Listen

I sprang to my feet, leaving the dinner untouched. (Tobit 2:4) 

There’s a special branch of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force called the Quick Reaction Alert force. These pilots are on constant alert. Should a threat arise, they can be in the air in minutes. They could be fast asleep, brushing their teeth, or eating lunch, but they snap into action when the alarm sounds.

This sounds a bit like Tobit’s prompt response in today’s reading, doesn’t it? It was the Jewish feast of Weeks, and he was relaxing in front of a fine dinner. But when he heard that a fellow countryman had been killed, he immediately went out and buried the man. This was both a dangerous and a subversive act for an Israelite like himself living in exile in Nineveh. The Ninevites intentionally affronted Jewish customs by doing things like delaying the burial of dead Jews. But Tobit never hesitated. He was on constant “alert” to do God’s will. He didn’t allow his own comfort or safety to get in the way. He didn’t allow fear or so-called common sense to stop him. A brother in the Lord had been killed, and he deserved the dignity of a proper Jewish burial. 

So how can we be on call for the Lord just as Tobit was? How can we be always alert as those British pilots are? In our case, the call probably won’t sound like a siren, and we probably won’t need a shovel and a strong back. God is much more likely to summon us with the “still small voice” of his Spirit. 

The key is to listen. Take a minute at the end of your prayer time or after Mass to listen with your heart. What comes to mind? You might feel the need to call a friend who is hurting. You might remember a long-standing disagreement with your neighbor and start thinking about pursuing reconciliation. Or you might feel a new enthusiasm welling up inside you to join a ministry at church.

No matter how you hear the call, take action! 

“Lord, give me ears to hear you and the courage to follow you, no matter where you call! Help me to be always ready to respond to you.”

from wau.org

Be led

Follow the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) 

Skilled sailors know that in order to change course, all they need to do is nudge the boat forward in a series of small, gentle turns. While new sailors have a tendency to jerk the helm in one direction or another, seasoned sailors know that slight movements allow the wind to fill the sails and to do the bulk of the work.

You might say that the Galatians in today’s first reading were like heavy-handed new sailors. They had turned away from paganism and were lurching toward full compliance with Jewish law and observances. But Paul showed them a better way. He reminded them they had received the Holy Spirit, who is a gentle guide. They could trust him to teach them and lead them in God’s ways.

We could all do with more of the wind of the Holy Spirit. We could all benefit from a bit of “course correction” every now and then. So how do we adjust our helm to take advantage of the Holy Spirit’s promptings? 

First, listen. Try to notice the Spirit’s voice. If you feel like you should offer someone an apology, that might be the Spirit’s soft nudge. If you are curious about some aspect of the Bible and want to study it, go ahead! That could be the Spirit’s movement. Maybe a fellow parishioner will ask you to get involved in a new way at your church. The Spirit might be showing you a new direction. 

Then, respond. Say yes to the Spirit’s direction, and you’ll start seeing changes. The evidence of his guidance will come: you may find it easier to be patient with a child. You may find yourself able to hold your tongue or keep your peace when you’re upset with your spouse. You may catch a judgmental thought about someone you don’t like—and you may find it easier to change your thinking. These are the fruit of the Spirit that Paul talks about in today’s reading. They are signs that you are on course. 

Never doubt that the Holy Spirit is at work in you. Follow his promptings. Adjust yourself a little bit, and see what the wind of the Spirit can do! 

“Come, Holy Spirit! Fill me, guide me, and blow through every area of my life!”

from wau.org

The Spirit, our help

Hear the statutes and decrees . . . that you may live. (Deuteronomy 4:1)

In ancient times, God’s Law set the Israelites apart. In his graciousness, he had given his chosen people a glimpse into his mind and heart. He showed them how to live together in the harmony and justice that reflected his glory. The Law made them unique among the ancient peoples—their God was so close that he shared his very thoughts and desires with them!

Today, as we consider God’s Law, we can see what a gift it is. Not only does God tell us to love him and love our neighbor, but he also tells us how to do it. What’s more, he gave us Jesus, who came to fulfill the Law! Jesus showed that it really is possible to live a life pleasing to God, a life that combines faithfulness to the commandments with a radical openness to the Holy Spirit.

Thank God for the Spirit—and for his gifts of grace and mercy! Without these, we would never be able to live the way God asks us to. And while we’re at it, let’s thank God for Jesus, who shows us that fulfilling the Law is not just a matter of keeping the rules. It’s also about learning how to open ourselves to the Spirit so that we can grow closer to the Lord and receive his grace. It’s giving the Spirit a chance to change our hearts and minds, even as we try to change our actions. 

At its best, fulfilling the Law is all about being changed on the inside. We look to the Spirit to help us put off our own preferences and tendencies in order to begin to think and love as God does. What a relief to know that when we feel weak and unable to obey, the Holy Spirit is with us to help us! And what a relief to know that when we fall, our Father is right there to pick us up and help us start afresh!

So don’t let the thought of fulfilling God’s laws overwhelm you. Just take it one step at a time. And make sure that you are taking each step with the Holy Spirit!

from wau.org

Cooperating with the divine

Upon this rock I will build my Church. (Matthew 16:18)

God seems to enjoy choosing the most improbable people to move his purposes forward. The great King David committed adultery and conspired in a murder (2 Samuel 11:2-27). A cowardly Jonah fled from God’s commission to preach to the Ninevites (Jonah 1:1-3). A childless Sarah became the mother of all Israel (Genesis 18:1-14). Again and again, God has manifested his power by turning weakness into strength and sinners into saints. And so in keeping with this tradition, he chose a brash fisherman to be the rock upon whom he would build his Church.

Peter was the first to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, and for this insight, Jesus entrusted him with the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:13-19). Peter was a man of great love and loyalty, but he also had his flaws and failings. He frequently acted impetuously—he once boasted that he was ready to die with Jesus, only to reverse himself under pressure and deny knowing him (Luke 22:34).

Yet Peter also knew that Jesus loved him unconditionally, and his humble knowledge of this love kept him from giving in and giving up. During the final years of his life, this chief apostle led the Christian community in Rome and, true to his Master’s call, gave up his life there in the ultimate act of love and devotion. Even with his imperfections, Peter was able to fulfill the commission Jesus had given him.

Like Peter, we, too, have been called to follow Jesus. The call may appear daunting at times, but God wants to give us confidence that we can accomplish much if we try to rely on the Holy Spirit in spite of our weaknesses and imperfections.

When God chose Peter, he had a vision for what this zealous, hotheaded man could become. Jesus didn’t give up on him when he fell but kept urging him to put off his old attitudes. God has a beautiful vision for each of us too, and he never loses sight of it. All he asks is that we cooperate with him in his desire to purify us so that this vision can become a reality.

from wau.org

Seeds

Hear this! (Mark 4:3)

When a naval commander issues urgent or serious information, he barks out, “Now hear this!” It means stop what you’re doing, and listen carefully to what follows.

Jesus uses strikingly similar words in today’s Gospel reading. He wants everyone listening to pay careful attention to what he is about to say: “A sower went out to sow …” (Mark 4:3). 

Perhaps you’ve wondered which group you belong in: the footpath, rocky ground, thorny soil, or rich soil. But Jesus wasn’t establishing a hierarchy of spirituality. All three of the first types of soil proved equally unhealthy to the seed. No, Jesus wanted to tell his hearers that in the kingdom of God, everyone’s life can be rich soil. Those outside the kingdom receive everything “in parables,” God’s gentle nudges intended to move them toward the kingdom (Mark 4:2). But those who have entered the kingdom have the capacity to receive insights about God that remain hidden from those who have yet to embrace the Lord.

Your life is rich soil! It has been prepared—by your training in the faith, your reception of the sacraments, and your prayer life—to receive the “seed” that falls on it, and to produce fruit. Do you hear the word of God? Well, accept it wholeheartedly the best you can, and allow the Holy Spirit to make it bear fruit in your life. When you become aware of how you may fall short, declare: “My life is rich soil.” Then ask the Holy Spirit to fertilize that area of your life so that it begins to bear fruit.

Ask the Lord to sow seeds of patience, gentleness, or peace in you. Ask him to provide you with whatever will cause these seeds to grow. Moments of kindness, flashes of wisdom or understanding, impulses to show hospitality—these are not random events. They are evidence that your life is good soil.

So when any Scripture passage resonates in you or stirs your heart, hear this. Heed it and dwell on it. You are more than capable of bearing rich fruit!

“Jesus, help me to hear your word and accept it with all my heart so that I will bear fruit for you.”

Keeping Pace

He came in search of fruit.(Luke 13:6)

The flashing lights in your rearview mirror catch your eye. Then your heart sinks. A police car is behind you, signaling for you to pull over to the side of the road. As you put down your window, you are face-to-face with an officer who demands your identification and informs you that your infraction is serious. While he is checking your papers, you fear the worst. Then, with a mixture of authority and kindness, you hear him say the sweetest words: “I’m just going to give you a warning.” You drive off elated, having promised the officer that you will change your ways and adhere to the speed limit. 

In a sense, Jesus is issuing a warning to his followers as he explains about the recent tragic deaths of fellow Jews. Mind you, he isn’t saying that they died because of their lack of faith. Rather, he is giving a solemn reminder of everyone’s vulnerability to death. None of us know when our lives will end. We all run the risk of being snatched away unexpectedly while we are busy pursuing our plans. And so Jesus is asking us to be sure that we are ready to greet him, whenever our time comes.

So while we still have the gift of life, let’s make it a point to lift our eyes from a task-driven life to a life centered on Jesus and his calling. Why delay? 

Jesus isn’t looking primarily for our remorse; he’s looking for our love. For he knows that only love will produce long-lasting changes: his love for us and our love for him in return. He knows that the more time we spend soaking in his love, the more love we will have for one another, the more we will find comfort in his teachings, and the more we will find ourselves bearing fruit for him and his Church. So don’t be so speedy! Keep pace with the Lord. Take his Holy Spirit as your companion and guide, and he will make you more and more fruitful.

“Jesus, direct my life in the way of love. Orient me in love. Fill me with your Spirit, who is love! Lord, I want to bear fruit 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

The next best thing

It is better for you that I go. (John 16:7)

Let’s face it. The inclination to think “if only” arises more often than we like to admit. If only I could get the next best thing! A newer or more powerful or more economical car. The latest model phone. A hot or free or gourmet meal.

It’s tempting to think “if only” about our faith, too. If only I could have had three years of daily contact with Jesus as the disciples did! If only he were here right now, I would be a better Christian, evangelist, father, mother, student, co-worker …

But that’s not what Jesus said. Even though it grieved his disciples, he insisted, “It is better for you that I go” (John 16:7). They couldn’t imagine anything better than Jesus walking with them, teaching them, healing them, and declaring the good news of the kingdom. But Jesus knew that his departure was better than his presence. Why? Because having returned to the Father, he would send the Spirit: the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, to dwell in their hearts.

It’s hard to imagine that Jesus’ absence is better than his presence, isn’t it? But now, the Holy Spirit is present—and in the deepest part of your being. Yes, it would be exciting to watch Jesus perform awesome miracles or to hear him put the Pharisees in their place. But there’s a difference between being excited and being changed. Only by speaking deeply to our consciences can the Spirit move us to repentance. Only by taking Jesus’ words and writing them on our hearts can the Spirit fill us with consolation, peace, and joy. Only by pouring God’s love into us can the Spirit soften our hearts and move us to treat each other with mercy and compassion.

So the next time you find yourself thinking “if only,” remind yourself that you already have the “next best thing.” In fact, you have the best thing ever! You have almighty God living in you. He is there to guide you, to offer his wisdom, and, best of all, to fill you with his life and love!

“Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Help me to sense the Spirit’s presence today. Open my ears to hear his voice and my heart to follow his leading.”

from wau.org

The Power in you.

These signs will accompany those who believe. (Mark 16:17)

The New Testament includes several references to the Mark whom Peter mentions in today’s first reading. Also known as John Mark, he was the cousin of Barnabas, whom he accompanied, along with Paul, on their first missionary journey. Later, he worked closely with Peter in Rome and became his trusted companion. Tradition tells us that Mark evangelized in Alexandria, and some believe he was the young man in Gethsemane who ran away naked from the soldiers (Mark 14:51-52). Finally, he is revered as the author of the Gospel that bears his name.

When we read the words of Jesus preserved in Mark’s Gospel, we get a sense that Mark saw some of the “signs” that accompany those who believe (Mark 16:17). After all, he helped spread Christianity both by his writing and by the missionary work he shared with some of the most renowned preachers of his day. Casting out demons, healing the sick, speaking in new tongues, being unharmed when picking up snakes or drinking poison—these spectacular feats seemed to have been common in the early Church.

Instead of focusing on Jesus’ lengthier sermons, which we find in the other Gospels, Mark pays more attention to Jesus’ power over sickness and evil. Then, as today’s reading shows, he makes it clear that the miracles are not supposed to stop with Jesus. Mark expected that Christians of all eras would work wonders in order to bring people to faith.

That includes you! The Holy Spirit is more than capable of working in your life and making you into a living testimony to the kingdom of God. Remember: miracles are not relics of the past; they are meant for every age and every situation. It may be hard to expect healings or spectacular signs when we pray or share the gospel, but that’s what faith is all about. Keep on believing that God wants to manifest his kingdom through you. Ask the Spirit to deepen your confidence. Ask him for the assurance that he really can make you an instrument of his grace. 

“Holy Spirit, use me to bring God’s kingdom into the world. Help me to expect great things from you. Lord, I want to proclaim your good news!”

from wau.org

Spirit inspired potential

His face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15)

Imagine the Twelve trying to devote themselves to prayer and ministry as the Church continued to grow and its internal needs increased. And then a problem arose between the more traditional Jews (the Hebrews) and those Jews who had adopted the language and some of the customs of the Greeks (the Hellenists). The potential for division was great, and the apostles needed to address it. But they were getting stretched too thin. So they commissioned several Hellenists to make sure the Greek-speaking members of the Church were being treated fairly.

One of those chosen was a man named Stephen. He was full of the Spirit, but he was not one of the very first Christians, and he may have been considered as somewhat tainted because of his Hellenistic background. 

But before long, Stephen was doing “great wonders and signs among the people” and boldly proclaiming the gospel in synagogues (Acts 6:8). That wasn’t supposed to happen! You can almost see the apostles discussing Stephen with each other:

“I thought he was assigned to table duty. What was he doing on the streets?” “But Jesus did say that anyone who believes in him would do far greater works than he did. Isn’t that what our brother Stephen is doing?” “True, he doesn’t neglect his duties; he just goes beyond them.” “In the end, God knows his plans. Maybe he’s revealing a new path for Stephen.”

Stephen didn’t box himself into a narrow job description. He may not have been a major leader of the Church, but as a believer filled with the Holy Spirit, his job included following the Spirit’s leadings and proclaiming the gospel. And so he did just that!

Never underestimate your potential! You may not be a trained theologian or Church leader or mystic. But the Holy Spirit lives in you and can work powerfully in you! Whether you’re a doctor, businessman, teacher, stay-at-home mom, or waiter, the sky’s the limit when God has the freedom to do his work through you.

“Jesus, do your work through me. Send me into the harvest. I don’t want to wait for someone else to proclaim your word.”

from wau.org

Cooperating with the Spirit

Where can we buy enough food for them to eat? (John 6:5)

With these words, Jesus launched Philip and the other disciples on a path of discovering more clearly who he was and what he had come to accomplish. Of course he was concerned about feeding the crowd of people who had come out to listen to him. But he already “knew what he was going to do” about that (John 6:6). He asked this question to help his disciples become more confident in their ability to build his kingdom on earth. Jesus didn’t want this miracle of loaves to be the last time God miraculously took care of his people. He wanted the Twelve to become familiar and even comfortable with the idea of performing miracles themselves.

And so Jesus involved his disciples in every step of this miracle. He asked Philip to assess the situation: the size of the crowd and the inadequacy of their own resources. 

When Andrew brought him a bit of food and a lot of skepticism, he accepted the gift and told the disciples to make the people sit down, to pass out the loaves, and to collect the fragments. From beginning to end, the Twelve were an integral part of the miracle.

What did the disciples learn that day? They learned to look at needs through the lens of God’s compassion. They learned to put their own meager offerings into Jesus’ hands, and to do so unselfishly. They learned to give thanks to God before and after each request. And they learned to rely on the power of God as they built the kingdom.

Jesus wants to do the same thing for us. He wants us to become vessels of his grace in the world. So whenever he brings a need to your attention, pay attention. He is not just asking you what you think. As he did with Philip, he’s inviting you to join him in doing something wonderful about it. If you’re alert for his direction and willing to take a step of faith, you’ll see wonders!

“Jesus, make me a co-worker with you. Teach me how to cooperate with your Spirit.” 

from wau.org

Before and After

One of the several ways advertising professionals market a product be it cosmetics or a workout plan, is to show the pictures of individuals before and after the use of that product. More often than not, emphasis is made on the extremely sharp contrast between the two images, all with the intention of playing on the minds of the consumer. 

Last week Sunday we celebrated the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day. We recall the workings of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the early disciples and how the early church was brought forth. It is however striking to observe the sharp changes that occurred in the lives of the disciples that were present at that time.

Fortunately for us, as believers in this age, we have the privilege of seeing the before and after pictures of the early believers of that era, and how their lives were transformed by the descent of the Holy Spirit. 

Let’s consider the apostle Peter.  Peter was an unlearned fisherman with no training in Mosaic Law or Greek, the scholarly language of that time. He was often impulsive and zealous in his actions, and this can be seen in how he was usually the first to speak up, for instance in Matthew 16: 14-16 “¹⁴ They answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And some say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

In that same chapter, we see how he takes Jesus aside to rebuke him in Mathew 16:22.

In Matthew 26:33-35 : “³³ Peter answered, “All the other followers may lose their faith in you. But my faith will never be shaken.”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “The truth is, tonight you will say you don’t know me. You will deny me three times before the rooster crows.”

³⁵ But Peter answered, “I will never say I don’t know you! I will even die with you!” And all the other followers said the same thing.”,

We see how Peter assured the Lord that he will never leave him regardless of the circumstance. However, some few hours later, he denied Jesus three times.

Again we are reminded of his over-zealous and impulsive nature in John 18:10 : “¹⁰ Simon Peter had a sword, which he pulled out. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

 

However in Acts 2, the day of Pentecost and the in subsequent chapters, we see a different image. Being enabled by the Holy Spirit, we see Peter standing before the crowds of Jewish pilgrims, convincing about three thousand of them that Jesus is the Messiah. We see Peter publicly healing the sick and boldly speaking before the Sanhedrin- the rulers, teachers and elders of the law. We read of Peter in Acts 15 addressing and directing the church in the first church council, in Jerusalem. In his letters to the churches in Asia minor in 1 and 2 Peter, we see the encouragement, guidance and wisdom he imparts to the early believers. From these we can observe was an obvious transformation of the Peter before, to the Peter after.

Saint Paul also stands out in his Before and after images. Paul was a well trained, astute pharisee, with training from Gamaliel, a renowned rabbi. In Philippians 3:5 he refers to himself as a “Hebrew of Hebrews and as being faultless in regards to legalistic righteousness”. His zeal for Judaism was manifest in his actions as he moved from place to place persecuting this new Christian movement. In Acts 26:9 he says “I too, was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth....”and he gave the stamp of approval in the killing of Stephen in Acts 7.  

However in Acts 9, we read of how Saul was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit with his experience in Damascus. Acts 9: 17-19 reads “¹⁷ So Ananias left and went to the house of Judas. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one you saw on the road when you came here. He sent me so that you can see again and also be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell off Saul’s eyes. He was able to see! Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ After he ate, he began to feel strong again”. The evidence of his transformation is seen through the scriptures with the many letters he wrote to the early believers and how now, we consider these writings to be pivotal in our theology, worship and pastoral life.

Many examples can be given for these Before and After scenarios from scripture and also from the lives of the saints. But the question that pertains is, can we as individuals describe our Before and after images? As we have invited the Holy spirit to come into our hearts and be stirred up in us on several occasions, how have we allowed Him to transform our lives? Are we still remaining in our old ways and comfort zones? 

Today the Lord is drawing our minds to a transformative relationship with the Holy spirit, such that our lives become totally reliant on Him. He is asking us to yield ourselves over to the Holy spirit, that we would only move when He moves. He is asking us to search the depths of our hearts and remove the barriers we have placed in His way. He is asking us to rise up and declare like Mary in Luke 1:38 that “... Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”

I strongly believe that the transformation of Saints Peter and Paul was a gradual process, where they had to learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in carrying out the various tasks the Lord brought their way. Jesus said in John 14: 17 that “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” Like Peter and Paul, we are being asked as Christians of this age to say yes to the promptings of the Spirit. Those promptings that urge us to give up a certain habit or share a word with a dear colleague at work or in school. Those promptings that urge us to stand in the gap and intercede in prayer for family and friends; Those promptings that urge as to volunteer at that charity or to make that financial pledge even in the midst of scarcity. For the more we learn to say yes to Him, the more we would recognise Him when He speaks.

 

Even as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit we can be assured that He will lead us to achieve the purposes that the Lord Himself has planned for our lives, and like Peter and Paul we will be true ambassadors of Christ and our before and after transformation would serve as an encouragement to others.

 I pray that we will avail ourselves everyday to the Holy Spirit and that we will consistently seek to have a deeper relationship with Him.

So shall we all pray; 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth

 

Amen.

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.

What a friend

Text: John 15: 13-15

In today's text we read of the creator of the universe calling us his friend. I tried to think of the depth of this statement and its implications. I believe that His meaning to this statement far exceeds the boundaries of friendship but He uses this human metaphor to communicate a valuable message:

A true friend knows all about you but yet still loves you: Today Jesus is reminding us of His ever present love in our lives. Regardless of our shortcomings and failures, He is still concerned about us and loves us to the point of death. He is reminding us that we can still count on this love whenever we feel down especially due to our mistakes. He is encouraging us that through the consistency of His love, we already have available to us the grace and strength to stand up and move forward. With His strength we can come out stronger than before.

A true friend is willing to listen and converse: Most of our good conversations, I believe, have been had with good friends. Today Jesus is reminding us of the essence of prayer; a conversation. He is inviting us as friends to meet Him in prayer, to come and speak and listen to Him. He desires that we come and enjoy a good conversation with Him. Whether we are pouring out our fears, doubts, sorrows, requests, thanksgiving or praise.... He is asking us to come and talk with Him and to listen as He speaks with us. Today, Jesus is inviting us to a conversation.

A true friend is a companion: I believe you can recall the good times you have had with your buddies, and how you sometimes smile to yourself when these nostalgic moments flash through your mind. Today Jesus is reminding us that He is a companion who will never leave us. Through good times and bad, He is and will be there. He is not a companion who might be far off at a distance, or one who leaves when you depart to go home....No. He is one that is always there. He is the true companion.

A true friend is there to help: Today Jesus is reminding us that He is always there to provide the assistance we need. He promises that He sends us the Holy Spirit. In John 15:26 He says  “I will send you the Helper from the Father." The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. His promised Spirit is with us. John 14: 17 says “The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”. Indeed He is our helper.

In verse 13 of John 15, Jesus resounds this message:  ^“The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. Today He wants us to remember this love, personally....individually.

I would like to conclude with the lyrics of this popular hymn we sing so often by Joseph M. Scriven. I implore you to kindly reflect on these:

1.                 What a friend we have in Jesus,

                    all our sins and griefs to bear!

                    What a privilege to carry

                    everything to God in prayer!

                    O what peace we often forfeit,

                    O what needless pain we bear,

                    all because we do not carry

                    everything to God in prayer.

2.                 Have we trials and temptations?

                    Is there trouble anywhere?

                    We should never be discouraged;

                    take it to the Lord in prayer.

                    Can we find a friend so faithful

                    who will all our sorrows share?

                    Jesus knows our every weakness;

                    take it to the Lord in prayer.

3.                 Are we weak and heavy laden,

                    cumbered with a load of care?

                    Precious Savior, still our refuge;

                    take it to the Lord in prayer.

                    Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

                    Take it to the Lord in prayer!

                    In his arms he'll take and shield thee;

                    thou wilt find a solace there.

Amen.

Join the chorus

He will glorify me. (John 16:14)

Most everyone has a favorite song, but did you ever think of what goes into writing a song? Often it takes more than one person. An idea starts in someone’s head, maybe words or just a melody. But often someone else is needed to complete that idea. And then there are the musicians who provide the accompaniment, not to mention the producer who puts together the final version. Gilbert and Sullivan, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber—these were songwriting teams, not lone superstars.

By analogy, we can think of Jesus in the same way. He has a beautiful, inspiring message that he wants to bring us. But that message doesn’t come from him alone. He works hand in hand with the Father, who is the author of salvation, and the Holy Spirit, who is the breath of God’s love and grace. Jesus is the “Word,” but the one who plays the tune is the Holy Spirit. He works in our hearts to guide us to “all truth,” to the astounding truth that God loves us and has an eternal plan for our lives (John 16:13).

But the Holy Spirit doesn’t play the same melody over and over again. He plays endless variations on a theme. He thrills us with a song about the power of Jesus’ resurrection. He soothes us with a song of mercy. He makes us want to dance to his song of salvation. His love song is fresh and new every day, so we never get tired of hearing it! 

Great music has the power to move hearts, and no music can do that as much as the Spirit’s music. The more we listen to his song, the more we are shaped by it and the more we come to resemble Jesus. It’s not because we are being compelled to act differently; it’s because the Father’s love melts our “stony hearts”—and then we too have a “new song” to sing! (Ezekiel 36:26; Psalm 40:4). So today, try turning off the world’s noise for a few minutes, and listen for what the Spirit is saying, or singing, inside you. But don’t let it stop there. Go ahead, and join the chorus! 

“Holy Spirit, open my heart to hear your music. I give you my cares and anxieties, my past, present, and future. Come, and renew in me the joy of my salvation!” 

from wau.org

We need Him.

As I read Mark 5: 21- 43 today, one thing that stood out for me was how Jesus ignored the crowd and even the sentiments of His own disciples, What can we learn from this: In life we need to know when to ignore the distracting voices from our society and sometimes even the distracting voices of the people closest to us, in order to fulfill our God-given vision and achieve our God-given purpose. How do we know when?; by being attentive to His directing Holy Spirit.

Today, I pray that we will all have a yearning for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. Indeed we need Him to survive.

Alert!!

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). How did John recognize Jesus? After all, he confessed that he didn’t know him before—or at least that he didn’t know that Jesus was the chosen Messiah. What happened?

John saw Jesus with the eyes of his heart. He could see who Jesus really was because the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. We might say that the Holy Spirit invited John to see and that John accepted the invitation.

Day after day, the Holy Spirit invites us to see Jesus as well. When we accept his invitation in prayer, we give the Spirit the freedom to open our eyes and our hearts. Our yes tells the Spirit, “Please show Jesus more clearly to me because I want to know him more. I want his presence, his power, and his mercy in my life.”

Isn’t it amazing how we can read so much into what we see with our physical eyes? This happens when an accountant reads a company’s balance sheet, when a doctor reads the results of a blood test, or when a father sees a confused look on his teenager’s face. Just as a doctor has been trained to know what to look for, so our minds can be formed to recognize spiritual realities. John was able to recognize Jesus in large part because he was committed to God and eager to do his will. His heart was soft, and his mind was alert. 

Today, let’s be alert to God. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus each morning. Let’s pray as often as we can, persevere as much as we can, and stay as peaceful as we can all day long.St. Catherine of Siena learned to stay close to God by simply repeating: “God all, I nothing.” This was how she came into God’s presence and recognized him. May this be our disposition as well!

“Lord, open my eyes so that I can see you.”

taken from wau.org

My notes:

I believe we can develop an alertness to His voice by:

1. Scripture study- I think that scripture study exposes one to how God speaks, if we allow Him to direct us.

2.Having quiet and reflective times.

3.Learning to obey the promptings we know are from the Holy Spirit. And as we learn to obey, it will become easier for us to conform to His voice.

Stirred and Formed

He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:15)

What an inspiring thing to hear about John the Baptist! Wouldn’t you want to be filled with the Spirit from your very first days? Well, maybe if we compared John and Samson, whose story is told in today’s first reading, we may have second thoughts. Both were instruments of the Holy Spirit, but their lives teach us very different lessons. 

Look at Samson. Like John the Baptist, he was born to a devout childless couple. He was to be set apart for the Lord and would be blessed and stirred by his Spirit. But if you fast-forward through his life, you see that Samson was compromised by his involvement with foreign women, most notably, Delilah. And even though he was supposed to be the beginning of Israel’s deliverance from the Philistines, his lack of self-control put the whole nation in peril (Judges 13:5). In the end, “stirred by the Spirit,” Samson acted heroically. But his story shows us that maybe being stirred by the Spirit wasn’t enough.

On the other hand, John the Baptist was formed by the Holy Spirit, not just stirred. The Spirit moved in him from the womb, just like Samson, but John responded by going into the desert so that the Spirit could teach him. He chose an environment where distractions were fewer so that he could keep his attention on God.

And what a difference that made! John may have been an unusual figure, but his testimony rang true. Because he learned to listen to the Spirit, he could speak words of repentance that drew crowds of people back to the Lord. 

The closer we get to Christmas, the busier we can get. So many things can distract us. Don’t let that happen! In this week before Christmas, make an extra effort to set aside time for the Lord. Put aside the distractions of life, and focus on him. Ask the Spirit to do more than just stir you; ask him to transform you. Then see how his fruits of joy, peace, patience, and kindness shine forth from you this Christmas! 

“Holy Spirit, I don’t want to be satisfied with occasional stirrings from you. I want you to form me and train me so that I can be your instrument!”

taken from wau.org