Shame and Guilt

A woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit. (Luke 13:11)

Imagine how this woman’s affliction affected her everyday life. She couldn’t look up at the sky. She needed help to reach items over her head. It was next to impossible to find a comfortable spot to sit or sleep—but standing was also painful.

Much Jewish thinking at the time made a direct correlation between illness and sin (John 9:2). God rewarded a virtuous person with good health and punished sinners with misfortune of every sort, including disease. Since this woman bore an obvious disability, she must have done something terrible to deserve it. So people probably avoided her, not only because her appearance made them uncomfortable but because they feared contamination by contact with her unholiness.

Burdened by actual and imagined guilt, this woman must have searched her heart over and over, trying to find out what she had done to deserve this burden. At the same time, she also persevered in her faith and trust in God. Why else would she have been at the synagogue?

Seeing her faith, Jesus spoke words of freedom and touched her. Suddenly she was able to stand, and her immediate reaction was to praise God! Not only had Jesus straightened her back; he freed her from guilt and isolation as well.

So many things keep us from standing up and giving glory to God. It could be a physical illness for which we subtly blame God. It could be a fractured relationship on which we’ve given up or the memory of a past sin that we doubt God will forgive. Whatever it is, after carrying such burdens for years, we can get used to having them. We hardly notice that we are compensating for our supposed disabilities, maybe by avoiding new situations or withdrawing into ourselves.

Think of your most hopeless situation. Is it too hard for Jesus? Absolutely not! Is there a sin too big for Jesus to forgive? No. Is he punishing you for some past misdeed? Of course not. So follow this woman’s lead. Go to Jesus, in the “synagogue” of your heart and of the Church. Be where he is so that he can see you, touch you, and set you free.

“Father, you have created me to live in freedom. Release me from everything that burdens my spirit, especially shame and guilt.”

from wau.org

God's will

God’s will isn’t meant to be mysterious and unapproachable. In fact, Scripture is filled with the conviction that it is possible to understand spiritual realities. In his book What Does God Want? Fr. Michael Scanlan proposes five basic questions to ask when facing an important decision.
First: Does it conform to God’s law as revealed through Scripture, tradition, and the teaching of the Church? If it doesn’t, we can’t do it.
Second: Does it foster growth in holiness? As we make decisions that deepen our union with God, the life of Christ will become more evident in our lives.
Third: Is it consistent? Many of our decisions will flow directly from previous decisions—providing, of course, that our previous decisions have borne good fruit! God may give us new challenges and take us in new directions, but he tends to reveal them in a manner consistent with how he has spoken to us in the past.
Fourth: What confirms it? After we make a decision, God usually sends some confirmation, maybe by opening doors that were once closed, by revealing needed resources, or by affirming words spoken by a trusted friend. Of course, there are times when we just have to decide on something and then examine its fruit. Experience isn’t the best teacher; evaluated experience is!
Fifth: What does your heart say? We should cautiously consider the difference between the peace of the heart and the conclusion of the mind. The head may say yes, but until the heart is convinced, we may experience “decision gridlock.” This doesn’t mean that we will like everything God asks us to do. But deep down, we will want to do it.
God is not playing hide-and-seek. When we seek his help in making key decisions, he will guide us.

from wau.org

Cooperation

Today the Lord is drawing our minds to the great impact we can have when we allow ourselves to cooperate with His Holy Spirit. He asks us to open ourselves to Him and not hold back. What hinders us from allowing ourselves to be used by Him? May we st aside all barriers and flow with His Holy Spirit.

God needs someone in your corner of the world at this particular time in history. He has placed you here for a reason. He knows what you are capable of doing. Even in your imperfections, you are still the perfect fit for the work God has set out for you.
So let yourself become the instrument that God created you to be. Cooperate with his Spirit, and you’ll change the world.

Amen.

"Second coming"

The best way to get ready for Jesus’ return is to let him make his home in your heart. In your prayer time, try to be open to the surprising ways he may want to speak to you—not just through his word but through the gentle voice of the Spirit or through the actions and words of the people around you. As you go through your day, be open to the interruptions that come to you. Those unexpected requests from relatives, friends, or co-workers may be Jesus giving you an opportunity to serve him. You don’t have to wait for the end of the world to see him; he’s knocking at your door right now!

from wau.org

Saviour

Picture a state dinner in a nation’s capital: a lavish dining hall, silver and crystal lining the table, waiters lined up ready to serve the guests. A military band strikes up a fanfare, and the head of state enters. But instead of sitting down, he removes his dinner jacket, dons an apron, and asks the waiters to be seated at the table. Then, slowly and carefully, he proceeds to serve them the meal. Crazy, right?

Amazingly, the reality at the center of our faith transcends even this illustration. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, gave up his very life to save us from sin. What’s more, we learn that this wasn’t an exceptional act; it’s part of who he is.

from wau.org

Open doors.

Today the Lord reminds us to see every opportunity, challenge, etc, as a door that He Himself has opened for us. In Isaiah 45 He talks about how He opened doors for Cyrus though Cyrus did not even know Him. How much more for us who know Him and are known by Him. Let's not just complain. But let us see that challenge as a door and see how God is blessing us through that door.

Amen.