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God's Wonderful Love
Wednesday November 22, 2006
Luke 19:11-28Reflection: Some people could equate today's Gospel reading with money and how we could gain more of it or loose it. Since Jesus used parables to relate to them an idea of what he was getting at, he used money as his point. As in yesterday's reading about lukewarmness, do we use our faith for the greater glory of God's Kingdom? Or do we do nothing? A strong faith in God and guaranteed it will prosper, but if we do nothing to make our faith more than it is we gain nothing. So when we do nothing to bring faith to others or to ourselves, we loose more and more of God's Kingdom. Faith no matter how strong or weak, if we do not take care of it we eventually lose it. Just as Jesus pointed out with money, when we invest it we gain but when we hide our money so it will not grow we eventually lose it. Jesus put it best and no one can tell it like he does. All we can do is try to keep our faith alive to invest it in ourselves and most especially others so they will benefit. | | | |
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Tuesday November 21, 2006
"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
"He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."
Luke 19:5-7
Reflection:
Why does it bother the righteous when God saves sinners. Is it perhaps because we feel their sins merit them an existence in hell rather than heaven. That they should be destroyed and not blight the earth or our lives. Not so according to Jesus, he came to save them from sin.
Zacchaeus is a good example on how we are to respond when God pokes his finger on our chest to say, smarten up. He quickly answered Jesus' call and said yes. He received him with joy in his house. What a response, that is.
I too was a sinner, and when God poked his finger at me, I responded with a joyful response and welcomed him into my home. My faith was not lukewarm either, and my faithfulness has been hot ever since.
But this is not about me, it is about how we respond to God in our life when he calls us. How would you respond should he poke his finger at you and say come, I want you to follow me. Would you respond with a burning yes, or a lukewarm I'm not really interested, or nothing at all.
Are we hot for God or cold? Because lukewarm is in the middle of the road and they aren't going anywhere fast. If we are lukewarm then nothing will budge us from our lethargy about God and all that he holds dear. There is a remedy for the lukewarm people, letting the Holy Spirit light the fire that is smoldering within them.
Zacchaeus burned with zeal and quickly responded to Jesus' call, how about us.
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Monday November 20, 2006
As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Luke 18:35-38
Reflection:
Why is it that we have read of two accounts of people shouting to Jesus, one was Bartemaeus, and now this one. But what I found is the people nearby telling them to be quiet interesting.
Just like we have people today trying to silence the voices of those who have faith. Or silence the many voices that dare to call out evil when they see it. When people of faith try to voice their concern for a growing sin, how people of no faith try to silence them.
Look at those who kill, and the many who try to right a wrong by praying and attempting to bring light to those in darkness. As in today's Gospel reading the people tried to keep the blind man silent, but his calling gained him Jesus' ear and his faith brought him healing and sight.
The world we live in has so much evil being done that we are blind too. It is those who shout to the many who are blind to change their ways. We have both today those who will shout all the louder for justice and those who shout just as loud to silence, because they do not want to see or hear.
The reading in Revelation had something to say about this: "Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” Rev. 2:5
Somewhere, somehow all the shouting we do amongst each other, one of these days we will begin to shout to Jesus to heal us.
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Sunday November 19, 2006
Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Reflection:
The priest of Jesus' time, could not take away sins. No matter how many sacrifices were offered it just wasn't going to happen.
Jesus on the other hand, was able to wipe out our sins in one heroic act. He gave up his life to do this for us. Out of all the sacrifices that have ever been offered were never worthy enough to remove the taint of sin, but only one was.
When we sit back and think honestly about this sacrifice Jesus did for all of us. We would be a grateful people shouldn't we. How is it then that we hardly know him. What man would go to his death in such a fashion for the sake of freeing us of sin.
If we had to offer a person to free a country by his death would any do so, to free the country from the grip of evil? We have people who do sacrifice their lives for those who suffer in the many countries. But it does not wipe out sin.
Jesus went and gave up his life to perfect ours. While he awaits his enemies to stamp them out. Many who have chosen to follow the way of God have consecrated their lives to live as Jesus taught us to live. To love God and our neighbor.
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Saturday November 18, 2006
Merico "Pope" Petrolati
Passed from this life on November 15, 2006, at a very young age of 93.
Today, I give tribute to this fine man whom I have known most of my life. When I was a kid I used to bring him apple pies or apple crisps, that my mom would make. There never was a day that he didn't say hello to someone passing by.
Some of the memories I recall are the many times I would see him at mass in the morning. He was a shining example of faith in action. Like I said he spoke to everyone.
When we went to the wake last night, out of support to his two sons one of whom I went to school with. It was to encounter a huge line that went around the parking lot. And this line began before calling hours.
He was fondly called "Pope" by all who knew him. His store was called Popes Paint and Hardware. Pope was definitely a good man, he will be missed by many. But not as much as by his family. My heart goes out to them this day. It was nice to see the many people who came to give support to the Petrolati Family at the Mass that was celebrated.
In God's infinite mercy, may the soul of "Pope" rest in peace.
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