Press Harder

Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.
Mt.15:28

A Canaanite woman has pleaded with Jesus for the healing of her daughter.  Initially Jesus appears to rebuff her but the woman persists.  Even the scraps from Jesus' table would be enough, she remonstrates. Her great faith results in Jesus granting her wish and her daughter is healed.

I have a sick daughter.  The woman of today's Gospel has something to say to my circumstance.  Press harder into Jesus.  Even when nothing happens, press harder into Jesus.  Never give up on Him.  All healing eventually comes from Him.  Have faith in Jesus even when I have my doubts.  Keep pressing into Jesus.

Lord Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.
Little Flower, please pray for us.

Go to Jesus

The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.
Mt.14:11,12

King Herod has John the Baptist beheaded as a birthday treat to his stepdaughter.  John's disciples take care of the body's remains and then go to Jesus with the terrible news about His cousin.

Matthew chapter fourteen covers what must have been the busiest and emotionally draining twenty-four hours of Jesus' life so far.  His cousin is beheaded, He is mobbed by crowds bringing Him their sick, He feeds the five thousand and rescues the disciples out on the lake by walking on water.

The day starts with Jesus hearing the news of John's beheading  from John's distraught disciples.  The first thing they do after burying John's body is go to Jesus.

This reminds me of a tragedy that happened in our parish some years ago,  A teenage boy from one of our catholic families had committed suicide.  On learning the news we gathered at the family's home and wept with them.  Then, out of the grief a man said "lets pray".  A peace settled on us and helped us cope with next few days.

Jesus is never too busy for me.  Just as He was moved with compassion for the crowds who followed Him while He was trying to be alone after learning of John's death, He has compassion for me.  He has time for me.  He has love for me...

Thank you Jesus for always being there for me.  You are my anchor in the storm.
Little Flower please pray for me.

Hidden Treasure

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
Mt.13:44

Jesus is at the height of His teaching ministry to the crowds.  He talks in parables, words the listening people will understand. He talks of sowers of seed, wheat among the weeds, yeast in dough, and now hidden treasure that is sacrificed for.  He is presenting to all who will hear, then and now, a picture of the Kingdom of God.

This hidden treasure, this pearl of great price.  Am I sacrificing all to attain it?  Sometimes yes.  Often no.  I loose sight of the value of the Kingdom of God.  The world seduces me with its kingdom.  What can I sacrifice for the Kingdom of God today?  Maybe time at Mass is a place to start...

Lord Jesus.  You paid the ultimate price for me to attain the Kingdom of God.  Help me keep the preciousness of God's Kingdom before me today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Repent

Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.
Mt.11:20

Jesus denounces the towns where He has just performed miracles.  The power of God has been displayed in their midst but the people do not respond by repenting of their evil ways.

If ever there was answer to the question why God doesn't perform miracles all the time, this is it.  Miracles don't guarantee faith.  After the feeding of the five thousand, people clamored after Jesus, not to repent and turn to God but fore more bread.  The same would be true today.  Human nature has not changed.  A side-show Jesus would get the TV coverage but would not convert hearts.

There's is something in me that wants a side-show Jesus.  I'm a bit like James and John, the Sons of Thunder.  I want Jesus to pour down fire and brimstone on the brothels in my town, to smash into powder every liquor shop and bar poisoning our youth with cheap booze, to miraculously heal every child in the hospital's cancer ward.  But this would not convert my city, my nation.  And conversion of hearts is the more important thing.  All the evils of this world, even illness I believe, would disappear when the people convert in their hearts and turn back to God.  This is an inside-out thing and it can start with me, today...

Lord Jesus, forgive me for expecting You to perform for me.  Help me repent and change my heart back to You.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Give up My Rights

But Joseph answered them, ‘Do not be afraid; is it for me to put myself in God’s place? The evil you planned to do me has by God’s design been turned to good".
Gen.50:19,20

Jacob has died and his sons realise they are no longer under his protection.  The evil of their plot against Joseph decades earlier floods back to condemn them and they are afraid. But Joseph assures them of his forgiveness and protection so God's covenant with Abraham could be fulfilled.

Joseph had every right under law, and certainly the power, to annihilate his brothers. If Joseph had reacted in the flesh, God's plan of salvation through the descendants of Abraham would have come to an end.  No Jewish nation, no Jesus. The evil the brothers started would have been fulfilled.  But in his brother's jealousy and treachery he managed to see God's hand.  Forgiveness didn't come easily, many tears had to be shed, but Joseph finally gave up his rights allowing the "evil to be turned into good".

I get absorbed in the evil, whether it's sickness or injustice or greed or selfishness.  Joseph's story reminds me that God never abandons me, even in the tough times.  The evil can be turned into good.

Jesus, You are with me always.  Every hair on my head has been counted by You.  Help me to give up on my rights as You gave on Yours when you climbed onto the cross.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Loved as a Bride

Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Mt.9:15

John's disciples have questioned Jesus about the lack of fasting by His disciples.  In His reply Jesus refers to a new way of doing things and a new relationship between God and Church, one of bridegroom and bride.

Jesus refers to Himself as bridegroom in all four Gospels.  The book of Revelation four times shows Christ as the bridegroom and the Church His bride. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." Rev.19:7.  The more I think about Jesus the bridegroom and the Church His bride, the greater is my appreciation of God's love for His church and consequently, God's love for me.

Jesus, thank you for loving me, what can I say?
You are my everything, I will sing your praise.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

See Rightly

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles.

Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.
Mt. 16:17,18

Jesus has asked His disciples who do they say He is.  After the burbling replies of the other disciples, Peter proclaims the right answer;  ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ .  As though waiting for this expected answer, Jesus grabs it and uses it to instate Peter as the head of the fledgling Church.

I love this side of Jesus' personality.  He only sees the best in people.  He looked past the ignorant, impetuous, betraying, course fisherman in front of Him and saw Peter the Rock.  Eventually Peter grew into that vision of himself.  This is a great lesson for how I need to look at people... for how I need to look at myself.

Jesus, thank you for seeing gold in miry clay, for turning sinners into saints.  Help me to see others, to see myself, through your eyes.
Little Flower, please pray for me.