He rained down manna for their food, and gave them bread from heaven. Mere men ate the bread of angels.
Ps.78:24,25
Psalm 78 is in response to the first reading from Exodus 16 where the the complaining Israelites are given manna and quail to eat in the desert. The psalm recounts the wonders of God as He watched over His chosen people and led them to the land He promised. Eventually the people started complaining even about this "bread of angels".
The term "Bread of Angels" immediately has me thinking of Holy Eucharist. I am convicted this morning about the casual attitude I often have towards this superlative gift from Jesus in the form of bread... His very body. Today I, a mere man, need to go to Mass and eat the Bread of Angels.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the most precious gift You give me in Holy Eucharist. Indeed I am offered the Bread of Angels. It is the source and summit of my life. It is You...
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A Brother
Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’
Mt.12:48-50
Jesus is speaking to the crowds when his mother and family members arrive to speak to Him. Tradition tells that they wanted to do more than speak to Him, they wanted to take Him away for fear of what His growing number of enemies were planning to do to Him. Jesus' response is remarkable. He seems to rebuke His family in preference to the group of followers He had with Him.
When I think of what that rag-tag gang of disciples was made of, Jesus' words take on a new meaning. None of Jesus' disciples at that stage would have qualified for sainthood. The best of them would have been the loud mouthed, blundering Peter. The worst was the money-hungry and treacherous Judas. Yet it was to these that Jesus stretched out His hand and said, "These are my family".
I see myself very easily fitting into that motley group. I am indeed a stumbling follower, yet Jesus says that's enough to qualify. My stumbling efforts to do the will of His Father makes me family. There's something very grounding about that realisation. I belong to Jesus in an intimate and familial relationship, despite my brokenness. This relationship defines who I am... a brother of Jesus. O what peace and joy comes with that.
Lord Jesus, my brother, again I rush into Your arms and say thank you. Thank you for defining who I am... a brother of the Son of God.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Mt.12:48-50
Jesus is speaking to the crowds when his mother and family members arrive to speak to Him. Tradition tells that they wanted to do more than speak to Him, they wanted to take Him away for fear of what His growing number of enemies were planning to do to Him. Jesus' response is remarkable. He seems to rebuke His family in preference to the group of followers He had with Him.
When I think of what that rag-tag gang of disciples was made of, Jesus' words take on a new meaning. None of Jesus' disciples at that stage would have qualified for sainthood. The best of them would have been the loud mouthed, blundering Peter. The worst was the money-hungry and treacherous Judas. Yet it was to these that Jesus stretched out His hand and said, "These are my family".
I see myself very easily fitting into that motley group. I am indeed a stumbling follower, yet Jesus says that's enough to qualify. My stumbling efforts to do the will of His Father makes me family. There's something very grounding about that realisation. I belong to Jesus in an intimate and familial relationship, despite my brokenness. This relationship defines who I am... a brother of Jesus. O what peace and joy comes with that.
Lord Jesus, my brother, again I rush into Your arms and say thank you. Thank you for defining who I am... a brother of the Son of God.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Keep Still
Moses answered the people, ‘Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today: the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will do the fighting for you: you have only to keep still.’
Ex.14:13,14
The Israelites have just escaped from Egypt and Pharaoh has given chase with his army. The Israelites are seemly trapped between the advancing Egyptians and the sea and so are giving up in despair. Moses alone trusts in God’s promise of deliverance and without yet knowing what that mighty plan is he encourages the people, “Have no fear… you have only to keep still!”.
When all seemed lost, when the reality of the situation seemed hopeless, all that was left was trust in God. When the only way out seemed to be to fight their way out and they had no fight left in them, the answer was to keep still and let God do the fighting.
Keeping still… there is a challenge. I find it hard to keep still, especially in my mind. I am constantly thinking and many of those thoughts tend to be anxious ones. Worries about my family, my job, my health, my finances… all these at times seem like an advancing army coming to enslave me. The answer? Trust God and keep still…
Lord Jesus, You are my defender, You are my peace, I place my trust in You. Holy Spirit of God, help me to keep still today…
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Ex.14:13,14
The Israelites have just escaped from Egypt and Pharaoh has given chase with his army. The Israelites are seemly trapped between the advancing Egyptians and the sea and so are giving up in despair. Moses alone trusts in God’s promise of deliverance and without yet knowing what that mighty plan is he encourages the people, “Have no fear… you have only to keep still!”.
When all seemed lost, when the reality of the situation seemed hopeless, all that was left was trust in God. When the only way out seemed to be to fight their way out and they had no fight left in them, the answer was to keep still and let God do the fighting.
Keeping still… there is a challenge. I find it hard to keep still, especially in my mind. I am constantly thinking and many of those thoughts tend to be anxious ones. Worries about my family, my job, my health, my finances… all these at times seem like an advancing army coming to enslave me. The answer? Trust God and keep still…
Lord Jesus, You are my defender, You are my peace, I place my trust in You. Holy Spirit of God, help me to keep still today…
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
God Defend New Zealand
He will not break the crushed reed, nor put out the smouldering wick till he has led the truth to victory: in his name the nations will put their hope.
Mt.12:21
Matthew's Gospel has just described how Jesus withdrew from the plotting Pharisees. He continued to heal but had the people not tell of their miraculous recoveries. His time had not yet come to be openly glorified. Matthew then quotes the prophet Isaiah that describes the meekness of the Messiah; meek and yet so victorious that it is in Him the nations put their hope.
I am reminded of our beautiful national anthem, God Defend New Zealand. Before a nation can place its hope in God its people must place their hope in God. It's a person by person thing. My role is to place my hope in God and encourage those around me to do likewise, starting today...
God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Saint Peter Chanel and Saint Mary of the Cross, pray for us.
Mt.12:21
Matthew's Gospel has just described how Jesus withdrew from the plotting Pharisees. He continued to heal but had the people not tell of their miraculous recoveries. His time had not yet come to be openly glorified. Matthew then quotes the prophet Isaiah that describes the meekness of the Messiah; meek and yet so victorious that it is in Him the nations put their hope.
I am reminded of our beautiful national anthem, God Defend New Zealand. Before a nation can place its hope in God its people must place their hope in God. It's a person by person thing. My role is to place my hope in God and encourage those around me to do likewise, starting today...
God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Saint Peter Chanel and Saint Mary of the Cross, pray for us.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Mercy Not Sacrifice
'And if you had understood the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’
Mt.12:8
The Pharisees have accused Jesus' disciples of breaking the Sabbath by eating ears of corn in the field. The experts in the Law again missed Mercy when they met Him.
I would have made an excellent Pharisee. I feel in control with laws. They are very well defined and appeal to my judgemental nature. They also make me feel good when I measure them against others and see that others fail to meet their standards. The problem is, deep within me I know that I fail as well. Mercy is my only hope. I need to understand the words "What I want is mercy, not sacrifice".
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner. Give me a merciful heart to those I met today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Mt.12:8
The Pharisees have accused Jesus' disciples of breaking the Sabbath by eating ears of corn in the field. The experts in the Law again missed Mercy when they met Him.
I would have made an excellent Pharisee. I feel in control with laws. They are very well defined and appeal to my judgemental nature. They also make me feel good when I measure them against others and see that others fail to meet their standards. The problem is, deep within me I know that I fail as well. Mercy is my only hope. I need to understand the words "What I want is mercy, not sacrifice".
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner. Give me a merciful heart to those I met today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
God is With Me
Moses said to God, ‘Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’ ‘I shall be with you,’ was the answer. ‘and this is the sign by which you shall know that it is I who have sent you... After you have led the people out of Egypt, you are to offer worship to God on this mountain.’
Ex.3.11,12
Moses is being given his assignment from God who speaks to him from the burning bush. It's the major turning point in his Moses' life where he changes from a shepherd in the wilderness to a leader of a nation. He is as stunned by the revelation as anyone and questions God. "Who am I...?" God answers, "You are right, you are nobody, but I shall be with you...".
It was the God factor in Moses' life that made all the difference. The nobody shepherd was transformed into the great leader God intended. This begs the question, "Who am I?" The answer from God is the same, "By yourself, nobody. But with me anything is possible".
Lord Jesus, I know you have great plans for me, but my fears and insecurities limit those plans. Help me truly know that You are the God who is always with me.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Ex.3.11,12
Moses is being given his assignment from God who speaks to him from the burning bush. It's the major turning point in his Moses' life where he changes from a shepherd in the wilderness to a leader of a nation. He is as stunned by the revelation as anyone and questions God. "Who am I...?" God answers, "You are right, you are nobody, but I shall be with you...".
It was the God factor in Moses' life that made all the difference. The nobody shepherd was transformed into the great leader God intended. This begs the question, "Who am I?" The answer from God is the same, "By yourself, nobody. But with me anything is possible".
Lord Jesus, I know you have great plans for me, but my fears and insecurities limit those plans. Help me truly know that You are the God who is always with me.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Repent
Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent. ‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida!
Mt.11:20
Jesus is rebuking the towns where His miracles, His display of authority, made no difference to to the sinful behavior of the people. He prophesy's a resulting dire consequence for those communities that haven't repented after hearing His message.
There is a law of the harvest that says we reap what we sow. I am reminded of a wise old friend of mine who says "it's not good people who get to heaven, it's forgiven people". In today's Gospel Jesus underscores the truth that repentance is the key to heaven. Unrepentance and its associated pride is the key to hell. My choice...
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner from birth.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Mt.11:20
Jesus is rebuking the towns where His miracles, His display of authority, made no difference to to the sinful behavior of the people. He prophesy's a resulting dire consequence for those communities that haven't repented after hearing His message.
There is a law of the harvest that says we reap what we sow. I am reminded of a wise old friend of mine who says "it's not good people who get to heaven, it's forgiven people". In today's Gospel Jesus underscores the truth that repentance is the key to heaven. Unrepentance and its associated pride is the key to hell. My choice...
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner from birth.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
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