Signs of glory

All this you were allowed to see. (Deuteronomy 4:35) 

The Hebrews whom Moses led out of Egypt saw spectacles we can only imagine: plagues, pillars of cloud and fire, and a sea that parted before them and closed on Pharaoh’s army. Just recounting all the miracles and signs and wonders surrounding the Exodus can make us tired. Surely God could have just picked up his people and transported them directly to the Promised Land instead! But he didn’t. He chose to lead them by signs and wonders so that they would know that the Lord is God—and there is no other.

Likewise, God wants to give us signs and wonders to help convince us that he is the one and only God. His signs are all around us. Brilliant sunsets and billowing clouds, towering peaks and rushing streams, daily proclaim his glory. The vast variety of plants and animals on our planet declares his infinite beauty and creativity—and, in some cases, his sense of humor. The slow erosion of mountains and the movement of glaciers show his limitless patience, while gales and blizzards tell of his vast power. 

God’s signs and wonders aren’t just visible around you; they are within you as well. Pillars of fire may be rare, but the Holy Spirit might “light up” a Scripture verse to help you understand God’s mind a little better. Or you might read the story of a saint and gain a new appreciation for another way that God has worked in the world. Or God might give you the grace to cross “seas” of discouragement or fear so that you can emerge stronger and closer to him. 

God is always sending you signs that he is alive and present. It just takes practice to recognize them. One way to start is with praise—maybe praising him for the glory of a glowing sunrise or the pleasure of a cooling breeze on a hot day. Look for the ways he has helped you forgive someone or has given you a sense of how much he loves you. If you open your eyes today, you can be confident that you’ll see the glory of God. 

“Lord, open my eyes so that I can see your power at work in my life today.”

from wau.org

Worship..everyday

Matthew 14:22-36

If you’re thinking that “homage” means “worship” here, you’re right. A boat may seem like an odd place for the disciples to fall down in worship and adoration, but consider the scene: they had just seen Jesus walking toward them on the water—and in the midst of a violent storm, no less! Add to that the fact that not long before that, they had seen him performing many other miracles like multiplying bread and performing countless healings. So it’s no wonder they responded this way. They were awestruck!

That’s the best reason for worship. It’s the natural response of our hearts to God’s greatness and mercy. Like the disciples in the boat, the more we see how marvelous he is, the easier it becomes to praise him and offer him our lives. 

So how can you cultivate an attitude of worship? You don’t need to go through the day on your knees or spend all of your time in church. Your everyday words and actions can become filled with devotion and gratitude to the Lord. Brother Lawrence, in Practicing the Presence of God, paints a picture of what this could look like. “God does not ask much of us, merely a thought of him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for his grace . . . at other times to thank him . . . One need not cry out very loudly; he is nearer to us than we think.” 

So start small. Take just one thing you have planned for today, and turn it into an act of worship. Keep Jesus in mind. Start up an inner conversation with him and invite him into your task. And then try to do this task as if you were doing it for him. 

As you get into the habit of turning your everyday activities into acts of worship and adoration, you’ll find yourself more aware of God’s presence throughout the day. You’ll find your heart softening toward the people around you. And you’ll find yourself echoing the cry of the disciples in the boat: “Truly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33)!

“Lord, help me to be more aware of you in everything I do. I want to worship you even in my ordinary tasks.” 

from wau.org

A "sheaf" of faith

When you come into the land . . . (Leviticus 23:10) 

Try though we may, we simply can’t control everything that happens in our lives. From political intrigues to sudden thunderstorms, some things just happen no matter what we do. Only God can make accurate predictions about what will and won’t happen. He does exactly this in today’s first reading, when he tells the people, “When you come into the land which I am giving you . . . bring a sheaf” (Leviticus 23:10). Notice that he says when you come into the land, not if.

Ever faithful to his promises, God knew that the Israelites would enter the Promised Land. All he asked for in return was their trust, demonstrated by an offering of a “sheaf,” a bundle of harvested grain, during the major Jewish festivals. This sheaf was to come from “the first fruits” of their harvest—the very first ripening of grain (Leviticus 23:10). They weren’t to wait until they had gathered all of the harvest; they were to show their trust that God would bless the rest of the crop.

But what about during years of drought or hardship, when the Israelites were struggling to see God’s blessings? Undoubtedly, it was hard to trust God then. But that’s what made the offering even more valuable.

We can find it hard too when our loved ones continue to struggle despite our prayers or when we can’t see a way out of a painful situation. Like the Israelites, we might wonder if God will be faithful. So how can we “bring a sheaf,” or continue to trust in God? By recalling how faithful he has been in the past. Use your personal history as a starting point, and then proclaim with the psalmist, “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness” (Psalm 27:13).

Maybe your faith has faltered at other times, but in this moment, decide to bring God a sheaf of trust. Imagine him responding, “When I answer your prayer . . .” God knows what he is doing. He is already past the “if” stage and onto the “when.” He is providing for you in ways you don’t yet perceive. Trust this, and thank the Lord for what you believe, even if you can’t see it. You may not know all the details of God’s plan, but God does. He won’t abandon you. 

“Lord, I entrust my deepest concerns to you in faith.”

from wau.org

Just come

Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ. (John 11:27) 

When we first think of St. Martha, we probably remember the story of hardworking Martha and her “contemplative” sister, Mary, who didn’t help her in the kitchen (Luke 10:38-42). Many of us probably have felt sorry for Martha when Jesus rebuked her.

But today, on Martha’s feast day, we read a different story. We don’t see busy Martha, complaining Martha, or worried and anxious Martha. We see steady Martha, who has the confidence to go out to meet Jesus and proclaim her faith in him—even in her grief. Martha has changed.

But how did this happen? She has “come to believe” (John 11:27). And so can we.

Martha’s faith was not a one-time event but a progressive growth in understanding of who Jesus was and what it meant to trust him. In this situation with her brother’s illness and death, Martha’s faith grew gradually as she spoke with Jesus and listened to him carefully. She knew that he was the Savior sent into this world. She trusted that he could heal their ailing brother, but she didn’t understand why Jesus deliberately delayed his coming. So she brought her confusion to him. 

Martha knew that Lazarus would rise on the last day, but she wasn’t sure what Jesus might do “even now” (John 11:22). She just wanted to be near him. So Jesus took the opportunity to speak with her, patiently asking questions that helped her to search her heart. And perhaps amazed herself, she was able to say, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe” (11:27). Then she ran to offer her sister the same opportunity. 

Our faith develops in the same incremental way. Jesus invites us to trust him. We express the little faith we have: “I do believe, help my unbelief,” and we tell Jesus what we don’t understand (Mark 9:24). Then he leads us little by little to a fuller understanding of who he is.

Don’t be afraid to question Jesus. Tell him what doesn’t make sense to you. Ask what small step he is inviting you to take, and try to be obedient. Then come back and ask again. Little by little, your flicker of faith will grow into a blazing fire.

“Jesus, I have come to believe in you. Help me to take the next step.”

from wau.org

No to negative thoughts

No one could travel by that road. (Matthew 8:28) 

Can you imagine how frightening it must have been to live near the Gadarene region while these demoniacs were on the loose? Everyone must have been afraid they would be attacked. Travelers were probably warned to stay away. The two men’s presence probably interrupted the flow of trade, made family visits difficult, and, as today’s Gospel says, even kept people from visiting their relatives’ graves. 

But with just one word from Jesus, the two men were delivered. Their demonic tormentors were gone, and their violent rampage ended. Not only were they set free, but everyone around them could travel again. Life returned to normal—even better than normal! 

Now, let’s apply this image to the way our minds work. Think about what happens when someone says something hurtful to you or does something that disappoints you. If you don’t turn to God and ask him to help you, negative thoughts could arise and fester inside. Without grace from the Lord, the devil could start tempting you to get angry, resentful, guilty, or scared. It might get so bad that you aren’t able to think of anything else. It’s as if all the other “travelers” in your mind were held hostage to these thoughts. 

The next time you find yourself harassed by negative thinking, try these three simple steps:

•  Take a close look at the thought that is bothering you, and call it what it is: “This is a divisive thought. This is a bitter thought. If I hold onto it, it will hurt my relationship with my friend.”

•  Stop and pray. Ask Jesus to help you cast out the offending thought: “Lord, I know this thought doesn’t please you. Please protect me so that it doesn’t dominate my mind.”

•  Make a conscious effort to replace it with positive thoughts: “I want to get angry about what this person just said, but I choose to forgive instead. I choose to uphold the good in him and to find a way to move forward peacefully.”

You don’t have to be subject to negative thoughts. Jesus has the power to set you free! 

from wau.org

Sleeping Jesus is still Sovereign Jesus

What sort of man is this? (Matthew 8:27)

You aren’t usually involved in what’s going on around you when you’re fast asleep. You don’t respond to questions, solve problems, or do physical activities—like bail out a boat. So it makes sense that the disciples thought Jesus was off duty and unaware of the tempest bearing down on them. What they found out, though, is that Jesus never stops being in control, even when he is asleep. It turned out that sleeping Jesus was still sovereign Jesus. 

The disciples hadn’t yet grasped that Jesus was Lord and God when they were caught up in the storm. But they received two insights that night: they saw that Jesus was always concerned for their well-being—even when he appeared to be dozing. And they learned that his power extended over the forces of nature.

After he calmed the storm, Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you terrified?” (Matthew 8:26). In light of the power he had just shown them, his question makes sense. There was a lot more to Jesus than they knew, and they had just seen another glimpse of it. He showed them that they could trust him, that he could take care of them no matter what their situation. 

There is nothing Jesus can’t handle! His authority extends over angels, demons, the universe—and over human hearts, minds, and souls. This Jesus, who is Lord and God, cares for us. He cares for you. At times you may feel like Jesus is asleep in the boat. You may feel alone, without guidance or help. In difficult times like these, try to remember that Jesus is still Lord.

Here’s an idea for the next time you feel overwhelmed: try to stop and pray the Creed. Let this ancient prayer remind you about who Jesus is. Let it help you recall that he is “God from God, Light from Light,” and “seated at the right hand of the Father”—even if you don’t see him. Let it remind you that “for our salvation he came down from heaven,” and “for our sake he was crucified.” These are the stable, solid truths you can stand on when you’re in the middle of a storm. Always remember: sleeping Jesus is still sovereign Jesus. 

from wau.org

No Impossibility

Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do? (Genesis 18:14) 

Now that’s a good question! Is there a limit to what God can do? More important, is there a limit to what he will do in the lives of his people? Today’s readings—the stories of Abraham and Sarah, the Virgin Mary, and the Roman centurion—prove that nothing is “too marvelous” for God to do.

In the first reading, Sarah laughs when her angelic visitors promise that she will bear a child (Genesis 18:12). Can she really become a mother at her age? Instead of rejecting her for her unbelief, they simply repeat the promise—even when she denies that she has doubted. And sure enough, one year later, Sarah has a son, Isaac. God is not put off by lack of faith.

Next, in the Responsorial Psalm, we read Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Surely Mary has questions, but she fully embraces the angel’s words and becomes the Mother of God. Her hymn of praise links together God’s promise to her and his promise to Abraham and Sarah. God is faithful to his people through time.

Finally, the Gospel recounts the story of the Roman centurion. This pagan soldier reveals a level of faith that amazes even Jesus. When the centurion’s servant is healed, everyone is surprised. They thought that Jesus had come only for the Jewish people, but here he is offering healing and salvation to anyone who has faith. God extends his blessing to everyone.

 

Is anything too marvelous for the Lord? Clearly not. If God can work miracles in the lives of Sarah, the Virgin Mary, and the centurion, he can surely work in your life as well. He will always take care of you, even if you have doubts. He has always been with you, and he will never leave your side. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you have done, he can still work wonders! 

from wau.orgNi