Serve

This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.Mt.20:26-28

The mother of James and John has just requested her sons have favoured positions in God's Kingdom. The other ten apostles are indignant. Jesus clarifies what the hierarchy of God's Kingdom looks like, starting with the greatest at the bottom serving the rest.

The upside-down pyramid Jesus commands of his followers is counter cultural. In the world, the great lord it over the lesser.  Not so for the Church. The Pope is called the servant of the servants of God.

Today I choose to be a servant to those I meet in what ever form that takes.

Lord Jesus you are the Servant King. Help me serve those you place before me today.

Perfect Lover

But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven.Mt.5:44,45

Jesus is teaching in his Sermon on the Mount. Here he focuses on loving our enemies.

This is the great point of difference for Christians compared to other religions. Loving neighbours is a common theme but loving enemies sets us apart. This is in the realm of "being perfect as you father in heaven is perfect". It's a big ask and impossible to do by myself.

I don't have outright enemies but there are people whom I find it hard to love, even in my family. Here's an opportunity to be perfect, with God's help.

Jesus, my spirit is willing. Help be be a great lover today.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Flex the Forgiveness Muscle

‘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

Jesus has just given the Lord's Prayer as an example of how to pray. He emphasises the prayer's plea for for forgiveness, tying it forever with the command to forgive.

This not a commonly preached truth. We all want to hear that forgiveness is just there for the asking, on tap. Not according to Jesus. Jesus tells us here that forgiveness from God the Father is not automatic, that the degree by which I am forgiven is linked to the degree by which I forgive.

I've never had a huge wrong against me to forgive. I haven't had a child murdered or suffered a great injustice. But there are "petty injustices" every day that I have a choice on how I am to respond. From the guy who cuts me off when I'm cycling to work to the unconscious but offensive blasphemies I hear in my workplace.

Today I choose to flex my "forgiveness muscle" and forgive those offenses I encounter today.

Lord Jesus, you have forgiven me so much. I am in "forgiveness debt" to you. Give me a forgiving heart so I may be set free from resentment and be forgiven my many sins.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Welcome to the Hospital

‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’Lk.5:32

Jesus has just called Matthew and in joyous response Matthew hosts a celebration. Matthew's friends at his celebration include all types that the Scribes and Pharisees regard as reprobates. Jesus regards them as sick who can be made well.

All people, myself included, qualify as Matthew's guests. We are the sick who can be made well. Matthew's party welcomed all, no one was judged unfit to enter, Scribes and Pharisees included.

I want to be a Matthew today, not judging but welcoming. "Welcome to the hospital! The doctor will attend to you soon."

Thank you Jesus that you came for me a sick sinner. Lord, with your help I can be healed and try not to sin again.
Saint Augustine, please pray for me.

Submit and Resist

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Jms.4:7

James is writing to the early Church entreating them to submit to God as an antidote to the seduction of the world.

Oh the world looks so good. It promises so much. It seduces us all and we become its slaves. But it never satisfies. The pleasure is temporary and the desire grows stronger.

Yep. That's me.

The antidote? Come near to God and he will come near to me. Wash my hands, purify my heart.

Lent approaches. How timely. Oh beautiful season of purple, to you I submit. You are my hope and my joy.

Jesus, I draw nearer to you that you may draw nearer to me. 
Saint Philip Neri, you said a joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one. Pray for my heart to be joyful this Lent.

The Supreme Law

Well, the right thing to do is to keep the supreme law of scripture: you must love your neighbour as yourself; but as soon as you make distinctions between classes of people, you are committing sin, and under condemnation for breaking the Law.Jms.2:8,9

James is writing to the Church, encouraging them to avoid favoritism. The right thing is to love all as myself, to make distinction and judge is sin.

I don't think a day goes by where I don't commit this sin. I'm automatically catagorising people in my mind and they're probably catagorising me. This is a great sin and is the opposite of love.

Wouldn't it be great that in my day I automatically loved people. This is a hard thing and I can't do it on my own. I need help to be a lover. Jesus, perfect love, can do this through me, today...

Lord Jesus, renew my mind today. I surrender that little judge within me. Replace him with a raging lover that I may love my neighbours as myself.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Use What You've Got

His disciples replied, ‘Where could anyone get bread to feed these people in a deserted place like this?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves have you?’
Mk.8:4,5

Jesus is moved by compassion for the hungry crowd who have come to him in a deserted place. The disciples think they have nothing to offer. Jesus thinks they have something and works with that. Four thousand are fed that day from seven loaves and a few fish.

This is a great "use what you've got" story. Jesus magnified the seven loaves to feed thousands.

I only have a few people who are volunteering for joining the Alpha team. The message is clear. Use what I've got. Step out in faith. Jesus will multiply.

Jesus, the Alpha Course is your course. I step out believing you will bring it to fruition. 
Little Flower, please pray for me.