Place of refuge

Early the next morning Abraham went to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. (Genesis 19:27)

Abraham lived in tumultuous times. God had told him that the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah had grown so great that the only answer was to overthrow them and start all over again. Even though Abraham tried to bargain with the Lord on behalf of these cities, God was resolute. After sending angels to rescue Lot and his family, God went through with his plan and burned the cities to the ground.

When Abraham woke up the morning after the destruction, he traveled, as if by instinct, to the place where he and God had last spoken. It’s as if he didn’t know what else to do. He wanted to find refuge in the place where he had last connected with the Lord, a place where he could make sense out of what had just happened.

What is your place of refuge? Where do you turn when you are trying to sort through the wreckage of a difficult situation? Some find comfort in family. Some prefer to be alone. Others, sadly, turn to alcohol or drugs for solace.

Turn to the Lord! His arms are open wide, waiting to receive you. He has the wisdom, the consolation, and the guidance you need. He also has the authority and power to help you put things back together and choose the next steps along your path. This is what Abraham did, and he grew stronger because of it.

Oftentimes our first response to difficulties is to imagine the worst, to fret, or to try to run away. These are all natural reactions, but they’re usually not the best reactions! The best thing to do is to make a conscious effort to stop, breathe, and seek the Lord in the quiet of your heart. Read a favorite Scripture verse if it helps. Try to get to daily Mass if you can. Make it a point to wake up a little earlier so that you can spend some extra time with the Lord. If you take steps to find God’s presence, you’ll also find the way through whatever challenges are before you.

“Thank you, Lord, for being my refuge. I know that I can come to you anytime, anywhere, about anything, and be filled with your life.”

from wau.org

Lord, are you asleep? [Mark 4:35-41]

Today I would like us to reflect on this interesting episode that occurred with Jesus and His disciples.  To place it in context, let’s go a few verses back; Jesus had been teaching till the evening came as we read from the beginning of chapter 4. He taught the people including his disciples with the parable of the sower, the Lamp Stand, The parables of the growing seed and the Mustard seed. Mark recounts that in order to address the crowd He entered a boat and taught from out of the lake. At the end of the day when evening came He asked His disciples to go with Him to the other side. Mark recounts here as well that He left the crowd behind alone with His disciples and enters the boat. Mark further comments that there were also other boats with Him. I would like us to look at this first point of Mark using the indefinite article “a” in the first instance and the definite one “the” in the second instance. 

Jesus was the one who called them out to go to a specific place at a specific time using a specific means. There were other boats there as noted by Mark but Jesus decided to use that particular boat at that instance. We not given any description of this vessel but I would like us to remember this point, that it was Jesus Himself who asked them to leave giving them the exact instructions where to go and how to get there. Let’s kindly keep this point in mind.

Going further, we are told of a furious squall, as the NIV uses, which came up when they were on their way. A squall is defined as a sudden violent gust of wind. I would like us to keep in mind, the word sudden used in this description. At the arrival of this squall, we are told that the boat was nearly swamped with huge waves but Jesus was in the stern asleep on a cushion. Now the stern is the back side of a boat. Again let’s keep in mind these interesting facts I came across- the stern is cited by canoeists as the position from where the steering of the boat is done. On smaller vessels, propulsion devices are located in the stern, whiles some other watercrafts will feature a rudder at the stern which aids in steering the craft. Again on even older sailing vessels, the stern was the location of the captain’s quarters. Again, Lets kindly keep these in mind.

As I reflected on these points the changing seasons of life came to mind. As children of God we have been called by God Himself for a purpose. Like the disciples we have been called to go to a specific place leaving behind a crowd we used to associate with, using a specific means. By His grace we have embarked on this journey with Him as believers and children of God set apart from the crowd, the masses walking the broad path, to walk on this narrow way. We find ourselves in varying places doing varying things but the question is, are we still following that original call on our lives? Have we deviated from that original purpose that God placed on us when we gave our lives to Him? Are we still with Jesus in His purpose driven boat? Tonight the Lord is reminding us to go back to our first love. He is reminding us to go back to the original disposition we had for Him when we opened our hearts to His calling. Sometimes we recall how zealous were in times past and have nostalgic thoughts about them. Tonight He wants to remind us that those past moments should become our reality now. Are we still in His boat? Are we still sailing with Him? Are we still obeying His direction and calling? Have we allowed the business of our days to snuff out the fire we had for Him? Today the Lord is calling us back to His boat.

For some of us here tonight we are indeed on track. Like the disciples we have left the crowds and jumped into the boat with the Lord, doing what He wants us to do and going where He wants us to go. But then the squall arrived- that sudden gust of wind. The inexplicable situations that arose from nowhere, the happenings that you never saw coming, the immediate occurrences that seemed to just appear, that has swamped our faith and threatens our resolve to remain in the Lords boat. That sickness, that marital issue, that financial issue, that issue at work, that sudden break of a relationship with a close friend, the list is endless, beloved you know what you what you are going through as do I. 

Many a times we lift up our hands and like the disciples we ask Him “don’t you care if we drown?” Tonight the Lord wants to encourage us that He is right there with us. He wants to remind us that we should not forget that He sent us out on that purpose. As stated by Mark in the reading, it was Jesus’ idea to leave the place and to leave in that specific boat to go to that specific place. Beloved, let us be encouraged that so far we remain in His purpose He is with us. Let us remember that Jesus chose to sleep on a cushion in the stern, the back of the boat. It might seem that He is at the back of our situation, quiet, out of sight and nonexistent, but remember that the stern is where the steering, the direction and the propulsion come from. We should remember that the stern was where the captain’s quarters were found, the boss Himself, the director of the vessel. I believe He chose that position to drive home the message to His disciples and to us that regardless of the storm He is right there and He is in control.

So going further we read that the disciples woke Jesus up in fear and He quieted the waves with a word. In verse 40, Jesus rebuked them saying “why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The question that came to mind was: was it wrong for them to have woken Jesus up? Should they not have called on Him? But we have to realise that they called on Him out of fear and not out of faith. I strongly believe that Jesus led them through this episode right from the onset, as a means of testing to strengthen their faith. Verse 41 ends the story by stating that the disciples were terrified and asked “who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him?” They were terrified now, not because of the waves but by the showcase of the power and control of the Lord. A showcase of power indicating to them that their faith needs to be grounded in the one who has the control- the captain of the ship. 

Beloved more often than not our challenges are meant to make firm our faith in the one who has the utmost power- Jesus. Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 5:3-5 “³ Not only so, but we^[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Tonight may we be encouraged to cry out to God out of faith and not out of fear, faith in the fact that He is there and He has the control.

To conclude I will like to share with you the lyrics of a song titled Oceans by Hillsong United. I would kindly entreat you to reflect on the words as I read them:

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine


Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I pray that we will make this our prayer tonight and always. Amen.

    

Scripture dive

Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. (Matthew 7:24)

Aurelius seemed to have everything: a great education, a great job, a lover, and political power at his fingertips. But despite having more than most dream of, he was restless. Then came the day when he opened up Paul’s Letter to the Romans and read the first verse that caught his eye: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14). His heart began to burn as divine light came rushing in. Because of this encounter with God’s word, Aurelius, also known as Augustine, took one big step toward his transformation from sinner to saint. 

St. Augustine would probably identify closely with today’s reading. It’s a parable about God’s word with this central message: building your life on the word of God is like building your home on a solid foundation. It helps you withstand any storm of life.

The Bible contains keys to right living that we can apply immediately: do unto others what you would have them do unto you, turn the other cheek, and honor your father and mother. But it’s more than just a self-help book. The most important aspect of God’s word is its ability to bring us face-to-face with Jesus, who is the living Word of God.

Augustine was raised by a Christian mother and was probably familiar with many of the stories and teachings in the Bible. But it wasn’t until he had a personal experience of God speaking to him through Scripture that his life turned around. 

What happened for Augustine can happen for us. If we spend time with the word of God every day—not just reading it but pondering it, praying through it, and listening to it—we’ll begin to find Jesus. Our hearts will be stirred by what we read, and the words will begin to come alive for us, as if they were written just for us. We’ll hear Jesus speaking them to us, showing us how they apply to our own situations and filling our hearts with freedom and hope.

Do you want to build your life on a solid foundation? Then dive into Scripture!

“Holy Spirit, help me to build my life on your word. Write your word on my heart today.

 

from wau.org

Logic vrs Gods words

Immediately his mouth was opened. (Luke 1:64)

Like most births, the birth of John the Baptist is more about the parents than the child. It’s a story about God’s grace and human faith overoming doubt. Zechariah and the Virgin Mary reacted similarly when the angel Gabriel announced what was going to happen. They both asked, “How can this be?” But they asked with different attitudes.

Mary’s was a sincere question. She wanted to understand the mind of God. Zechariah’s question was more of a challenge arising from doubt. It’s as if he told the angel, “It just isn’t going to happen; my wife is too old.”

But that’s not the end of the story. Zechariah’s doubts began to fade when Elizabeth became pregnant. They subsided even more when he heard that the baby leapt in his mother’s womb at the sound of Mary’s greeting. Zechariah saw these things, and he was changed. 

When the baby was born, Zechariah named him John, the name the angel gave him. Then, filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah broke out in song and blessed God. Then turning to his newborn son, he said, “You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:76-77).

If that’s not a transformation from doubt to faith, then what is?

We are all like Zechariah. We all tend to favor limited human logic over trust in God’s promises and his power. Most of us do not expect to see miracles. Deep inside we say, “It just isn’t going to happen.” But Jesus wants us to believe in miracles and to be open to their possibilities. What Jesus told Thomas, he wants to tell all of us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29). 

So expect miracles. Start small, and see how your faith grows. The next time you go to Mass, for instance, ask God to give you a deeper sense of peace and confidence in him. That’s a miracle, isn’t it? Slowly but surely, you’ll find miracles happening all around you!

from wau.org

I recall.... Da

I can not allow today, father's day, to pass by without penning down these lessons I recall from my late father, Mr Kojo Peter Siaw Nyarko. Its nearly three years since you passed on into eternal glory, your memories still fill our minds and the tears of your depature fills our eyes.

I recall, Da, when you came home from your business and church meetings in the evening, the first thing you shout out with a smile as you enter the front door, is "O maame wo hene" [where is your mother]. I remember how you would announce your arrival first to mum. Da,you showed me that the man must cherish the mother of the home. You showed that the sanctity of the institution of marriage must be upheld even to the end.

I recall, Da, how you committed yourself to the service of God through the Church. I remember the lengthy times you spent on committee meetings, communion rounds, visitation of the elderly and service to our priests. I remember how you did these with joy all the time though they were no mean tasks. You served the church community as a leader in countless ways bringing smiles to all and sundry through your wisdom,patience, tact and your down to earth mannerisms. Da,you showed me that my service to the church must be born from a personal walk with the Lord Himself. You showed me that my love for the Lord must translate to service to His body.

I recall, Da, how you will treat us all to some take out food when you can. You did your best to spend time with us. You provided for us and indeed, we lacked nothing. You showed me that the father must do his best to meet the needs of his family. You worked hard to give us with the things you never had the chance to have yourself. You thought and looked out for our good. Your wise counsel was always there for us and your gentle yet firm rebukes directed our steps and actions. You showed me that a father can be firm yet flexible.

I recall, Da, your gentleness. The calmness with which you handled issues always resonates in my mind. I remember so vividly a day when the keys tothe office went missing. I remember how gently handled the situation and brought calm to a  panicking group of employees. Da, I remember how on that faithful sunday night as we dropped off one of your workers at home we got enveloped in a rain storm and much to our surprise, the windscreen wipers stopped working. I remember how you calmed my nerves and braved the situation by sticking your head out of the window, cleaning the screen periodically while driving us safely home. You told me to remember the teaching of that sunday, that Jesus was always with us. Da, I know you were always calm because of this. You showed me the value of gentleness. The value of calmness, grounded in Christ.

Da, today I recall. Not with tears but with a smile on my face for the legacy you have left behind. Indeed you have done your part, its time for us to do ours.

Rest in Peace Da.

Stewards

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Matthew 6:26)

When St. Francis of Assisi encouraged his brothers to persevere in their life of poverty, he often reminded them of today’s Gospel. “Let the friars minor imitate Brother Lark,” he once said. “He dresses simply, with the colors of the earth. Though he owns nothing, he doesn’t worry about food, for he eats from God’s hand. Brothers, all of God’s gifts are wonderful, but we cannot glory in them, for they are not ours to own. Except for one gift, the cross of Jesus. Jesus calls us to take up this gift of dying to self and possess it as our own. I revel in the glory of Jesus’ cross and nothing else!”

No, Jesus doesn’t call everyone to poverty. Yes, there is room in God’s kingdom for wealth. Think of Abraham, who owned great herds, and Joseph of Arimathea, who was influential enough to obtain an audience with Pilate. Rich or poor, our material blessings are not our own. We are just stewards under the lordship of Christ. So today, let’s ask the Spirit to search our hearts as we reflect on our attitudes toward money. Take a moment to consider three questions:

Am I pursing material possessions to the neglect of my spiritual well-being? If you think it’s true, don’t get bogged down in guilt. Instead, move money down a few pegs on your priority list. Remember who is supposed to be “possessing” whom! Now, find one way you can advance God’s kingdom instead.

Do I worry excessively about finances? God knows that it’s a real need. It’s also a common point of contention in marriage. Things don’t pay for themselves. But remember, you are so much more important to God than even “Brother Lark.” Get into the habit of asking God to help you keep your finances in perspective.

Can I find new ways to be generous? Generosity isn’t limited to money. God asks us to steward all of our resources. This means our time, unique skills, and the joy we’ve received from God. You can even be a steward of your personal knowledge of God! Look out today for one way that you can meet an important need with your generosity.

“Lord, I glory only in your cross and resurrection!”

from wau.org

Dynamic witnessing

I too will boast. (2 Corinthians 11:18)

Don’t you find it funny that Paul would condemn those who boast, but then turn around and spend a lot of time boasting himself? He goes to such great lengths to tell the Corinthians about his credentials as an apostle and about all the hardships he has endured; it’s as if he were some sort of superhero whom they should admire! Later on, he admits that boasting is not “profitable,” but then he dives right back in, telling them all about his extraordinary spiritual experiences (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

Maybe some context will help us figure out what Paul is doing here. It seems that other people, whom Paul labeled as false apostles, had come to Corinth preaching a different form of the gospel than the one he and the other apostles were preaching. These “superapostles” were impressing the Corinthians with their showy preaching, their easier message, and their impressive credentials. So Paul, fearing that the people were being led astray, leapt to his defense—and more important, to the defense of his message.

Paul was always a passionate man, so it shouldn’t surprise us that he was so extreme in his argument. He was also being shrewd: he hoped that by speaking so abruptly, he could shock the Corinthians back to their senses. Remember, this is the same man who once wrote that he would do whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Paul’s words, not just in today’s readings but throughout his writings, show us that sometimes we have to fight for the sake of the gospel. Sometimes we have to show a little passion to help shake people up a bit. And sometimes we need a good shaking up as well!

Of course, our Christian witness should not always be one of confrontation or spiritual boasting. Sometimes we need to be gentle and compassionate. Other times we need to be quiet and meek. God wants us to be flexible, resourceful, and creative as we respond to each situation with his wisdom. So let’s go out and tell people about Jesus’ love and salvation—even if it means boasting in our weaknesses!

“Lord, I want to share your good news. Teach me how to be as shrewd as a serpent and as gentle as a dove (Matthew 10:16).”

from wau.org

Women of faith

She … has contributed all she had. (Mark 12:44)

It is said that behind every great man, there is a great woman. Although Jesus was more than just a great man, the Gospels are filled with examples of how he found solace, strength, and encouragement from women of deep faith. Martha’s sister, Mary, kept him company in the face of strong cultural pressure to keep busy in the kitchen. She later anointed him in a beautiful act of faith that refreshed his weary heart. A woman suffering from chronic hemorrhaging had such deep faith that she drew healing power from Jesus—as well as his assurance of salvation. There’s also the Syrophoenecian woman, whose humble tenacity inspired him, and Mary Magdalene, whose devotion and gratitude were manifested in financial support and in the courage to visit his tomb when everyone else remained behind closed doors.

Surely the poor widow in today’s Gospel reading belongs in this company of heroic, faith-filled women! Many rich people were giving large sums into the very public treasury receptacles in the Temple, but it was her paltry gift of just a few cents that drew Jesus’ admiration. It was all she had to live on, and yet she freely donated it to support this grand house of worship. In making this offering, she entrusted herself completely to God.

Watching this act of abandonment affected Jesus deeply enough for him to point her out to his disciples. Perhaps it moved him so much because he himself was standing on the precipice of his own final and complete offering to God: the cross. Perhaps, after a long day of disputing with Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees, he found great comfort in the woman’s simple act of faith. Whatever the cause, this widow ministered to Jesus!

We too can inspire Jesus by our trust in God. We can bring joy to his heart by showing him courageous love today. So let’s give from our substance and not just our surplus. Let’s trust that he will meet our needs. Let’s try to engage our hearts a bit more when we pray, and let’s look for a new way to step out in faith as we face the day. 

“Jesus, you once said that you had nowhere to lay your head. Here I am, Lord; let my heart become a resting place for you.”

from wau.org

Fruitful servant

This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. (Mark 12:7)

We know what it’s like to second-guess a decision someone else has made. You look at an event after the fact and think about how you would have handled it better. If it were you coaching that football game, you would have called for a pass instead of a handoff. If you had been the presidential nominee, you would have chosen a different running mate. If you were that child’s parent, you would discipline her differently. 

Second-guessing is rarely helpful, and it’s especially the case when we read stories like today’s parable. We can think, “How could these tenants have been so stubborn and selfish? The landlord was just trying to collect his produce. I would never have treated these servants so cruelly.” To make matters worse, we understand that the landlord is God the Father, the servants are the prophets, and the “beloved son” is Jesus. Why couldn’t the scribes and Pharisees see these connections? 

The problem with this approach is that it deflects the message of the parable away from us. Whether we are ancient scribes or twenty-first-century Christians, God wants us to be fruitful. He has commissioned us, just as the landowner commissioned the tenants, to care for his creation. We are stewards of his kingdom, and he wants to know how we’re doing in that regard.

What kind of “servants” will God send you today to check on his fruit? Maybe it will be a friend asking for help or a person needing someone to talk to. It may not be a person at all. It may be a verse from today’s readings—something you sense God wants you to act on. No matter how the Lord comes, you can be sure that he will not ask for something that you cannot give. So don’t reject him. Welcome him instead. Tell him, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” Then, give him the fruit he is really looking for: your heart.

“Lord, help me to receive your word and the promptings of your Spirit today.” 

 from wau.org