Jesus gives this new way of extending the relationships within the Trinity to the “Trinification” of the world. The power of the intensity of love within the Trinity is to now be trans-national; all nations are to be touched.
The disciples are the beginning actors in baptizing the world from its false perceptions and identities. They are to extend the creative Spirit of love in reidentifying all of creation, including us, as belonging to that kingdom...
Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40
Psalm 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22
Romans 8:14-17
Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
Meditation by Larry Gillick, S.J.
PREPRAYING
We can prepare for this sacred celebration of the Holy Trinity by being prepared to be told who we are and what we are to do. We do not like being told exactly what to do usually, but we need our “usually” to be interrupted. Every good relationship needs good imagination to grow deeper. We need some of that to hold on to such a mystery as Three “Persons” in One mysterious God.
One good way to prepare is to allow various mysteries into our lives these days. There are so many: child-birth, the mystery abiding in spouses or family members. We might find ourselves stumbling over the reality of being loved, or suffering illness. We are so made as to want, demand, strongly, “Why!” We can always pray with the various experiences we have of the mystery of our simple selves. Try it! See if you can come up with easy answers.
REFLECTION
In the fourth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, from which the verses are taken for our First Reading of this liturgy, Moses gives two long speeches. Our reading is taken from the first. There is much of an historical presentation in both speeches before the laying down of the law. Fruitful land and fruitful families are the promised results of Israel’s keeping the laws which will be the heart of Israel’s response to God.
The living God has been active in their collective past and in a way, Moses is telling the people, “And don’t forget that either!”
This mysterious God relies on Israel’s scale of values to display divine care. Coming out of Egypt, from slavery, they had no land of their own and no future for their survival. Land and family productivity was the number one value, and so we hear Moses telling his people that the God Who saved them from has also saved them for a future of displays or revelations. Their pasts are leading to their futures and their futures will allow them to know their God more intimately. There is a “trinity of time” then, the unknown God has come a bit out of hiding and becomes the God of Israel’s present. The God of the future reveals the ways that the people will stay of God. The old saying holds true for his listeners, “Keep the rules and the rules will keep you.”
Today’s Gospel presents Jesus in the last verses of Matthew’s account of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord. Like Moses, Jesus gave His first instruction on a mountain of Beatitudes and here at the end Jesus is giving an instruction about their futures. Jesus announces that all power has been entrusted to Him and He is sharing that with His disciples. They are to use this power to make new disciples and including them into the circle of power through baptism. Jesus commits Himself to His being with them all and for ever. They are to announce that all they do will be in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
This power is not for domination, control, manipulation nor confinement. It is the power which Jesus used throughout His public life. It was and is the power and authority of relationship and responsibility. The commandments of Moses were to keep the Israelites separated and uncontaminated by associations with other traditions, cults and nations. Jesus gives this new way of extending the relationships within the Trinity to the “Trinification” of the world. The power of the intensity of love within the Trinity is to now be trans-national; all nations are to be touched.
The disciples are given the power to relate with the responsibility of caring. Jesus has not laid down the laws in an “or else” spirit. Jesus has announced in His days, that all of creation is of the love of God. So again there is a “Trinity of Time” in which creation has a past, has been clarified as to its identity by the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus and it has a destiny to become the kingdom of powerful relations. The disciples are the beginning actors in baptizing the world from its false perceptions and identities. They are to extend the creative Spirit of love in reidentifying all of creation, including us, as belonging to that kingdom. We, as with the Israelites, are to be saved from and saved for the power of love.. The power of Jesus is the interior of the Trinity and all of creation is enfolded into such a love.
After all that, I have tried not to cop-out by admitting the truth more simply that the Trinity is a mystery and let’s leave it so. Love is the power and we are given the responsibility of receiving it and being caring for the coming of the kingdom within our own little lives. It is a blessing of this holy Trinity that we appear to be more than we appear to be to ourselves. This is the power of the Resurrection.
“Blessed be God the Father and His only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit: for He has shown that He loves us.”
Supplementay Reading
No Good Comes from Haughtiness
"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." – Proverbs 18:12
Webster's dictionary defines haughty as "disdainfully proud; arrogant."
I've never thought of myself as a "haughty" person, but one morning I caught myself using a condescending tone of voice as I hurried my husband and children out of the house to school and appointments. I've noticed a great deal of haughtiness as I've listened to teachers teach pupils, managers manage their employees, husbands talk to their wives, wives talk to their husbands, parents parent children, and older children order younger children around. The "know-it-all" and "I'm-right, you're-wrong" attitude is a no-no for a positive, loving atmosphere because it immediately causes a rebellious reaction that leads to quarrels, fighting, and a "you-can't-tell-me-what-to-do" attitude.
Included in this attitude of haughtiness is the sad put-down humor that is so much a part of culture today.
Humor in the home relaxes and stimulates good feelings for any kind of crisis. Early in our marriage we discovered the need for humor; therefore we encouraged our children to share their funny stories at dinnertime.. When Sheila, our eldest, was four, she told the same joke every night for months and each time she would laugh at her own story. We laughed more at her reaction than at the tale itself.
However, put-down humor—making fun of someone's big ears, strange clothing, or odd walk—is simply cruel. Sometimes we can laugh about each other's eccentricities, but usually they are sensitive areas that need love and compassion.
Want to build a strong, loving family? Eliminate haughtiness from your home.
* * *
Have you been guilty of a haughty attitude? Take the steps necessary to eliminate this attitude from your life.
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Thursday, June 04, 2009
June 6, 2009- Saturday Meditation (Give..Give Until It Hurts)
I think it’s at least as important to note what our reactions are concerning almsgiving as it is to give. Does the fear of emptiness compel you to hang on to stuff, to not share it out? That makes our relationship with Christ so much more complicated, since it’s so hard to admit all that. At the same time, it makes our relationship with Christ so much simpler. We are sinners. Christ loves and accepts us. Is that enough?
Saturday of the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20
Tobit 13:2, 6efgh, 7, 8
Mark 12:38-44 And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places 39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." 41 And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."
Meditation by Roc O'Connor, S.J.
Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord, said:
Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life; but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies…
What is the problem with the scribes anyway? They “like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.”
The best way I know to understand this is to inquire within my own experience.. What do I like about long robes and accepting seats of honor? What do I do about devouring the houses of widows and covering all that with lengthy prayers?
Simple. When people give honor to my role, I take it personally. When folks invite me to sit at the head table or go first in the line at dinners, I take it as saying something about ME. I can’t say that I actually devour houses of widows, but do I cover, or try to cover, ulterior motives with long prayers or “holy” speeches. You bet.
I’ve been rector of the Jesuit community here for 18 months and 28 days (at this writing). But who’s counting, right? I think it’s pretty cool that my new title is “Very Reverend Father.” I need to use that more.
What does this have to do with Raphael’s great insights? For one, I’m generous in such a way that it’s occasion-specific. I have a hard time giving alms or what alms represent. There’s a part of me that says, “Watch it! Don’t give too much! You’ll deplete your reserves, and then what? You’ll be wretched and poor.” I don’t always trust the fullness of giving that Jesus commends in the gospel. (He may actually condemn the organization that leads widows to impoverish themselves. That’s another story.)
I think it’s at least as important to note what our reactions are concerning almsgiving as it is to give. Does the fear of emptiness compel you to hang on to stuff, to not share it out? That makes our relationship with Christ so much more complicated, since it’s so hard to admit all that. At the same time, it makes our relationship with Christ so much simpler. We are sinners. Christ loves and accepts us. Is that enough?
Supplementary Reading
Take One Step
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." – Hebrews 11:8
Abraham had it "made in the shade" when God asked him to leave it all behind. God gave Abraham an impossible dream. "You will be the father of a great nation," he said. And God promised Abraham this nation, Israel, would be blessed and would be a blessing to other nations.
It's easy to follow God when he asks us to do something we're familiar with. But when he calls us to step into uncharted territory where we feel inadequate or unprepared, that takes extreme faith. Abraham bravely stepped out in faith, and in that act of obedience became the model of extreme faith.
What is God calling you to do? All he asks is that you take one step for now. Don't let the comfort and security of your present position keep you from experiencing all God has for you. Step out in faith today!
* * *
Has God been talking to you recently about moving into uncharted territory where you feel inadequate or unprepared? Where is he calling you to go? What is he asking you to do? What is one thing you will do today to move, by faith, in that new direction?
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Saturday of the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time
Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20
Tobit 13:2, 6efgh, 7, 8
Mark 12:38-44 And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places 39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." 41 And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."
Meditation by Roc O'Connor, S.J.
Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord, said:
Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life; but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies…
What is the problem with the scribes anyway? They “like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.”
The best way I know to understand this is to inquire within my own experience.. What do I like about long robes and accepting seats of honor? What do I do about devouring the houses of widows and covering all that with lengthy prayers?
Simple. When people give honor to my role, I take it personally. When folks invite me to sit at the head table or go first in the line at dinners, I take it as saying something about ME. I can’t say that I actually devour houses of widows, but do I cover, or try to cover, ulterior motives with long prayers or “holy” speeches. You bet.
I’ve been rector of the Jesuit community here for 18 months and 28 days (at this writing). But who’s counting, right? I think it’s pretty cool that my new title is “Very Reverend Father.” I need to use that more.
What does this have to do with Raphael’s great insights? For one, I’m generous in such a way that it’s occasion-specific. I have a hard time giving alms or what alms represent. There’s a part of me that says, “Watch it! Don’t give too much! You’ll deplete your reserves, and then what? You’ll be wretched and poor.” I don’t always trust the fullness of giving that Jesus commends in the gospel. (He may actually condemn the organization that leads widows to impoverish themselves. That’s another story.)
I think it’s at least as important to note what our reactions are concerning almsgiving as it is to give. Does the fear of emptiness compel you to hang on to stuff, to not share it out? That makes our relationship with Christ so much more complicated, since it’s so hard to admit all that. At the same time, it makes our relationship with Christ so much simpler. We are sinners. Christ loves and accepts us. Is that enough?
Supplementary Reading
Take One Step
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." – Hebrews 11:8
Abraham had it "made in the shade" when God asked him to leave it all behind. God gave Abraham an impossible dream. "You will be the father of a great nation," he said. And God promised Abraham this nation, Israel, would be blessed and would be a blessing to other nations.
It's easy to follow God when he asks us to do something we're familiar with. But when he calls us to step into uncharted territory where we feel inadequate or unprepared, that takes extreme faith. Abraham bravely stepped out in faith, and in that act of obedience became the model of extreme faith.
What is God calling you to do? All he asks is that you take one step for now. Don't let the comfort and security of your present position keep you from experiencing all God has for you. Step out in faith today!
* * *
Has God been talking to you recently about moving into uncharted territory where you feel inadequate or unprepared? Where is he calling you to go? What is he asking you to do? What is one thing you will do today to move, by faith, in that new direction?
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
June 5, 2009- Friday Meditation (How Do You Do it Without Him?)
One of my relatives is awaiting surgery for a colon mass – she is in her 30s with a young child. I have prayed for her since I first heard of this but a great concern is how to support her when there is no evidence of a sustained relationship with God. I do not say this to judge – they have made their decisions about how they spend their lives. It’s just so foreign to me. It makes me ask the question not just for them but anyone facing tragedy – how do you do it without God?
Memorial Saint Boniface
Tobit 11:5-17
Psalm 146:1b-2, 6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10
Mark12:35-37 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.' 37 David himself calls him Lord; so how is he his son?" And the great throng heard him gladly.
Meditation by Nancy Shirley
We have been following the story of Tobit for some days now. As one of my colleagues noted earlier this week, it is a love story. This is true but it is also a story of trust, faith, and mercy. The return of Tobiah to a grief-stricken mother tugged at my heartstrings. Tobiah’s total devotion to his family is noteworthy. He was so focused in returning home to assuage his parent’s fears and concerns and to “cure” his father’s blindness – his strong commitment to family and belief that God will be able to make anything happen. I was particularly struck by this story and once again the need for trust and faith. I have seen so many events around me lately that mandate our trust and faith – so this story seems delivered to me once again, when I am in most need of it. One of my relatives is awaiting surgery for a colon mass – she is in her 30s with a young child. I have prayed for her since I first heard of this but a great concern is how to support her when there is no evidence of a sustained relationship with God. I do not say this to judge – they have made their decisions about how they spend their lives. It’s just so foreign to me. I cannot imagine getting up in the morning and facing just a “regular” day without the very real presence of God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit with me. It makes me ask the question not just for them but anyone facing tragedy – how do you do it without God?
In our Old Testament story, the prayers for both Tobit and Sarah result in the arrival of the angel Raphael. How many times have our prayers resulted in angels in our lives? Not with wings and such but angels nonetheless. You know, that person at just the right time, saying the right thing, a squeeze of the hand, a hug. Even a song or story -- this beautiful story brings comfort and verification of God’s love and mercy. I pray that an angel arrives in their lives and lights the way to God for them . . .
Although we have left Easter season, the glow is still there – maybe it is the pleasant weather and continued blooming of flowers everywhere. The praise of the psalm is so appropriate. I have been listening to a new Christian radio station. It seems lately every time I am in the car, two specific songs play. I am convinced that these are our modern psalms of praise and that I need to be hearing the particular message. The chorus of one is so perfect:
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be
You hear the chorus at least six times in the song and I feel totally reassured by the time the song is done!
One last thought – today is the feast of St. Boniface. An early bishop in the church, he was determined to serve Christ in spite of the risks to his very being. The following are excerpts of one of his letters:
I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal;
For he turned his ear to me in the day when I called him. . . .
How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts; I was helpless so he saved me. . . .
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
May we all continue to walk in the presence of the Lord.
Supplementary Reading
Whose Voice do you Listen to?
"Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
We've all known persons who are talented, skilled, and full of potential. And yet, when you try to inspire or encourage them you can feel their resistance. They don't listen to you. They don't believe you. There's another voice they're listening to—a voice inside them that's saying, "He's putting you on. You can't trust him.." It's a voice that tells them, "Don't try. Don't take that risk—you'll just get hurt." It's a voice that says, "Who do you think you are? You don't have the looks, the money, the intellect, the connections, or the talent."
One human being. Two distinctly different voices. They're whispering to you. At times, they're shouting! So, which voice are you going to listen to? Here's my advice: Believe in the people who believe in you!
* * *
Be alert today to those voices around you, or inside you, that keep you from taking the risk necessary to try something new. Choose to believe in yourself and listen to the people who believe in you!
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Memorial Saint Boniface
Tobit 11:5-17
Psalm 146:1b-2, 6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10
Mark12:35-37 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.' 37 David himself calls him Lord; so how is he his son?" And the great throng heard him gladly.
Meditation by Nancy Shirley
We have been following the story of Tobit for some days now. As one of my colleagues noted earlier this week, it is a love story. This is true but it is also a story of trust, faith, and mercy. The return of Tobiah to a grief-stricken mother tugged at my heartstrings. Tobiah’s total devotion to his family is noteworthy. He was so focused in returning home to assuage his parent’s fears and concerns and to “cure” his father’s blindness – his strong commitment to family and belief that God will be able to make anything happen. I was particularly struck by this story and once again the need for trust and faith. I have seen so many events around me lately that mandate our trust and faith – so this story seems delivered to me once again, when I am in most need of it. One of my relatives is awaiting surgery for a colon mass – she is in her 30s with a young child. I have prayed for her since I first heard of this but a great concern is how to support her when there is no evidence of a sustained relationship with God. I do not say this to judge – they have made their decisions about how they spend their lives. It’s just so foreign to me. I cannot imagine getting up in the morning and facing just a “regular” day without the very real presence of God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit with me. It makes me ask the question not just for them but anyone facing tragedy – how do you do it without God?
In our Old Testament story, the prayers for both Tobit and Sarah result in the arrival of the angel Raphael. How many times have our prayers resulted in angels in our lives? Not with wings and such but angels nonetheless. You know, that person at just the right time, saying the right thing, a squeeze of the hand, a hug. Even a song or story -- this beautiful story brings comfort and verification of God’s love and mercy. I pray that an angel arrives in their lives and lights the way to God for them . . .
Although we have left Easter season, the glow is still there – maybe it is the pleasant weather and continued blooming of flowers everywhere. The praise of the psalm is so appropriate. I have been listening to a new Christian radio station. It seems lately every time I am in the car, two specific songs play. I am convinced that these are our modern psalms of praise and that I need to be hearing the particular message. The chorus of one is so perfect:
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be
You hear the chorus at least six times in the song and I feel totally reassured by the time the song is done!
One last thought – today is the feast of St. Boniface. An early bishop in the church, he was determined to serve Christ in spite of the risks to his very being. The following are excerpts of one of his letters:
I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal;
For he turned his ear to me in the day when I called him. . . .
How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts; I was helpless so he saved me. . . .
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
May we all continue to walk in the presence of the Lord.
Supplementary Reading
Whose Voice do you Listen to?
"Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
We've all known persons who are talented, skilled, and full of potential. And yet, when you try to inspire or encourage them you can feel their resistance. They don't listen to you. They don't believe you. There's another voice they're listening to—a voice inside them that's saying, "He's putting you on. You can't trust him.." It's a voice that tells them, "Don't try. Don't take that risk—you'll just get hurt." It's a voice that says, "Who do you think you are? You don't have the looks, the money, the intellect, the connections, or the talent."
One human being. Two distinctly different voices. They're whispering to you. At times, they're shouting! So, which voice are you going to listen to? Here's my advice: Believe in the people who believe in you!
* * *
Be alert today to those voices around you, or inside you, that keep you from taking the risk necessary to try something new. Choose to believe in yourself and listen to the people who believe in you!
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
June 4, 2009- Thursday Meditation (Hope Does not Disappoint Us)
Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Mark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" 29 Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question.
Meditation by Don Schwager
The more we know of God the more we love him and the more we love him the greater we believe and hope in his promises. The Lord, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, gives us a new freedom to love as he loves. Do you allow anything to keep you from the love of God and the joy of serving others with a generous heart? Paul the Apostle says: hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us (Romans 5:5)
For complete text of today's meditation, please click this link:
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Mark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" 29 Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question.
Meditation by Don Schwager
The more we know of God the more we love him and the more we love him the greater we believe and hope in his promises. The Lord, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, gives us a new freedom to love as he loves. Do you allow anything to keep you from the love of God and the joy of serving others with a generous heart? Paul the Apostle says: hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us (Romans 5:5)
For complete text of today's meditation, please click this link:
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
June 3, 2009- Wednesday Meditation (God of the Living!)
The Doctor was able to get through 18 cm of blockage to put a stent in; our first miracle was realized. We are still praying she doesn’t lose her toe, or worse her foot, now that she has blood flow to help in the battle to heal the wounds. In the end, I felt my Faith in God, to whom I’d spoken to in prayer throughout those many weeks had led us to the information about her blockage; the decision to proceed immediately was simple after that. But, not so for the others; it made for some uncomfortable moments. So far it has turned out to be the right one; in the end we all wanted the best for Mom, we just didn’t agree which “best” was best. I am grateful for my Faith, which has been kept alive through prayer and through trial..
Tobit 3:1-11a, 16-17a
Psalm 25:2-3, 4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
Mark 12:18-27 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no children; 21 and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife." 24 Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."
Meditation by Deb Fortina
Tobit 3: 1-11a, 16-17a“…At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God. So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit’s eyes, so that he might again see God’s sunlight; and to marry Raguel’s daughter Sarah to Tobit’s son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodius from her..’...”
Psalm 25: 2-3, 4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 “…Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for your are God my savior...”
Mark 12: 18-27 “…have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him; I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are greatly misled.”
Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions (1860 to 1886) was one of 22 martyred for the faith. Lwanga at 18 was placed under Mawulugungu, the chief of Kirwanyi. He learned about our Faith in 1880 while listening to missionaries. After this he instructed others including the court pages for whom he was placed in charge. Chief Mawulugungu died and Lwanga and the other pages were transferred to the house or care of King Mwanga in 1884... But this was the beginning of the end for them, for they were sorely mistreated. Their lives were at risk due to their Christian allegiance. Lwanga always protected them from the King’s homosexual advances. He also prepared them for martyrdom, as they found themselves vulnerable to attach because of their Faith. Lwanga’s story of courage is worth reading, he was burned to death slowly, starting with his feet. But, he praised God and endured all for the sake of the Name; all were great witnesses to our Faith. By their example may we have the courage to hold tight to our own Faith; despite the challenges we face today.
Faith could be one of the themes today, especially when you look at the lives of the Martyrs we recognize. Tobit from our first reading is brimming with humility and displays a strong faith, even though his resolve to stay alive and face his diminished lifestyle without eyesight is revealed. The Gospel reading from Mark, like in our first reading, refers to the number seven, the perfect number. We find Jesus teaching and answering questions, but it appears those listening are just trying to trip him up, judging by his response to their questions.
Like Tobit, our faith is called upon and becomes more visible during our trials. Living out our Faith, if anything, is discouraged by the world today. But reading about Tobit’s Faith helped me realize how I have been utilizing my own Faith to work through a family decision, regarding the care of my Mom. After weeks of daily care to sores on Mom’s foot, we found out her poor circulation was the culprit and that she needed a procedure to unblock an artery in her thigh. Even my Mom thought she might like to wait, because she had a Class Reunion to attend the weekend following the day the Doctor had scheduled the procedure. Something in me felt we would lose the opportunity to repair the problem if we didn’t act immediately. By this time, we’d been through a series of doctor’s visits, and were given differing methods to treat her sores. There were lots of prayers, including using holy water we’d brought back from Lourdes. But the sores were persistent; we really weren’t making headway anymore. We’d been warned about diabetics getting sores on their feet, and now we understood the danger.
Mom is recovering from a successful procedure; thank God. The Doctor was able to get through 18 cm of blockage to put a stent in; our first miracle was realized. We are still praying she doesn’t lose her toe, or worse her foot, now that she has blood flow to help in the battle to heal the wounds. In the end, I felt my Faith in God, to whom I’d spoken to in prayer throughout those many weeks had led us to the information about her blockage; the decision to proceed immediately was simple after that. But, not so for the others; it made for some uncomfortable moments. So far it has turned out to be the right one; in the end we all wanted the best for Mom, we just didn’t agree which “best” was best. I am grateful for my Faith, which has been kept alive through prayer and through trial....
Supplementary Reading
Challenging Daily Contradictions
"Blessed are those who persevere under trial." – James 1:12
Daily living is full of challenging contradictions. But learning to deal positively with these contradictions can unleash creative possibilities.
I'll never forget the story of the janitor who was sulking because he had a big mess to clean up. That mess ultimately proved to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Murray Spangler desperately needed his janitor job, but he hated scooping up all the tiny dust particles he encountered doing his work. One day an idea came to him: What would happen if I used suction? If he could suck up all those tiny particles, maybe this job would be much easier.
What was the outcome of confronting his daily challenge? Murray Spangler invented the Hoover vacuum cleaner. By confronting his daily contradiction with possibility thinking, he transformed his greatest annoyance into his greatest success. So can you.
* * *
Use adversity to improve yourself and climb higher.
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Tobit 3:1-11a, 16-17a
Psalm 25:2-3, 4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
Mark 12:18-27 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 19 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no children; 21 and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife." 24 Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."
Meditation by Deb Fortina
Tobit 3: 1-11a, 16-17a“…At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God. So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit’s eyes, so that he might again see God’s sunlight; and to marry Raguel’s daughter Sarah to Tobit’s son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodius from her..’...”
Psalm 25: 2-3, 4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 “…Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for your are God my savior...”
Mark 12: 18-27 “…have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him; I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are greatly misled.”
Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions (1860 to 1886) was one of 22 martyred for the faith. Lwanga at 18 was placed under Mawulugungu, the chief of Kirwanyi. He learned about our Faith in 1880 while listening to missionaries. After this he instructed others including the court pages for whom he was placed in charge. Chief Mawulugungu died and Lwanga and the other pages were transferred to the house or care of King Mwanga in 1884... But this was the beginning of the end for them, for they were sorely mistreated. Their lives were at risk due to their Christian allegiance. Lwanga always protected them from the King’s homosexual advances. He also prepared them for martyrdom, as they found themselves vulnerable to attach because of their Faith. Lwanga’s story of courage is worth reading, he was burned to death slowly, starting with his feet. But, he praised God and endured all for the sake of the Name; all were great witnesses to our Faith. By their example may we have the courage to hold tight to our own Faith; despite the challenges we face today.
Faith could be one of the themes today, especially when you look at the lives of the Martyrs we recognize. Tobit from our first reading is brimming with humility and displays a strong faith, even though his resolve to stay alive and face his diminished lifestyle without eyesight is revealed. The Gospel reading from Mark, like in our first reading, refers to the number seven, the perfect number. We find Jesus teaching and answering questions, but it appears those listening are just trying to trip him up, judging by his response to their questions.
Like Tobit, our faith is called upon and becomes more visible during our trials. Living out our Faith, if anything, is discouraged by the world today. But reading about Tobit’s Faith helped me realize how I have been utilizing my own Faith to work through a family decision, regarding the care of my Mom. After weeks of daily care to sores on Mom’s foot, we found out her poor circulation was the culprit and that she needed a procedure to unblock an artery in her thigh. Even my Mom thought she might like to wait, because she had a Class Reunion to attend the weekend following the day the Doctor had scheduled the procedure. Something in me felt we would lose the opportunity to repair the problem if we didn’t act immediately. By this time, we’d been through a series of doctor’s visits, and were given differing methods to treat her sores. There were lots of prayers, including using holy water we’d brought back from Lourdes. But the sores were persistent; we really weren’t making headway anymore. We’d been warned about diabetics getting sores on their feet, and now we understood the danger.
Mom is recovering from a successful procedure; thank God. The Doctor was able to get through 18 cm of blockage to put a stent in; our first miracle was realized. We are still praying she doesn’t lose her toe, or worse her foot, now that she has blood flow to help in the battle to heal the wounds. In the end, I felt my Faith in God, to whom I’d spoken to in prayer throughout those many weeks had led us to the information about her blockage; the decision to proceed immediately was simple after that. But, not so for the others; it made for some uncomfortable moments. So far it has turned out to be the right one; in the end we all wanted the best for Mom, we just didn’t agree which “best” was best. I am grateful for my Faith, which has been kept alive through prayer and through trial....
Supplementary Reading
Challenging Daily Contradictions
"Blessed are those who persevere under trial." – James 1:12
Daily living is full of challenging contradictions. But learning to deal positively with these contradictions can unleash creative possibilities.
I'll never forget the story of the janitor who was sulking because he had a big mess to clean up. That mess ultimately proved to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Murray Spangler desperately needed his janitor job, but he hated scooping up all the tiny dust particles he encountered doing his work. One day an idea came to him: What would happen if I used suction? If he could suck up all those tiny particles, maybe this job would be much easier.
What was the outcome of confronting his daily challenge? Murray Spangler invented the Hoover vacuum cleaner. By confronting his daily contradiction with possibility thinking, he transformed his greatest annoyance into his greatest success. So can you.
* * *
Use adversity to improve yourself and climb higher.
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Monday, June 01, 2009
June 2, 2009- Tuesday Meditation (Quiet Trust...)
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" But the God he loved and served so obediently never answered his painful question. Why? It's the question we all long to know the answer to. It's the one question God is not obligated to answer.
Faith grows through trusting God. When you can't find the answers, move ahead with quiet trust and God will turn your hurts into halos.
Tobit 2:9-14
Psalm 112:1-2, 7-8, 9
Mark 12:13-17 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'dians, to entrap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.
Meditation by George Butterfield
The Book of Tobit has been called a “Hebrew romance” but the few verses of this reading do not seem very romantic. Tobit does good works. After temporarily losing his eyesight, his wife has to get a job to make ends meet. One day she received a bonus in the form of a goat. Tobit questioned her about where she got it and insisted that she take it back. Although the text is somewhat obscure, her response to him seems to be that it was for naught that he did good works and that he is angry because God was punishing him in spite of them. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary states that the message of Tobit “is that God is indeed both just and free. Suffering is not a punishment but a test. God does, in the long run, reward the just and punish the wicked. The believer is called upon to trust God and to mirror in daily life the justice, mercy, and freedom of God.”
The psalmist could have been thinking of Tobit when he states that the man is blessed who “lavishly” gives to the poor. Good works do not disappear. Generosity endures forever. God does not forget what Jesus would later describe as that which is done to the smallest, the least. For our part, we fear the Lord, delight in his commands, and trust God. God promises to bless, grant posterity to, and exalt the just one.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were sure that people were out to get you? Jesus certainly had days like that. The gospels are filled with incidents where someone wants to kill him, trap him, trick him, or, as in the case of today’s reading, “ensnare him in his speech.” So, what type of snare do they come up with this time? First, they heap praise on him, none of which they actually believe. “You are a truthful man, you aren’t concerned about peoples’ opinions, you don’t care about a person’s status, but you teach God’s truthful way.” Where I come from, this would cause you to start looking around to see who is holding the knife.
The double-edged knife came, alright, in the form of a question that cut you no matter how you answered it. “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” If Jesus says, “No,” then he is guilty of treason. If he says, “Yes,” then he is looked upon as a collaborator with the occupation forces, one who won’t stand up for God and God’s people. How do you answer hypocrites who pretend to praise you but are really trying to get you in trouble? Jesus changed the focus of the discussion. The point they use to snare him is that deciding to pay the tax or not determines your loyalty to God. Jesus rejects this starting point. Asking for a coin, he says, “Whose image and inscription is this?” “Caesar’s,” they answer. Well, then, if his image is on it, it belongs to him, so pay it back to him. On the other hand, what has God’s image on it? Men and women: we have been made in the image of God.. Then pay that back to God, Jesus says. The image of Caesar belongs to Caesar. The image of God belongs to God. Pay the rightful owner whatever belongs to them.
The people were amazed at Jesus. I, too, am amazed. I was amazed on April 15th (“tax day” in the U.S.) when I managed to pay Caesar. Now, if I can just pay God…
Supplementary Reading
Hurts into Halos
"Blessed are those who persevere under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." – James 1:12
Abandonment is one hurt I have never experienced. But my best friend did—his name is Jesus.
He was born a Jew, brought up in a good family, and lived the faith.. His life was unstained by selfishness or sin. He experienced the hurt of rejection, grief, humiliation, injustice, and was left to slowly bleed to death on a shameful cross between two criminals. He experienced hell's torment when his Father abandoned him: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" But the God he loved and served so obediently never answered his painful question.
Why? It's the question we all long to know the answer to. It's the one question God is not obligated to answer.
Faith grows through trusting God.. When you can't find the answers, move ahead with quiet trust and God will turn your hurts into halos.
* * *
Quiet trust…not understanding the why's of life, but still accepting them. How do you need to exercise quiet trust in your life right now?
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Faith grows through trusting God. When you can't find the answers, move ahead with quiet trust and God will turn your hurts into halos.
Tobit 2:9-14
Psalm 112:1-2, 7-8, 9
Mark 12:13-17 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'dians, to entrap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.
Meditation by George Butterfield
The Book of Tobit has been called a “Hebrew romance” but the few verses of this reading do not seem very romantic. Tobit does good works. After temporarily losing his eyesight, his wife has to get a job to make ends meet. One day she received a bonus in the form of a goat. Tobit questioned her about where she got it and insisted that she take it back. Although the text is somewhat obscure, her response to him seems to be that it was for naught that he did good works and that he is angry because God was punishing him in spite of them. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary states that the message of Tobit “is that God is indeed both just and free. Suffering is not a punishment but a test. God does, in the long run, reward the just and punish the wicked. The believer is called upon to trust God and to mirror in daily life the justice, mercy, and freedom of God.”
The psalmist could have been thinking of Tobit when he states that the man is blessed who “lavishly” gives to the poor. Good works do not disappear. Generosity endures forever. God does not forget what Jesus would later describe as that which is done to the smallest, the least. For our part, we fear the Lord, delight in his commands, and trust God. God promises to bless, grant posterity to, and exalt the just one.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were sure that people were out to get you? Jesus certainly had days like that. The gospels are filled with incidents where someone wants to kill him, trap him, trick him, or, as in the case of today’s reading, “ensnare him in his speech.” So, what type of snare do they come up with this time? First, they heap praise on him, none of which they actually believe. “You are a truthful man, you aren’t concerned about peoples’ opinions, you don’t care about a person’s status, but you teach God’s truthful way.” Where I come from, this would cause you to start looking around to see who is holding the knife.
The double-edged knife came, alright, in the form of a question that cut you no matter how you answered it. “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” If Jesus says, “No,” then he is guilty of treason. If he says, “Yes,” then he is looked upon as a collaborator with the occupation forces, one who won’t stand up for God and God’s people. How do you answer hypocrites who pretend to praise you but are really trying to get you in trouble? Jesus changed the focus of the discussion. The point they use to snare him is that deciding to pay the tax or not determines your loyalty to God. Jesus rejects this starting point. Asking for a coin, he says, “Whose image and inscription is this?” “Caesar’s,” they answer. Well, then, if his image is on it, it belongs to him, so pay it back to him. On the other hand, what has God’s image on it? Men and women: we have been made in the image of God.. Then pay that back to God, Jesus says. The image of Caesar belongs to Caesar. The image of God belongs to God. Pay the rightful owner whatever belongs to them.
The people were amazed at Jesus. I, too, am amazed. I was amazed on April 15th (“tax day” in the U.S.) when I managed to pay Caesar. Now, if I can just pay God…
Supplementary Reading
Hurts into Halos
"Blessed are those who persevere under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." – James 1:12
Abandonment is one hurt I have never experienced. But my best friend did—his name is Jesus.
He was born a Jew, brought up in a good family, and lived the faith.. His life was unstained by selfishness or sin. He experienced the hurt of rejection, grief, humiliation, injustice, and was left to slowly bleed to death on a shameful cross between two criminals. He experienced hell's torment when his Father abandoned him: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" But the God he loved and served so obediently never answered his painful question.
Why? It's the question we all long to know the answer to. It's the one question God is not obligated to answer.
Faith grows through trusting God.. When you can't find the answers, move ahead with quiet trust and God will turn your hurts into halos.
* * *
Quiet trust…not understanding the why's of life, but still accepting them. How do you need to exercise quiet trust in your life right now?
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
June 1, 2009- Monday Meditation (How Much Do We Really Need?)
Often we have to choose. Do we want to really act on our greedy thoughts? Isn’t it better for ourselves and for humanity to recognize all we have been given and be grateful for God’s gifts? How much do we really, really need? How much, oh so much, have we been given?
Memorial of St. Justin
Tobit 1:3; 2:1a-8
Psalm 112:1b-2, 3b-4, 5-6
Mark 12:1-12 And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 2 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' 7 But those tenants said to one another, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; 11 this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" 12 And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.
Meditation by Joan Lanahan
CHOOSE: GREED OR GRATITUDE
It is hard not to have greedy thoughts: “oh, just another scoop of black raspberry ice cream…or a bigger slice of dessert…or more salary for less work!!! We all think these kinds of things once in a while. It ‘s from the “I don’t have enough” syndrome. It’s from a clutching attitude or some basic fear. It’s surely not a desire for goodness.
Look at all the harm the tenant farmers in Mark’s Jesus’ parable. They not only fought, hurt, but killed in their greed.
Look at the greed so alive in our world. The U.S. has Bernard Madolf and others who have scammed people of their retirement savings. Other countries, you all have your own non-heroes.
Then, when we ponder Tobit’s story, we see a just and generous man who reached out to others in need, and he was criticized. He knew God’s gifts and was grateful.
A friend in her 50’s gave up her lifetime of teaching. It was hard to find another good job. She had to let go of her home and move in with someone else. She gave up some of her favorite fun things to do when she could no longer afford them. Now she is a caregiver for elders, loves her clients and the work. She doesn’t earn much money. Nor does she get really good benefits. She is happy though because she is able to care for others. She is so grateful that God led her to this new vocation.
Often we have to choose. Do we want to really act on our greedy thoughts? Isn’t it better for ourselves and for humanity to recognize all we have been given and be grateful for God’s gifts? How much do we really, really need? How much, oh so much, have we been given? Thank you, Lord.
Supplementary Reading
Gains or Losses?
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." – Philippians 3:7
Is loss always negative? Are valleys always to be avoided? Is loss of a job always the end of something good?
The normal response to loss is grief, avoidance, even anger. But loss can be a good thing. Sometimes loss forces you to make a life-saving change. Losing a job can propel you to learn a new skill that leads you to a productive new career. Failure to get into a particular school might direct you to the school where God wants you to meet someone special. Loss of revenue can motivate you to examine your budget to learn where there have been extravagances. Spending time in the valleys can challenge you to look to the hills and keep your eyes on Christ.
When loss forces you to focus on Christ—it is ALWAYS a gain!
* * *
Is there any loss you are coming to grips with in your life right now? Give yourself time to grieve, but remain confident that God will show you better things to come as you stay focused on him.
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Memorial of St. Justin
Tobit 1:3; 2:1a-8
Psalm 112:1b-2, 3b-4, 5-6
Mark 12:1-12 And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 2 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' 7 But those tenants said to one another, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; 11 this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" 12 And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.
Meditation by Joan Lanahan
CHOOSE: GREED OR GRATITUDE
It is hard not to have greedy thoughts: “oh, just another scoop of black raspberry ice cream…or a bigger slice of dessert…or more salary for less work!!! We all think these kinds of things once in a while. It ‘s from the “I don’t have enough” syndrome. It’s from a clutching attitude or some basic fear. It’s surely not a desire for goodness.
Look at all the harm the tenant farmers in Mark’s Jesus’ parable. They not only fought, hurt, but killed in their greed.
Look at the greed so alive in our world. The U.S. has Bernard Madolf and others who have scammed people of their retirement savings. Other countries, you all have your own non-heroes.
Then, when we ponder Tobit’s story, we see a just and generous man who reached out to others in need, and he was criticized. He knew God’s gifts and was grateful.
A friend in her 50’s gave up her lifetime of teaching. It was hard to find another good job. She had to let go of her home and move in with someone else. She gave up some of her favorite fun things to do when she could no longer afford them. Now she is a caregiver for elders, loves her clients and the work. She doesn’t earn much money. Nor does she get really good benefits. She is happy though because she is able to care for others. She is so grateful that God led her to this new vocation.
Often we have to choose. Do we want to really act on our greedy thoughts? Isn’t it better for ourselves and for humanity to recognize all we have been given and be grateful for God’s gifts? How much do we really, really need? How much, oh so much, have we been given? Thank you, Lord.
Supplementary Reading
Gains or Losses?
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." – Philippians 3:7
Is loss always negative? Are valleys always to be avoided? Is loss of a job always the end of something good?
The normal response to loss is grief, avoidance, even anger. But loss can be a good thing. Sometimes loss forces you to make a life-saving change. Losing a job can propel you to learn a new skill that leads you to a productive new career. Failure to get into a particular school might direct you to the school where God wants you to meet someone special. Loss of revenue can motivate you to examine your budget to learn where there have been extravagances. Spending time in the valleys can challenge you to look to the hills and keep your eyes on Christ.
When loss forces you to focus on Christ—it is ALWAYS a gain!
* * *
Is there any loss you are coming to grips with in your life right now? Give yourself time to grieve, but remain confident that God will show you better things to come as you stay focused on him.
* * *
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
May 31, 2009- Pentecost Sunday (Holy Spirit and Pentecost!)
Pentecost is a celebration of the fruitfulness of the land, blest by the sun and rain and “breath” of God. In the Christian community, we celebrate how the Spirit, “wind” of God has “in-spirited” human hearts to live “highly” of themselves. The work of the Spirit ...
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Corinthian 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25
John 20:19-23 (alternate reading: John 15:26-27; 16:12-15) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Meditation by Larry Gillick, S.J.
PREPRAYING
“I will pour out my spirit upon all,. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your elderly shall dream dreams, and your young see visions..” Joel 3, 1-2
We pray for our making Jesus larger and more visible in this fractured and shrinking world.. We pray that all Christians become more the church based on the excitement and preaching of the early apostles. We pray that the Spirit of the One God will mend Christ’s splintered body and that all who speak various languages will one day understand each other more compassionately.
We need an inflation, an expanding economy of God’s Spirit and a more personal investment with high interest and great returns, that our world will be God’s kingdom.
REFLECTION
Fifty days have passed since the Jews, now gathered together for the second great feast of the agricultural year, had celebrated the first feast which is the Passover or Feast of the Unleavened Bread. The last of these will be a final harvest thanksgiving. Fifty days have passed for the spring wheat and grains to have ripened. Now these “first fruits” are presented before the Lord. All the farmers of this agricultural community acknowledge their radical dependence upon God’s care in sending rain and sun.
Luke pictures the raining down of God’s Spirit within the context of this Jewish agricultural festival. They are gathered to send up their prayers for all that has grown in their fields. God sends the Spirit of growth so that there will be even more produce, but of a new kind. The newness is that while the sun and rain bring forth fruit of the fields, the Holy Spirit will bring forth a completion of creation as the ultimate expression of God’s love. The people are gathered to praise and thank God. Luke will picture the Spirit moving them out and beyond the territory of the Jews so as to bless and bring about the final harvest of God’s peace and justice. They all speak different languages, which is a consequence of the Tower of Babble. They will continue speaking their various languages, but the message is to go out from them to all the world.
In today’s Gospel, we hear John’s account of Jesus’ sending, or “breathing” the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. As in Luke’s account in Acts, there is a gathering. John’s version has the group hiding for fear, but both, upon reception of the Spirit, are blest and then “sent”. Jesus’ breathing the Spirit echoes Genesis’ description of the creating God breathing form out of the abyss of nothingness. For John, the process of creation is to extend God’s peace to the now “deformed” world.
The Holy Spirit comes constantly from the ever-loving Trinity. We are not praying in such a way that maybe God will breathe again upon our creation. We celebrate that we might be open to the Spirits work of giving Christ new dimensions, new visibility and new gestures of revelation within us as individuals and us as God’s people. We are praying in celebration that God is constantly sending the “breath” upon; this is not a maybe. What we do pray is that we may be more open to the Spirit’s creating of us.
We use an expression for those who think too highly of themselves. “That person has an inflated self-image.” What that means literally is that he/she is full of “air”, coming from the Latin word for wind, “flatus”. We might say, “hot air”. “Deflation” means the air has “run out”. What the early Apostles heard sounded like a strong wind and Jesus breathed air upon the hiding eleven. The Spirit was not in-flating, but in-carnating.
Pentecost is a celebration of the fruitfulness of the land, blest by the sun and rain and “breath” of God. In the Christian community, we celebrate how the Spirit, “wind” of God has “in-spirited” human hearts to live “highly” of themselves. The work of the Spirit is that all creation and that includes human beings, radiate, in-flesh Jesus. As the Spirit came upon Mary whose womanhood gave him flesh, so that same Spirit hovers over our bodies that Jesus might take new flesh. We think highly of ourselves all right, but not full of air but Spirit, not totally Jesus yet, but the Spirit is not done with us.
The early Apostles, “air-borne” in a sense, flew outward from hiding into humanity, from amorphous shame into figures of faith. No balloons or blimps are we. This day we re-up for loving the flesh-bound “bone house” that gives Jesus attractiveness to all whom he meets through us. As he went about blest by the Spirit at his anointing, so we do not float, but walk, run, limp, wheelchair, crawl, or sit, and give his light our personal refraction. The Church, as were the first Apostles, is not full of itself, but longs to be freed to inspire God’s good earth to bring forth fruits of holiness not hollowness, substance not emptiness and investments in acts of justice.
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke of the great things that God had done, alleluia.” Acts 2, 4
Catechism Themes: Pentecost (CCC 731-732)
With the power of the Spirit revealed at Pentecost, the activity of the Trinity was made known. God the Father sent his Son to share his very life, his very Spirit, with his followers. Now, disciples would carry on the work of the Son. They would celebrate the Spirit in their daily lives as they followed in the footsteps of their Lord.
God calls everyone to repentance, even second chances. How do you respond to his call? How do you help others with their call to conversion?
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
1 Corinthian 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25
John 20:19-23 (alternate reading: John 15:26-27; 16:12-15) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Meditation by Larry Gillick, S.J.
PREPRAYING
“I will pour out my spirit upon all,. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your elderly shall dream dreams, and your young see visions..” Joel 3, 1-2
We pray for our making Jesus larger and more visible in this fractured and shrinking world.. We pray that all Christians become more the church based on the excitement and preaching of the early apostles. We pray that the Spirit of the One God will mend Christ’s splintered body and that all who speak various languages will one day understand each other more compassionately.
We need an inflation, an expanding economy of God’s Spirit and a more personal investment with high interest and great returns, that our world will be God’s kingdom.
REFLECTION
Fifty days have passed since the Jews, now gathered together for the second great feast of the agricultural year, had celebrated the first feast which is the Passover or Feast of the Unleavened Bread. The last of these will be a final harvest thanksgiving. Fifty days have passed for the spring wheat and grains to have ripened. Now these “first fruits” are presented before the Lord. All the farmers of this agricultural community acknowledge their radical dependence upon God’s care in sending rain and sun.
Luke pictures the raining down of God’s Spirit within the context of this Jewish agricultural festival. They are gathered to send up their prayers for all that has grown in their fields. God sends the Spirit of growth so that there will be even more produce, but of a new kind. The newness is that while the sun and rain bring forth fruit of the fields, the Holy Spirit will bring forth a completion of creation as the ultimate expression of God’s love. The people are gathered to praise and thank God. Luke will picture the Spirit moving them out and beyond the territory of the Jews so as to bless and bring about the final harvest of God’s peace and justice. They all speak different languages, which is a consequence of the Tower of Babble. They will continue speaking their various languages, but the message is to go out from them to all the world.
In today’s Gospel, we hear John’s account of Jesus’ sending, or “breathing” the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. As in Luke’s account in Acts, there is a gathering. John’s version has the group hiding for fear, but both, upon reception of the Spirit, are blest and then “sent”. Jesus’ breathing the Spirit echoes Genesis’ description of the creating God breathing form out of the abyss of nothingness. For John, the process of creation is to extend God’s peace to the now “deformed” world.
The Holy Spirit comes constantly from the ever-loving Trinity. We are not praying in such a way that maybe God will breathe again upon our creation. We celebrate that we might be open to the Spirits work of giving Christ new dimensions, new visibility and new gestures of revelation within us as individuals and us as God’s people. We are praying in celebration that God is constantly sending the “breath” upon; this is not a maybe. What we do pray is that we may be more open to the Spirit’s creating of us.
We use an expression for those who think too highly of themselves. “That person has an inflated self-image.” What that means literally is that he/she is full of “air”, coming from the Latin word for wind, “flatus”. We might say, “hot air”. “Deflation” means the air has “run out”. What the early Apostles heard sounded like a strong wind and Jesus breathed air upon the hiding eleven. The Spirit was not in-flating, but in-carnating.
Pentecost is a celebration of the fruitfulness of the land, blest by the sun and rain and “breath” of God. In the Christian community, we celebrate how the Spirit, “wind” of God has “in-spirited” human hearts to live “highly” of themselves. The work of the Spirit is that all creation and that includes human beings, radiate, in-flesh Jesus. As the Spirit came upon Mary whose womanhood gave him flesh, so that same Spirit hovers over our bodies that Jesus might take new flesh. We think highly of ourselves all right, but not full of air but Spirit, not totally Jesus yet, but the Spirit is not done with us.
The early Apostles, “air-borne” in a sense, flew outward from hiding into humanity, from amorphous shame into figures of faith. No balloons or blimps are we. This day we re-up for loving the flesh-bound “bone house” that gives Jesus attractiveness to all whom he meets through us. As he went about blest by the Spirit at his anointing, so we do not float, but walk, run, limp, wheelchair, crawl, or sit, and give his light our personal refraction. The Church, as were the first Apostles, is not full of itself, but longs to be freed to inspire God’s good earth to bring forth fruits of holiness not hollowness, substance not emptiness and investments in acts of justice.
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke of the great things that God had done, alleluia.” Acts 2, 4
Catechism Themes: Pentecost (CCC 731-732)
With the power of the Spirit revealed at Pentecost, the activity of the Trinity was made known. God the Father sent his Son to share his very life, his very Spirit, with his followers. Now, disciples would carry on the work of the Son. They would celebrate the Spirit in their daily lives as they followed in the footsteps of their Lord.
God calls everyone to repentance, even second chances. How do you respond to his call? How do you help others with their call to conversion?
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
May 30, 2009- Saturday Meditation (Infinite!)
Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7
John 21:20-25 Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" 23 The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Meditation by Don Schwager
John ends his gospel with an astonishing remark: "Human books cannot exhaust the person and work of Jesus Christ." His power is inexhaustible, his grace is limitless, his wisdom unfathomable, his triumphs are innumerable and his love is unquenchable.
For complete text of today's meditation, please click this link:
http://www..mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7
John 21:20-25 Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" 23 The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Meditation by Don Schwager
John ends his gospel with an astonishing remark: "Human books cannot exhaust the person and work of Jesus Christ." His power is inexhaustible, his grace is limitless, his wisdom unfathomable, his triumphs are innumerable and his love is unquenchable.
For complete text of today's meditation, please click this link:
http://www..mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
May 29, 2009- Friday Meditation ( HE believes in You )
Acts 25:13b-21
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
John 21:15-19 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."
Meditation by Andy Alexander, S.J.
Jesus tells Peter that someday he will be taken "where you do not want to go." Sometimes, I think, this is the "bottom line" of our faith. It is easy to have a relationship with Jesus, if it still leaves me the room to do things my way and go where I want to go. I really become a follower and a disciple when I let him take me where I don't want to go. It is a good day to offer him that kind of surrender, and ask for the grace and freedom to live it when it comes our time to say "yes" in a most unexpected way.
For complete text of today's meditation, please click this link:
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
John 21:15-19 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."
Meditation by Andy Alexander, S.J.
Jesus tells Peter that someday he will be taken "where you do not want to go." Sometimes, I think, this is the "bottom line" of our faith. It is easy to have a relationship with Jesus, if it still leaves me the room to do things my way and go where I want to go. I really become a follower and a disciple when I let him take me where I don't want to go. It is a good day to offer him that kind of surrender, and ask for the grace and freedom to live it when it comes our time to say "yes" in a most unexpected way.
For complete text of today's meditation, please click this link:
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
http://www.tlig.org/en/messages/
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