Sorry Thank you Please

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.11:20,21

Jesus rebukes the towns that witnessed his authority yet still refused to give up their evil ways and turn back to God. 

Repentance is the essential part of the transformational life of a Christian. I can't have it two ways. I can't say I accept Jesus and still live an obstinately sinful life. Yes, grace and mercy are held out to me but when I'm embroiled in sin they are held out behind me. I actually have to turn around, turn away from the sin to receive them. 

It's a three step process for me to follow today. Sorry, thank you, please. 

Jesus, I am sorry for the times I have turned from you to have my own way. Thank you Lord for your life-saving grace and mercy you hold out to me from the Cross. Please help me not to sin again.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Be Not Afraid

Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
Mt.10:29-31

Jesus instructs the twelve Apostles three times within a few verses not to be afraid. Why? Because a loving and mighty father is watching over them.

The Apostles are preparing for a mission trip. Jesus knows their biggest obstacle is within their own heads... fear. This is still true for me today. Fear is what stalls me when working for God's Kingdom. What if I'm laughed at? What if they say no to my invitation. What if our plans fail? What if, what if, what if...

Jesus reminds me I am precious in God's sight and that his mighty and loving hand is always over me. I'm to feel the fear and do it anyway. 

Thank you Holy Spirit for being my Paraclete, my protector and guide. Walk beside me today so I may be a joyful witness for Jesus, without fear.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Cunning but Harmless

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.
Mt.10:16

Jesus is warning the Apostles of the persecutions they will face because of his name. They are to be cunning yet harmless.

Jesus says it plainly. They (and we) will be hated because of his name. So why did they do it anyway? Because, says Jesus, by standing firm to the end they will be saved. All except Judas were to stand firm to the end and all except John had a martyr's death. 

I think the message here is that I have been given a brain and I'm to use it but use it in love. Following Jesus is not going to be all beer and skittles but by pushing on through the rewards are more than worth it. 

Jesus, you were cunning but harmless. Help me be the same as I meet with opposition to pushing for your kingdom to come.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Peace Bearer

Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you.
Mt.10:11-13

Jesus instructs the Apostles before they leave on their mission trip. They are to travel light, trusting God will place before them people who will meet their needs. The only payment they are to give is their peace. This is a peace that finds the right place to settle, either on someone worthy or back on the apostles.

The peace the Apostles carried was unique. It was like a homing missile finding only the right person on which to settle. It was never a wasted shot. If the target wasn't worthy it turned around and returned to the bestower. 

I can be the bearer of that sort of peace today. I'm not to worry too much about cloaks and bags and sticks and money. Seek out the trustworthy, salute him and bless him with peace. I can do that....

Jesus, your peace is a peace the world cannot give. Help me be a peace bearer today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Commitment

Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
Mt.10:1

Jesus is commissioning the twelve Apostles for their first mission trip. The mixed bag of rag-tags are the unlikely shock troops that set in motion the new plan God has for saving the world.  

Jesus didn't look for perfection, he looked for commitment. Each of the twelve had just walked away from their old life to follow Jesus. They each had different ideas about what it was Jesus was leading them into but they were commonly committed. 

Jesus knew the team included hotheads, bumblers, doubters and even a betrayer. But he gave them all authority nonetheless. He saw something bigger in each of them. They thought they were about to work on others when Jesus was already working on them.

When I'm in a leadership role I'm not to look for perfection but for commitment. A team of committed people can change the world.

Jesus let me be a committed team player so I can be part of changing the world.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Peace and Purpose

Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced. Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.

Ps.84:10,11

God returns and restores his repentant people. His mercy meets their faithfulness, his justice restores their peace.

Recently I was inviting a man to our Alpha Course. He looked at me skeptically and asked, "What's this course trying to do?" Today's psalm answers his question. Alpha wants to let God restore peace and purpose to people's lives, peace from knowing I'm infinitely lovable and infinitely loved... purpose from knowing a loving God has a unique plan for my life.

I can be an emissary of mercy and peace today.

Jesus, your mercy has rescued me, your peace has restored me. Help me bring mercy and peace to those I meet today.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

He Wants What I Need

It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.
Mt.9:12,13

Jesus overhears criticism of his attending a feast hosted by Matthew the tax collector. He responds by clarifying what drives his mission... mercy for sinners.

Mercy makes me nervous. It hints of wrong doers getting off scot free, of not receiving justice. That's exactly what Jesus is talking about... and it's at the heart of the Good News. Sinners get off scot free... or to make it clearer, I get off scot free. Jesus wants what I need. Mercy.

Outrageous? Yes. Grace? Yes. Do I need this? Absolutely, so who am I to deny it from anyone else.

Jesus, forgive me for being so quick to judge and call down fire from heaven. Have mercy on me Lord so I can be merciful to others.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.