute.
Mk.8:6

Jesus' compassion for the hungry crowd calls forth a miracle performed in the hands of the disciples.

After giving thanks, Jesus hands seven loaves to the disciples. It's the disciples that perform the miracle of multiplication as, in faith, they feed the four thousands. 

Jesus is still moved with compassion, this time for souls hungry for the bread of life. Through our parish Alpha Course we simply take what Jesus offers and, in faith, pass it on to the attending guests. The miracle happens in our "passing it on".

Lord Jesus, let your compassion inspire us to perform miracles in your name.

Believe Your Beliefs

The serpent was the most subtle of all the wild beasts that the Lord God had made. It asked the woman, ‘Did God really say...'
Gen.3:1

Evil existed in the Garden and worked to foil God's plan for creation by undermining faith. Did God really say...?

It's literally the oldest trick in the Book. The devil wants us to doubt our beliefs and believe our doubts. Jesus calls us to doubt our doubts and believe our beliefs. 

My faith in Jesus is a precious gift worth protecting.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of faith. Holy Spirit, help me to protect and exercise my faith today.

Sex is God's Idea

‘This at last is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh! This is to be called woman, for this was taken from man.’
Gen.2:23

After being shown and naming all the animals, Adam is still alone. Eve is the solution to his problem.

When Adam first saw Eve, he never said, "Oh, wonderful. Here is someone to play cards with." No, he liked the curvy lines of what he saw... "flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone."

Sex is God's idea. We need to kick the devil off his pulpit and stop listening to his perverted lies about sex being his idea. Sex is God's idea and like all of God's ideas, it's beautiful and perfect... when used according to his plan. Used any other way sex becomes a poisoned chalice. 

So what is God's plan for sex? According to Scripture it's man loves woman loves children. I've tasted the poison chalice and eaten from the bread of marriage. Give me the bread every time.

Thank you Father for the gift of my sexuality, the gift of my wife, the gift of my children.

Heart Surgery

‘It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge:"
Mk.7:20,21

In response to the Pharisee's criticism of the disciples over their failure to observe rituals, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. What matters is the heart.

Of the twelve evil intentions that Jesus lists, I can name at least ten that I have committed. I'm not proud of this statistic, but there it is. In each case the evil has come from within, from my heart, so I understand what Jesus is talking about.

But Good News! Heart surgery can take place. When Jesus talks about me becoming a new man, born again, he means I have a new heart. This heart surgery is ongoing daily. Each time I go to Mass I receive a new heart, go to confession, a new heart, read the comments on the Christian Art forum, a new heart.

I gladly lay before the Great Physician and say, "Cut deep Lord. Create in me a new heart, renew a right spirit within me."

 

The Beginning

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 
Gen.1:1

The foundation of not only the world but all of creation is established by God.

The first verse of the Bible lays the foundation for all following sacred scripture. In the beginning God created... It is either true, or the rest is simply a fairy story.

There's something reassuring knowing that God created everything in the beginning. It means he will be there in the end as well. If he starts out of love he will finish out of love. All will be well.

Thank you God for creation. May I be a good steward of it all... its flora, its fauna and its souls, until you come again.

Saint Scholastica please pray for me

The Lord is With Me

God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?
Heb.13:5,6

The book of Hebrews closes urging us to be intentional in living the Christian life. The love of God overpowers the fear of man.

Today's Gospel shows Herod succumbing to the fear of man. To save face he has John the Baptist executed. This evil haunts him as he later  believes Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead.

There is a peace in knowing that Jesus himself is beside me, that the Holy Spirit helping me. I let fear in when I forget this. 

Thank you Lord for your comfort and strength helping through today.

Peace and Holiness

Always be wanting peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one can ever see the Lord. 
Heb.12:14

Being intentional to be a person of peace and holiness has its reward. Seeing the Lord.

Living means working with people Some are easy, some are hard. With all of them I am being  called to be a man of peace and holiness.

Holy Spirit, I can't do this on my own. Kindle in me the fire of your love and I shall be created. And through me, renew the face of the earth.

No to Fear, Yes to Faith

‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.’ 
Mk.5:36

Fearful news comes to Jairus of the death of his daughter. Jesus counters by encouraging lifegiving faith.

My atheist mother had a lifelong fear of death. It dampened her otherwise joyfill, and I would add God given, nature. Five days before she died she professed a faith in God, which I had the absolute joy of witnessing. 

My non-believing sister mentioned to me the following morning that mum seemed more at peace. I shared with her how that had come about. My sister wept.

Fear robs life. Faith gives it. Do not be afraid; only have faith.

Faith that Guarantees

Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended.
Heb.11:1,2

The writer of Hebrews focuses on faith that counts. That is, faith in action.

I remember hearing Catholics talk about "the faith" and judging they didn't know Jesus. God forgive me. I'm now beginning to understand that faith is the foundation on which to know our risen and living God, the ultimate "unseen". 

Faith is indeed commendable and a wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. Faith filled people are great to hang around. Their faith is contagious. 

So, do I want to be blessed today? Yes! Then Holy Spirit, please give me faith that guarantees. 

Let It Shine

for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Mk.4:25

The man who blesses will be blessed. The man who gives poorly will live in poverty.

Jesus measures possessions differently from the world which recognises only things. Jesus sees gifts and talents, virtues and strengths... all things which illuminate life. 

I find it interesting that the man that "has not" still has something which is taken from him. This tells me that everyone has something that can be used to light the world. None of us are virtueless, talentless, completely ungifted. We all have at least a widow's mite of a flicker to add to a flame. 

This little light o' mine, I'm goin' let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Ev'rywhere I go, I'm goin' let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

In my neighbor's home, I'm goin' let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Rich Soil People

And there are those who have received the seed in rich soil: they hear the word and accept it 
Mk.4:20

What constitutes a person of rich soil? One who hears and accepts.

The Parable of the Sower challenges me to ask myself what soil am I... barren, rocky, weedy or rich? If I'm honest I'd say, at times, all four. What is amazing and so encouraging is that the sower keeps on sowing into all four types of soil. God keeps on loving.

Of course, it's the rich soil I aim to be. Luke's Gospel adds a beautiful description of "rich soil people". Jesus calls them "people with a noble and generous heart" (Lk.8:15). I've met people like that. They tend to be people whose hearts are on fire for the Lord. Their zeal is contagious. They produce fruit.

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.

Waiting with Joy and Hope

When he appears a second time, it will not be to deal with sin but to reward with salvation those who are waiting for him.
Heb.9:28

Jesus is coming back, at last giving salvation to waiting believers. 

"Are you saved brother?" The only answer I can give is, "Not yet, but I have every hope to be". The Christian life in this world is one of joyful hope, awaiting the return of Jesus. We remind ourselves of this at every Mass following the Lord's Prayer when the priest prays; 

"Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,  and grant us peace in our day.  In your mercy keep us free from sin  and protect us from all anxiety  as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ."

So, I enter today filled with joy and hope, waiting for the reward of salvation from Jesus.

Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus come!

Go Tell

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mk.16:15,16

Jesus' final words to his Apostles before he ascended apply to us all, the Universal Church. Go and proclaim!

A man's final words are what he wants left ringing in the ears of his hearers. They are words of legacy to be acted upon. I don't think we the Church are very good at "going" or "proclaiming". Yes, Church history is full of courageous missionaries but, what about today? The Church has missionaries but she's not full of them. 

Brought closer to home, what's happening in my parish? Closer still, what am I doing? My going and telling can start with those around me; my family, friends, work colleagues, neighbours.

The world is aching for hope. Holy Spirit, give me zeal and joy to "go and tell". Saint Paul, please pray for us. 

Companions

He appointed twelve; they were to be his companions and to be sent out to preach, with power to cast out devils. 
Mk.3:14,15

Jesus builds his A-Team from the common clay of those following him. Their mission? To preach with power. When I encounter preaching with power, it's inspirational. I either feel compelled or convicted, or both. 

It's important that the Apostles missionary work started with companionship with one another, but most importantly, companionship with Jesus. Jesus never commissioned Lone Ranger Christians.

I'm currently building a team to host an Alpha Course in our parish. This scripture reminds me we are not a construction team doing a job, we are to be companions on a journey. I like journeys. They can be adventurous and fun. 

Saint Francis de Sales, please pray for us.

 

The Scribble of My Life

You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead, here am I.
Ps.39:6-8

God doesn't want offerings, he asks for everything.

There is always a temptation in me to give a beggar $2.00 and then think myself a saint. That's the problem with offerings. They are worldly and measured by worldly standards. This diminishes God, not exalts him. 

God is so infinitely majestic, any "thing" I offer is dust by comparison. The best I can do is offer my puny "here am I". As a parent delights in a toddlers scribble-art, I trust Love will delight in the scribble of my life.

Holy Spirit, take the scribble of my life and make it holy and acceptable to God the Father, in Jesus name. Amen.

Words of Love

May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favour in your sight, O Lord, my rescuer, my rock!
Ps.18:15

Words come from thoughts. Both should win favour in God's sight.

Psalm 18 lists the wonder and power of God's Word. Then, it finishes with a plea for my words. What would make my words, and thoughts by association, pleasing to God? A safe guess would be when they are words conveying love, love of God and love of man. 

Lord, today may the words from my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing unto you.

Stretcher Bearer

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’
Mk.2:5

The faith of the four friends who lowered the paralytic down through the roof brought him the greatest healing he required... the forgiveness of his sins.

This story from Mark's Gospel tells me two things; intercession can move God's hand and, in God's eyes,  spiritual ailments are more serious than physical ailments. 

I hope I could have four friends such as the paralytics, brothers who would carry me physically or in prayer to the feet of Jesus. I hope I can also be such a friend. 

As for the universal need for the forgiveness of sins, I guess this is where our parishes become "hospitals in the field of battle" that Pope Francis desires us to be. I can be a stretcher bearer in such a parish, when not being the patient on the stretcher. 

Cooperate with Love

Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ 
Mk.1:41

The compassion of Jesus compels him to reach out to touch and heal the leper but this compassion had a cost. 

In a sense, Jesus exchanged places with the leper. The leper could now show himself to the priest and be accepted back into his community. However, Jesus now had to "stay outside in places where nobody lived".

Compassion has a cost. Any ministry I engage in requires sacrifice of some sort. Why do it? Firstly because he who I follow did it first. But also because the cost is worldly and being pared from worldly stuff is not a bad thing. 

Cooperating with love has its own rewards, joy being the foremost. 

Make Known His Deeds

Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. O sing to him, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works!   Ps.104(105):1,2

The psalmist says don't just be grateful to God, tell the world why you're grateful and who it is you're grateful to.

This is an encouragement for me to pray in another Alpha Course hosted by our parish. It's not the only way to "make known his deeds" but it's a way that works. 

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Time to Go Fishing

As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.
Jn.1:16-18

Jesus starts his ministry by building a team. Who are these founding members? Fishermen.

Jesus could have formed the core of his team from shepherds. After all, it was to shepherds that his incarnation was first revealed. Jesus even called himself the Good Shepherd. But he didn't call shepherds. He called fishermen. Why?

His meeting on the shore of the lake Simon and Andrew, James and John almost sounds accidental. But, I don't think anything is accidental with Jesus. To help him spread the Good News, Jesus was after fishermen, not shepherds. He didn't want people shepherded. He wanted them caught. 

The Church spends a lot of effort and resources in shepherding, in stroking the wool of the sheep inside the pen. We're not too good at catching. We're all in the Barque of Peter but we haven't dropped any nets.

So, what's this all saying to me? Maybe it's time to start another Alpha Course. It's time to go fishing.

Saints Peter and Andrew, James and John please pray for us.

Be Good News

Anyone who has the Son has life, anyone who does not have the Son does not have life.

I have written all this to you so that you who believe in the name of the Son of God may be sure that you have eternal life.
1Jn.5:12,13

John's assurance to believers of their gaining eternal life also declares starkly to non-believers they can have no such assurance. 

There is a tendency in the Church to believe everyone is going to heaven. Scripture says the exact opposite. Accepting that only believers in Jesus as the Son of God can claim a hope for heaven places urgency in evangelisation. People need to hear the Good News in order to believe the Good News. 

Being Good News is a great way to preach. Saint John the Apostle, pray that I may be Good News to those I meet today.

Faith to Love

And his commandments are not difficult, because anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world; this is the victory over the world – our faith.
1Jn.4:3,4

John has just written down the command to love. Loving can appear daunting at times but John assures us God's commands are not difficult. Why? Because we have victory over every obstacle in the world, through faith.

Faith is the key. Through faith in Jesus and everything he says, I have victory. Through faith I can love even the unlovely. 

I have a family member causing pain. He is difficult to love at times but I know it is love that will eventually heal him. Faith in the God of love, who not only loves me but also loves him, will help me to work in the opposite spirit, to help me love him. 

Saint John the Beloved, please pray for me.

Do Not Be Afraid

‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ 
Mk.6:50

Rather than giving the disciples peace, seeing Jesus walking amidst the stormy waters terrified them. Then Jesus' spoken word calmed the waters and quelled their terror. 

The last time I was terrified was on learning our daughter had anorexia. All I knew about the illness was it had a high mortality rate. I came to learn that it is also a mental illness that can have a 100% recovery. My wife and I sought professional help and then rolled up our sleeves for the toughest months of our lives as I took time off work to help our daughter recover.

What quelled my terror in this storm was God's word, especially Psalm 118:17, "Our daughter will not die but live and proclaim what the Lord has done". This became our mantra. Praise God she has recovered is again healthy and happy.

I've heard it said courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the ability to feel the fear but do the right thing anyway. Jesus says don't let fear hold the steering wheel, let me. 

Love and Live

My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
1Jn.4:7

How do I get to know God? By loving.

John's inference is that I have a choice to love or not. He entreats the former. When I choose to not love I'm always thinking of myself... my rights, my hurt, my injustice, my fears. My world becomes very small with a population of one. Me. 

Love wipes all this self absorption away. My world becomes bigger, more interesting, and more joyful. I become more fully alive!

Lord, let me love today.
Saint John the Apostle, please pray for me.

Repent

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’
Mt.4:17

On learning of John the Baptist's imprisonment, rather than taking a low profile Jesus steps up his ministry, amplifying John's message "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is close at hand".

In essence, the "Good News of the Kingdom" is Repent. What's so good about repentance? I recall being driven to my knees when I first acknowledged there is a God and that I was far from him. My repentance gave me a sense of freedom I had never previously experienced. It was unexpected and took me by surprise. It was definitely Good News!

I've heard it said good people won't necessarily get to heaven. Only the forgiven can have that hope. All the thief on the cross could do was repent and it gave him the assurance of paradise. 

Repent. Good News indeed to take into my day.

Who Are You?

What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord”.
Jn.1:22,23

John the Baptist is harangued with questions about his identity. Where does he get his authority to do what he is doing? The only answer John gives is to point to Jesus. Jesus defines who he is.

Who am I? What is my identity? Husband to Kate? Father of five? Grandfather of seventeen? Retired radio engineer? Catholic? Ah, that is getting closer. Maybe better answers are Catholic husband. Catholic Father. Catholic grandfather. Catholic retiree. 

Being Catholic not only affects how I see all the world but also how all the world sees me, or at least this should be the case. 

Who am I? A stumbling follower of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life.

Saints Basil and Gregory, please pray for me.

Timing

When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. 
Gal.4:4,5

Today, the first day of 2025, is a time to reflect on timing. Today only gets its significance when referenced to the date of our Saviour's birth. The year of our Lord 2025. 

God's timing is perfect. When I consider what Christendom has achieved in the last two thousand years (hospitals, education, science, philosophy, civilisation) I'm grateful for what has benefited me. 

But wait (as the kitchen knife advert. says), there's more! I'm adopted as a son of God and I'm the son of two thousand years of adopted sons. How wonderful. And, I have a role to play in raising the next generation of adopted sons (and daughters). 2025 is promising to be a full and fulfilling year. Happy New Year!

Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us.