For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. Galatians 5:5-6

Reflection:
We can have all sorts of laws, follow them to a tee but without one key ingredient it would be worthless to have them. Without love we would be mired in hatred. With hatred we would have lawlessness.

At least with love we have faith that what laws we do have they would be followed in the right way. God gave Moses a set for us to follow, so we would live an upright, moral life. Since God is good and God is love, he gives us these laws and rules to keep us safe in his love.

Imagine our life if we had no laws at all to follow. What would it be like? Now think about the many times we had catastrophe's, what generally happens, chaos, disorder, lawlessness. A rampant run on gathering goods while all heck is breaking loose. From what we have witnessed, how we truly act when the law is not there.

It's not just religious laws that are given for our safety but laws we abide to keep us safe in our everyday life. We have stop signs for a reason, so we don't go crashing into each other. Without stop signs would we even stop? I've seen many who just keep on going without looking. Their life and the life of others is in their hands in those moments, while we who stopped and heeded the law are kept safe.

No matter what we do if it isn't done with love it is nothing. We have faith because of love from God, we have laws we follow because God loves us enough to give them to us. No matter who or what we are we all enjoy the love God gives and the rules he gives for us to abide in. The more we remove God from our lives the more we lose and the less we follow the laws that have been passed down to each of us.

and there is something greater than Jonah here.
Luke11:32

Reflection:
For certain there truly was something greater than Jonah there. He was standing in their midst. He said this twice to them that something greater than Jonah is here. But did they understand this. Do we?

We could be the one's Jesus is speaking about too. We are an evil generation, look at what is taking place all over the world. Look how our churches are emptying, that speaks volumes about where are priorities are and they are not on God. (added in) Or how we destroy life with abortions. Take away from family with same sex marriages. Create new life with mixing genes to produce something not made from God's creation, but man's.


We have many things that turn us away from God, yet we all seek signs that he is alive. But step in a Holy Church and you will feel his presence surround you. And we still seek tangible proof.

But we do have something greater than Jonah here, we have His presence always in the Blessed Sacrament, a sign of his covenant. But we still seek more.

Is that why we go and do the abominable stuff we do, to bring about our own end. All so we can be the generation known for ending the world as we speak. It does not look good for us then when we seek this sign. Many will loose out because they have not prepared.

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Luke 11:27-28

Reflection:
You just have to love Jesus for what he said in return to the woman who spoke from the crowd. Little did she know how true her words have become. That Mary's womb which carried Jesus is truly blessed, by the grace of God. But how much more blessed are we then when we hear the word of God and observe it. His words are true!

When we think about it, each time we hear the word of God proclaimed to us and we refuse to heed it's message then we are not being blessed. And how often do we truly act upon the word of God. It's not just that though, we sit and listen but not really, how often do we let our thoughts wander when we hear God's word.

I remember the few times when I too at Mass let my thoughts wander away while listening to God's word being spoken through another. Thankfully it wasn't too many of those times. I found that when the readings began to be read, I turned my mind to it, and then I let the words wash over. But then I would listen to the one who is sent to act in Jesus' place. We are not always graced with an enlightened homily or sermon as some would call it. But out of it somewhere in time it will find a way in its perspective, only if we have truly listened.

As a beautiful person once wrote to me about this, even when we do not get what is being spoken of, the important thing to remember is that we are there for the body and blood of our Lord as well. Where this speaks volumes as much as the word of God, since it is made flesh.

Luke 11:15-26

What happens when we have always had God in our lives and drive him out, instead of having demons driven out. We become a void, empty of all life, a shell.

Today we read of demons being driven out and how when one is driven out many more come back, and the person is worse off than before. Not a pleasant thing to have happen to us, now is it. Who, when relieved of demons wants more. Not me, I would rather have the life giving water from our Father.

It's easy to understand that once we were free from our sins, and continue on the same path without changing how truly easy it is to become inhabited by more. At least I understand this, that once my spiritual life has become focused on God and I turn my life around to his, but in the process I start doing what I did before, then I can say woe is me. I will have brought back what I do not desire. All because I did not truly change.

How truly hard it is to keep our dwelling place free of dust. It is a constant watch to make sure the dust that falls does not become even more so. So when Jesus speaks about removing demons from our lives and they go off to an arid place, think about our arid times, how we cool off in our ardor for God. How easy these demons find their way back into our lives.

This is where we actually drive out God rather than keeping him with us all the more to safeguard our hearts.