Priority

Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. 
Mt.6:33

First things first. Jesus clarifies what is essential so we don't get distracted by the important.

I'm in danger of having too many priorities. The word priority was introduced in the 14th century and for 500 years it meant “the first thing”. Then in the 1940’s  the word was pluralised! (by businesses according to CS Lewis). Priority became priorities!

When I have many priorities, essentially I have none.

I need A Priority. Jesus suggests this be the Kingdom of God.

Send "priorities" back to the pit where it came from. Replace it with the priority of God's Kingdom. Suddenly life is less complex, less frantic, more peaceful and more joyful.

Saint Alban, please pray for me.

The Heart's Treasure

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Mt.6:21

From Jesus' Sermon on the Mount he reveals a profound psychological and spiritual truth: my heart will naturally follow and be consumed by whatever I value, invest in, and prioritise.

As a non-believer, I remember being puzzled watching ordinary people go into a Catholic church on a week day and a little time later come out again and walk on into their day. What did they do there and why did they do it? 

I understand now. I am one of those people. We are visiting our treasure, realigning our hearts. 

While travelling through Italy last year a day didn't go by without my wife and I calling into a church. Sometimes Mass was about to start (bonus), sometimes it was just us and Jesus (also bonus). We didn't have to venture out on a dangerous odyssey to find our treasure. He was just round the next corner.

I love being Catholic.

Forgive

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mt.6:14,15

Forgiveness is not optional. It's essential... that is if I want to be forgiven.

Jesus first spoke of forgiveness by actually forgiving the paralytic lowered through the roof, demonstrating his divinity. He last spoke of forgiveness interceding for his murderous adversaries from the cross. Father forgive them...

It seems forgiveness is the key for me to live a life of joy and hope. 

Easy to say... but with God's help. 

Beggar to Beggar

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Mt.6:3-4

Vainglory is always waiting within me to pounce and rob charity of its power.

I'm reminded of the famous quote, originally intended to apply to evangelism but equally applicable to all works of charity, "I am simply one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread."

I am a beggar following the Beggar's Friend.

Jesus , let love of the other always animate me.

Love Your Enemies

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. 
Mt.5:44,45

Outrageously have I been loved.  I am called to love outrageously.

Loving those who have harmed me, or harmed my loved ones, seems to always require me first to forgive them. Can I do this? No. But I can will it. Then God will provide the love needed to forgive.

Corrie ten Boom’s prayer, when faced with the Ravensbrück Nazi guard asking her for forgiveness, is a good one to emulate. "Jesus, help me!"

Thank you Jesus for providing a path to escape the cold imprisonment of resentment and hate.

Peace Be With You

Let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. 
Lk.10:6

Jesus instructs the seventy-two for their first mission trip. What are their first words to be on entering a town? "Peace be with you". 

These were the first words the world heard from Pope Leo XIV. "Peace be with you." It seems these words are so powerful they cannot fail to achieve what they proclaim. Peace either falls on the hearer or rebounds back on the proclaimer. 

The world longs for peace. My world longs for peace. Let my first words today proclaim, "Peace be with you!"

Saint Anthony of Padua, please pray for me.

Rest

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
Mt.11:28

Jesus offers humanity what we all long for. Rest.

Out of all Sacred Scripture, on the Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Church has us focus on Jesus' promise of rest. The ache in our labouring, overburdened hearts is promised relief. 

How does he do that? My laboured stress dissolves when I simply sit in His presence and soak up his love. That burning love for me consumes my tiredness, refreshes my outlook, and opens the door to peace and joy. 

This is where I simultaneously experience the ministry of both Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 

It's a cool winter's morning here in New Zealand. Time to go son-bathing at my parish church.

Jesus, I accept your offer of rest. Thank you Lord. 

Son of Encouragement

 For he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. 
Acts 11:24

Goodness is the natural fruit of the Holy Spirit and faith.

Barnabus is such a worthy man to emulate. I'm impressed with how the Book of Acts records Barnabas like a passing shooting star. His record reads, Barnabus... Barnabas and Paul... Paul and Barnabas... Paul...  He was there to encourage others, in this instance to encourage Saint Paul.

Son of Encouragement. Oh that I would be worthy of such an epitaph. 

Come Holy Spirit. Fill me with your presence and with faith.
Saint Barnabas, please pray for me.

Transforming Love

I have come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil them.
Mt.5:17

Jesus is laying the foundation for his Sermon on the Mount. He has come not to destroy but fulfill.

Before becoming Catholic, I was repelled by a distorted belief that becoming Christian meant exchanging freedom for shackling rules. 

My conversion experience was exactly the opposite. Binding fears and insecurities were exchanged for the liberating joy of being loved by God. My life wasn't diminished at all. It bloomed! 

This is what makes the Good News good news. Jesus adds, multiplies, blesses. This is what generates that beautiful aroma and song that accompanies believers. The steady, quiet hum of Christian hope.

Thank you Jesus for your transforming love. Help me be a conduit for that love to those I meet today.

Joyful Generosity

And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
Mk.12:42

The widow's mite shows radical, sacrificial giving. Her quiet generosity reflects her complete trust in God. 

The degree of my generosity is a measure of my trust in God.

About half way through an Alpha Course, if I'm leading, I give what I call my "Sermon on the Amount".  The Alpha Course is run free of charge but it is not free of costs. Donations assist greatly.  Again and again I observe those who appear less well off being among the most generous givers. 

Why is that? It appears that wealth creates its own gravity, risking a certain parsimony. 

My darling wife is a spontaneous and generous giver. Her philanthropy makes me burn with shame. 

Jesus, you love a cheerful giver. Give me a Spirit of joyful generosity.

Fully Equipped

All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
2 Tim.3:16-17

Paul points to where the source of wisdom is found. Sacred scripture.

This is why I practice Lectio Divina each morning. It is the well from which I draw living water. Do I want to be equipped and ready? Yes! 

As proclaimed in today's psalm, " The lovers of your law have great peace; they never stumble." PS.118:165

Thank you Lord for the firm ground of Sacred Scripture on which I stand. I take your peace into my day.
Saint Boniface, please pray for me.

Love God Love Others

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
Mk.12:30,31

Jesus lays bare the heart of our faith. Love God and love others.

Without demonstrative love, our religion is a stiff carcass. Without the active love of God and man, my faith is dead. 

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

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.