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.