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God's Wonderful Love
Saturday September 30, 2006
While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. Luke 9:43-45
Reflection:
I've always wondered why Jesus refers himself as the "Son of Man" and not the "Son of God." Yet there were many times when one of the apostle's would refer to him as the Messiah, the Chosen One, and the Son of God. But in today's reading we read about Jesus asking them to pay attention to what he is telling them.
I am often reminded of the many times when listening intently to someone speak, only to find I didn't understand what was said until a few minutes later or much later than that. It has nothing to do with a sluggish mind as we tend to think, but God's purpose in keeping it hidden at the time, until we need it. And when that happens it's as if a light goes off in our minds, a dawning of reasoning. What was said to us just happened to become clear. I think about the apostles now and what Jesus asked of them, and them wanting to question him. It will come to them when the Holy Spirit will reveal in time what the meaning is about.
The apostles are not dumb, just like we are not either when things are hidden from us, it is part of God's plan and the Holy Spirit's, in our understanding his hand in all of it.
When I first wrote the paragraph at the beginning I wondered about why Jesus calls himself the Son of Man, and understanding his purpose was not to reveal who he truly was but for us to see with eyes of faith who he really is. We are made in God's image so in truth he is the Son of Man, but he is so very much the Son of God.
He foretells his pending captivity to the apostles, the handing over to us for the sake of our salvation. He was trying to prepare them for what is to come.
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Friday September 29, 2006
War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed .For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them." Revelations 12:7-12
Reflection:
We have three wonderful archangels that help us in our daily lives. Out of Seven that stand before the Throne of God these three are the most mentioned in the Scriptures. Michael for his battle against the foe, Gabriel for his messages, and Raphael for healing the elder Tobias.
Our live is not complete without Jesus in it, but it is also enhanced by the angels that are sent to help guide us on our journey to heaven. These angels are always near us to help us when we ask for their help. Sometimes we forget to seek them too.
I know on numerous occasions I have called upon Michael to protect me from the one who seeks to destroy. I even ask Gabriel for strength and understanding. These beautiful angels have the ear of God.
Today of all the days we live I pray for the continual guidance of the archangels, that we are shielded from the evil one, guided by the messenger and healed of our troubles by these wondrous angels.
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Thursday September 28, 2006
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him. Luke 9:7-96
Reflection:
Gossip has a way of spinning our heads. Not a good thing. Herod was getting the tail end of gossip and not getting all the facts. So in his way he tried to go and see Jesus for himself. Just to make sure that what he was hearing was truth.
Nobody likes being told something to only find out, it is wrong. Or given infortmation to mislead others just so they will not succeed. Herod had a time of it it seems. His guilt over beheading John had him reeling. That gives us a clue into Herod's mind. He had a conscience after all. It didn't give him any rest either, he had to go see for himself. Not to be saved from what he has done, but to ease his mind about the deed. John it seems was quite a powerful figure for Herod to fear he had arisen.
Little did he know it is Jesus whom he will really have to fear in the long run. I sit back sometimes and realize that my conscience does the same, it will not rest when I've done wrong even if it was something very small. The grace of God has a beauty all it's own when he gives us the voice of our conscience to do what is right and good.
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Wednesday September 27, 2006
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them. Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere. Luke 9:4-6
Reflection:
Look how far the ministry has gone since Jesus' time. We have more towns now than ever before. What growth! But can someone come knocking and be let in. Any strangers that come to our doors are scrutinized. We wonder what they have come for, especially today.
Today we have many that refuse to let in people they know unless they call in advance, often with the excuse "We are just leaving." Then come to find out they never left. I often wonder should Jesus come to their doors and knock would he also be sent away without being let in.
One thing about not judging people is also not judging their living quarters. All too often the scenario of not letting people we know who visit on the spur is being caught with a mess, or not dressed as fancily.
But from long ago when the apostles have made their way through the many towns proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases, should they be here today, they would have a hard time being welcome in many homes, considering they are strangers to them. Does this tell us that it would take much for our hearts to be opened, considering how guarded and locked we keep our homes today. They would be doing an awful lot of shaking dust off their feet then.
My living quarters are not as important as my interior self. When Jesus knocks on our doors of our hearts, no matter what shape it is in, let him in, he will help you clean out what mess we have in there. God love him.
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Tuesday September 26, 2006
All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts. Proverbs 21:2
Reflection:
Having the opportunity to teach young adults the faith brought back to mind when I was their age and going through what they are now. When I read today's reading from proverbs, this one reminded me of the many times when I too thought I was right about many things, to only be proved wrong either by someone else or by the Lord himself.
We don't always see how we truly are, until it is pointed out to us. The same goes when we think we are right. Our hearts are constantly being proved by our Lord daily, it is for us to see his hand in keeping us on the path of salvation.
I remember when I was young and my parents telling us, wait until your older, you will see. This had to do with thinking how very grown up we thought we were then. Every thing we did, said and thought we knew was right and we were the authority on any subject we came across. Blind trust goes a long way when we are young. It's not until much later we see in a different way how wrong we were and how our young minds wanted to be oh so right.
Maybe not all young people experience this, but I know I did and can look back and say how foolish I was in thinking I knew more than I did, when even now I don't know as much as would like.
I have found over the past few years our Lord directing my life and correcting my heart of what I once thought was right in my eyes. I can say how truly foolish I was in my own thinking, but I can say in the same breath how truly grateful for a loving God who can go to such lengths to open my eyes to my own self. I am truly humbled.
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