The Foolishness of God

SCRIPTURE

‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’     Mt.6:15

OBSERVATION

Jesus has just given advice to His disciples on how to pray by giving them (and us) the most powerful prayer known to the Church, the Lord’s Prayer.  This is recognised by the Church and used in every Mass celebrated around the world.  It is a prayer constantly being said and offered up to our Father in Heaven.  But Jesus didn’t stop there.  He underscored the most important verse, the verse on forgiveness.

APPLICATION

Jesus is telling me I am forgiven as much (or as least) as I am prepared to forgive others.  There are two messages for me here.  One, I am a sinful man in need of forgiveness.  Two, I am a resentful man who struggles to forgive.

Forgiveness is totally illogical.  The little lawyer within me says “fight for your rights; you deserve it; you are a fool to not demand recompense”.  The foolishness of God says to me “Give up your rights; be the first to forgive; let it go”.   Forgiveness is always a choice.  Today, I choose the foolishness of God.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, forgive me, for I am a sinful man.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Subtleties of Darkness

SCRIPTURE
But Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.’...  Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’...  (The devil said) " for scripture says:" He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you".
Luke 4:1-13


OBSERVATION
Today's Gospel records the titanic battle between Jesus and the devil while Jesus is in the desert for 40 days following His baptism (interestingly, baptised with water and with the Holy Spirit).  The first two temptations Jesus refutes using scripture against the devil.  The devil catches on and tries to use scripture to under-pin his third temptation.  Even when the devil uses sacred scripture to disguise himself, Jesus still recognises and defeats him. Praise God!


APPLICATION
"The subtleties of darkness never cease to amaze, as the physical world creates a spiritual haze" (Jesus Freak, DC Talk).  I am no stranger to temptation.  But what I am vulnerable to are the "subtleties of darkness".  The devil will use anything to attack me, even something as beautiful and scared as the Word of God.  He was quite right when he said to Jesus the world has been given to him to use as he chooses.  The world is God's creation and is beautiful, but I must always remember the devil can use any of it to seduce me.


The antidote to the attacks from the devil against me is in today's psalm, Psalm 91:
 ¹⁴ "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he knows me as Lord."
This was the defense of Jesus.  He knew His Father.  He had just heard the words spoken over Him: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased".  Today I choose to press further up , further in, to know and be known by God my protector.


PRAYER
Jesus, be my protector here in earth and defender in Heaven.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Pure Motivation

SCRIPTURE
But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’ Mt. 9:15

OBSERVATION
Jesus is countering the Pharisees’ accusation that His disciples don’t fast as they do. As in today’s first reading from Isaiah, Jesus puts the spotlight on the motivation for fasting. The act of fasting by itself is not the point. It’s the conversion of the heart that is the sanctifying act.

APPLICATION
I don’t find fasting easy. The headaches from my coffee withdrawal and light-headedness from missing breakfast don’t make me want to rush in and embrace this Lenten observance. Yet, the Church places fasting firmly among the three Lenten traditional practices: Prayer, alms-giving and fasting. Now, the prayer I don’t mind…

So, what’s the antidote to my avoidance? Look at the heart benefit. As promised in Isaiah, when pure motivation gives pure fasting: “Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.” What a promise!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me have a pure motivation to fast this Lent, that my light may shine and my wound be healed.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Voice in the Wilderness

Thursday 11th 2008

SCRIPTURE
Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; and he, if you will believe me, is the Elijah who was to return.
Matthew 11:15

OBSERVATION
John, languishing in prison, has heard of Jesus' miracles and has sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one?" In response, Jesus exults John saying he is the greatest ever born of a woman. Jesus points to John who in turn points back to Jesus.

APPLICATION
If Jesus commends John so highly I should note John's message, which is... Turn from sin, turn to God and prepare the way for His return. Isn't this the Advent message? Isn't this a calling for me, today...

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, help me embrace the spirit of Advent today by turning from all sin, turning to God and preparing the way for His return.

Shepherding

Saturday 6th December 2008

SCRIPTURE
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows... "proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge."
Matthew 10:7

OBSERVATION
After observing the great need of the people who were "harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd", Jesus commissions the disciples for their first missionary outreach. Their instructions? ...proclaim, cure, raise, cleanse, cast out and give.

APPLICATION
In two thousand years little has changed. The people are still harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. If the need is the same then the antidote must still be the same. My instructions? ...proclaim, cure, raise, cleanse, cast out and give.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, fill me with your compassion for the lost sheep, that I may be a worthy laborer in your harvest.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Do you believe?

Friday 5th December 2008

SCRIPTURE
Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned.
Matthew 9:29,30

OBSERVATION
Jesus is healing the two blind men after asking them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They answer yes and a great miracle is the result.

APPLICATION
The Gospels are full of instances where not only has faith resulted in miracles but also where miracles have NOT resulted in faith. The Pharisees actually saw Lazarus rise from his tomb and then promptly plotted Jesus' death. In His own home town Matthew reports "he (Jesus) did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith".
There is a law at work here: faith, no matter how small, empowers Jesus. In what areas of my life today do I lack the faith for miracles to occur? In truth, there are a few...

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, yes I do believe, help me in my unbelief.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

A Doer of the Word

Friday 4th December 2008

SCRIPTURE
‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven'.
Matthew 7:21

OBSERVATION
Jesus then goes on to give the great teaching about the house built on the rock is the house of the wise man who listens to Him and then acts. There is clearly an expectation from Jesus that action automatically follows the hearing of His words. In fact a prerequisite to entering heaven is that I have listened and then acted. This truth is that important...

APPLICATION
Today there is a choice before me, to listen and act, or not... You would think it is hardly a choice, but it is a struggle for me. Why? I guess because what Jesus is saying goes counter to the natural impulses of my flesh:

Love your enemy.
Think of others first.
Give your coat as well as your shirt.
Go the extra mile for free.
Give without expecting a return...

Not easy sayings, at yet, there they are and I am expected to act by them. But there is an immediate benefit for me as well as an eternal one. It is simply a more fulfilling way to live.
Today I choose to listen, then act.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, please help me to be a doer of the Word, today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.