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

God wants our attention

Becoming fully awake, they saw his glory. (Luke 9:32)

It had been a long day. Troubles at work, financial challenges, infuriating traffic—and now, the burdened man was driving home from work feeling tense and anxious. But then he crested a hill and saw a beautiful sunset over the valley where he lived. His heart lifted, and he remembered why he was doing it all in the first place. It was as if someone had drawn a curtain back from a window.

How easy it can be to get bogged down with our obligations! And how deeply the Holy Spirit wants to get our attention! Look at the disciples. They fell asleep while Jesus was praying. Imagine their surprise as they opened their drowsy eyes and saw him transfigured. Or look at Abraham: he and Sarah had longed for children for decades. Think of how hard it was for him to believe that he would have just one child, much less a sky full. He probably never looked at the night sky the same again.

God wants to get our attention. He wants to nudge us and readjust our focus. Maybe something special happens, and the “light goes on,” changing our perspective. Or maybe we’re trying to become more attentive to God’s presence, and he sends a blessed moment when he “pulls back the curtain,” revealing a glimpse of his glory.

You don’t have to wait for God to surprise you. You can put yourself in a position where he can open your eyes and change your perspective. Today, try to slow down a couple of times, and look for God’s presence. Maybe you can take a walk and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Or maybe visit a church and sit before the Blessed Sacrament. Or just close your eyes, and picture Jesus sitting next to you. No matter how you do it, know that the Lord is near you. Nothing makes him happier than when one of his children “wakes up”!

“Holy Spirit, I am sleepy. Wake me up to God’s presence. I want to be fully in touch with you today.” 

from wau.org

The joy of prayer

Our Father . . . (Matthew 6:9)

Perhaps you’re having a conversation on your cell phone, and suddenly, the other person is just not there. Maybe something went wrong with their phone or with your phone. If it keeps happening, and you realize the problem’s on your end, you know it’s time to get a new phone or change your phone service. It’s frustrating to have spotty connections with people—especially important people!

Sometimes we can feel that way about our prayer life. We want to have a life-giving connection to God, but it doesn’t always seem as if he hears us—or as if we’re hearing him. What can we do about this? Maybe the answer lies in the way Jesus tells us to pray: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). 

If you’re a father, you know how much you love your children. If you’re not a father, think about the love your father had for you. And if he didn’t model that kind of love, think of other fathers you knew who did. Think of how dedicated they were to their children, how affectionate they were, and how creative they were in their parenting. Now take this dedication, affection, and creativity and multiply it by one thousand. That doesn’t even begin to describe the way God our Father deals with us!

That’s something to keep in mind when you are struggling with prayer. Try to focus on the reality of your Father’s love and mercy rather than how hard you’re trying to pray. Try to imagine him sitting next to you, with his arm around your shoulder, rather than seated on a courtroom bench.

When you pray today, don’t forget who your Father is. Try to let go of your worries and fears. Quiet your mind and heart, and just sit with him. Before you tell him your needs, thank him for his love, and praise him for his grace—in your own words. And if you’re at a loss for words, just read today’s responsorial psalm out loud, slowly and carefully. Let your Father, who is “close to the brokenhearted,” lift you up with his love (Psalm 34:19).

from wau.org

...Planted

He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season. (Psalm 1:3)

Like a tree. Believe it or not, this is a flattering image. In the ancient world, trees were images of power and vitality. To be like a tree would have meant you were established firmly and securely. When the psalmist speaks of yielding fruit, it reminds us of the fruit of the Spirit, the evidence that God is at work in our lives. It conjures up images of fruits like love, joy, and peace.

. . . planted . . . This tree has been put in place deliberately. This is not just a wild tree that is lucky enough to be growing next to a stream. Did you know that you, too, have been planted in a specific place, at a specific time, for a specific purpose? The One who planted you is God, who loves you and wants to see you flourish.

Now, to be “planted,” a tree may first have to be uprooted. True, some seeds are sown close to a stream, but others are planted elsewhere and then dug up as saplings and transplanted. Have you ever noticed how a time of trial or difficulty can be followed by a season of refreshment and renewal? Maybe this Lent could be a time when God “uproots” you and plants you closer to the living water that flows from his heart. It might be a dramatic change in your situation or it might simply be your decision to spend time with him in prayer every day. Either way, the result is very promising!

. . . near running water. Running water stays fresh. It is not like a pond that could grow stagnant and jeopardize the plants growing on its banks. God has put you in a place where you can experience his grace flowing anew each day. He nourishes your deepest roots, those parts of you that are searching for love and life. You might experience this through the sacraments, through brothers and sisters in the faith, through feeling the closeness of the Lord in your prayer time, or through any number of other means. However it happens, know that almighty God is with you, making you strong and fruitful!

“Father, help me sink deep roots into your grace. Lord, I want to bear fruit for you!”

from wau.org

Temples of God

The Lord’s glory had filled the temple. (1 Kings 8:11)

If you were to walk into an old church on a weekday, you might see something unusual and beautiful: a few men and women silently, gently dusting down pews and setting hymnals aright. Some may even be on their hands and knees, carefully cleaning the floor! All of this work happens week after week, out of reverence for the place where Mass is celebrated and God’s people gather. It’s quite an act of love!

In today’s first reading, we see another scene of reverence and love: Temple worship. “All the people of Israel” have gathered, as well as King Solomon (1 Kings 8:2). The sacrifices before the ark of the Lord are rich and full—“sheep and oxen too many to number”—all out of love and gratitude for the God who had saved them and protected them (8:5).

Now consider yet a third sacred space: you! You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Unlike the scene in today’s reading, you don’t need to offer great sacrifices. All you have to do is come before God as you are. Invite him to help you examine your conscience, and then let him clean and polish you. Know that he will exercise even more thoughtful care, gentleness, and love with you than those devoted parishioners did with their church. 

You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. You are a sacred space in which God dwells! Much more precious and beautiful than a church with marble floors, and more so even than the Temple in today’s first reading, you are glorious because you are made in his own image and likeness. 

How does the knowledge that you are a precious dwelling place for God compel and inspire you? Perhaps it can change the way you look at yourself. Or perhaps it changes the way you look at your the people around you. Just as you are, you are a light to the world. As a flame of a candle draws the eye, you radiate as well. Even without trying hard to say or do the right things, you show the world what it’s like to have Jesus in your heart.

So today, try to remain aware of God’s presence within you. Just rest in him, and let his light shine out.

“Lord, thank you for making me your temple. Help me to shine your light into any darkness I encounter today.”

from wau.org

Separate the message from the messenger

Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands? (Mark 6:2)

Have you ever found yourself discounting something that someone said because of her age or background or because you know this person too well to take her seriously? Clearly, this is what happened to Jesus when he visited his hometown of Nazareth. 

On one level, it must have felt good to be back home. After traveling so much, he could finally hear familiar voices and see his old friends and family. He must also have felt good when he saw the initial excitement in the eyes of his former neighbors as he preached at the synagogue. From the Gospel reading, you could tell that his audience liked what they heard—at least at first. 

But then they remembered his background and his family, and their excitement faded. Who is he to be talking with so much authority? We’ve known him since he was just a kid. How dare he tell us to repent! They turned off their ears to him and got angry. Jesus was able to do very little to help them.

Perhaps you have been in a similar situation. Someone, maybe a friend or family member, says something convicting to you, and it stings a bit too much. So in order to silence the message, you try to discount the messenger.

Don’t let that happen! God likes shaking us up a bit by using familiar or unlikely sources as his messengers. It’s one of his most effective ways of getting our attention. In the end, it’s all about our hearts, not the people speaking to us. If someone—anyone—says something that strikes at you, put it aside, and pray about it. Separate the message from the messenger, and ask if the message really does apply to you. Remember that God is everywhere and in everyone, even your children, your nosey neighbor, and your best friend.

Today, try to open your ears to those unlikely people who may have a message for you. Welcome God’s word, no matter who speaks it. It just may change your life.

“Jesus, help me to see you and hear you in all the people you put in my path today. Bring me closer to your glory through their words and their witness.

 

from wau.org

Bye to the past

The man had been dwelling among the tombs. (Mark 5:3)

Do you remember where the man called Legion was living before he encountered Jesus? Interestingly, Mark states it three times—perhaps to make sure we’ve got it. He was living among the tombs (Mark 5:3). That’s an unnerving image, isn’t it? 

What comes to mind when you read among the tombs in this story? Perhaps you think of death and decay, an altogether unclean place. Mark actually describes the demon tormenting this man as an unclean spirit (Mark 5:2).

Maybe you think of a haunted graveyard. In this sense, the tombs were like memorials, reminding the man of a past that just wouldn’t go away. What a fitting site for this deliverance account!

But we know the rest of the story. The man found a new place, at the feet of Jesus, in the presence of the One who cared enough to ask him, “What is your name?”

Of course, we’d never dream of living in a literal graveyard. But many of us do struggle with dwelling too much on the sins and mistakes of the past. In a sense, it’s like spending time in an internal mausoleum. In this place, our thoughts are full of our own shortcomings and blunders. Condemning thoughts often masquerade as conviction; however, they never come from the Lord because all they do is drain our hope and leave us burdened with guilt.

But Jesus has come into these tombs to set us free! As you pray today, see yourself at his feet. There, every twinge of condemnation and every accusing thought yields to the truth of his love. He reminds you that you are clothed with mercy and forgiveness. He even asks you, “What’s your name?” He already knows the answer, but he is inviting you to embrace the forgiveness, freedom, and dignity that he has declared over your life. You are a child of God!

Did you notice that, later in the story, the man could still be found sitting, clothed, at Jesus’ feet? Out of love and a desire to grow in his new identity, he didn’t want to leave! May we, too, find our new home at the feet of Jesus, our Deliverer.

“You, O Lord, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my head!” (Psalm 3:3)

from wau.org