Seek what is above.

(Colossians 3:1) 

If Paul ever needed a second job, he could have easily found a position writing technical manuals. He could be clear and concise when he needed to, and he never minced his words. Just as a manual tells you how to use an appliance or piece of software, Paul tells us how to take hold of the new life that Jesus has won for us. It’s as simple as ABC. Look to heaven, put off the “old self” and put on the “new self” (Colossians 3:9, 10). He even gives real-life examples of what the old self looks like so that we can identify it and deal with it—just like the illustrations in a user’s manual!

If Paul is so clear on this theory, why can we sometimes feel muddled in our attempts to put it into practice? We want to overcome our old lives, but we can’t seem to get very far.

One answer is that it takes time. We shouldn’t think that all our sinful habits will go away overnight. That’s why God has given us the gifts of Confession and the Eucharist. We need all the mercy we can get. We need the strength and grace that come from receiving Jesus in his Body and Blood. We should never discount the power of these gifts—or our need for them!

But there is another answer. Paul was clear because he had worked this out in his own life. His clarity didn’t come only from deep theological inquiry. It was also forged in the daily spiritual battle that he took up. Day after day, he strove to put off his old life of violence and pride. Day after day, he strove to put on the life of peace and humility that Jesus had won for him. Day after day, he strove to keep his eyes fixed on the Lord and his heavenly glory.

If we follow Paul’s lead and take up the battle ourselves, our lives will change—slowly but surely. We will begin to sense the Holy Spirit encouraging us and convincing us of God’s love. We will find ourselves reflecting it to the people around us.

So take your time, and keep seeking “what is above” (Colossians 3:1).

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

God Focused

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Romans 4:3)

A new word was added to the Oxford English Dictionary a couple of years ago: selfie. It’s a digital picture you take of yourself that often includes a background of where you are or the people who are with you. While taking a selfie can be a fun way to capture a special moment, the word conveys the sense of focusing on yourself and making yourself the center of attention. And what often happens when we look at a picture of ourselves? We focus on the flaws. “Do I really look like that?” “Wow! My teeth are more crooked than I thought!”

 

Contrast this with God’s calling for Abraham. He had called this wealthy Chaldean to pick up everything and move, and Abraham obeyed. Now, many years later, God tells him to look at the nighttime sky. He promises to make Abraham’s offspring as numerous as the stars in the heavens. And Abraham focuses on God and believes him. He trusts that God is who he says he is and that he will do what he says he will do. He looks away from himself and looks at the Lord instead. As Paul says later on in this chapter, Abraham “did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body as [already] dead (for he was almost a hundred years old)” (Romans 4:19). He didn’t focus on his flaws or shortcomings, but only on God’s promise. And for this, God considered him righteous. 

God wants us to focus on him—not because he is self-absorbed, but because he knows how much it will help us. He wants us to know what it’s like to be loved completely and unconditionally—warts and all! That way, we won’t focus on our weaknesses and flaws and feel helpless. Rather, we’ll focus on his mercy and acceptance, drawing from his love the strength and confidence we need for our daily lives.

So be like Abraham today, and believe in God. Focus on him, not yourself, and see where he leads you. 

“Father, you created the stars in the heavens, and you call each one by name. I believe that you hold all of creation in the palms of your hands. I believe that you have called me by name and that you are faithful to every promise you have made.

 

from wau.org

The opinion of One

He will not contend or cry out. (Matthew 12:19)

A central part of any suspense movie is the cat and mouse game between the villain and the hero. Whether it’s a high-speed chase, a game of wits, or a race against the clock, the villain is seeking to trap the hero in some kind of web to render him powerless against the villain’s schemes. For his part, the hero uses his quick reflexes, his street smarts, and his charm to avoid capture and save the day.

Well, in today’s Gospel reading, we see Jesus employ a unique strategy that probably wouldn’t play out well in a suspense movie. After he heals a man on the Sabbath, some of the Pharisees set out on an elaborate cat and mouse game in which they hope to trap Jesus in his own words so that they can put him to death. But Jesus, realizing what is going on, decides not to get drawn into their web or provoke a confrontation. Instead, he simply withdraws. He avoids confrontation altogether so that he can keep ministering to the people. That, after all, is what he had been sent to do.

What a model for us! God wants us to take after Jesus, the ultimate servant who kept his eyes focused only on doing his Father’s will. Instead of engaging in confrontation, he wants us to become agents of consolation. Instead of “crying out,” he wants us to move on to the next thing on our list. Instead of getting distracted by the enemy’s plans, God wants us to be absorbed with forwarding his plans. Imagine how many more people could hear the good news if we were all to learn the art of letting go of controversy, conflict, and condemnation!

In a culture that thrives on argument and conflict, it can be hard to remember that the only One whose opinion really matters is God. Focus on loving him and serving his people. Make it your goal only to do what you know God is asking of you. Then move on to the next task, trusting that your Father sees all that you’re doing and will both protect and reward you. 

“Jesus, help me learn to walk away from needless conflict. I want to be like you, not crying out or raising my voice, but simply loving and serving your people.” 

from wau.org

The Escape

Come, follow me (Mark 10:21)

In the fantasy film Labyrinth, a teenager named Sarah tries to rescue her baby brother from the evil Goblin King. To reach him, she must make her way through an enormous labyrinth. At one point she meets a character named the Junk Lady, who distracts her by showing her an exact copy of her room at home. She shows Sarah her toys, saying, “Everything you’ve ever cared about is here.” Then Sarah remembers that she still has to save her brother. “It’s all junk!” she cries, throwing one of her toys against her mirror. At that moment, the room dissolves, and she is able to escape.

Like Sarah, the rich young man in today’s Gospel was faced with a decision about his possessions. But while Sarah saw through the “junk” that trapped her, this fellow could not.

We are all faced with the same question that this young man faced: who is Jesus? Is he the eternal Son of God, sent to save us from sin and open heaven for us? Or is he just a good teacher and charismatic leader? Or, to put it another way, is Jesus far more important than our possessions, or is he just one of many equally good things in our lives? This isn’t just an issue of money, either. Many other “idols” can compete with the Lord, including our strongly held opinions, our social standing, and the grudges and resentments we choose to hold onto.

There is an old hymn that says, when we “look full in his wonderful face,” the “things of earth will grow strangely dim.” So today, imagine yourself as the rich young man. Go ahead and say to him whatever you want. But then, when he looks into your eyes, stay there for a minute, and look back at him. Imagine the look on his face and the intensity of his gaze. See his love and compassion for you. See how your heart is moved to love him in return. That’s the moment when you’re ready to give up anything and everything for him. That’s the moment when you have escaped.

“Lord, help me to find my treasure in you. Come, Jesus, and fill my heart with the fire of your love. Lord, I give everything to you!”

taken from wau.org