Jesus told her,"I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." John 11:25-27

Reflection:

Martha believed even before Jesus brought her brother back to life. Her faith in Jesus was that great. Do we have this type of faith? Faith enough to believe that when we are dead in our own faith, we could be brought back to life. We see it today with people who have no faith, how they are brought to life in Christ.

Jesus asks us today do we believe in him, that he is the resurrection and the life. Oh yes! Very much so, I do.

How often do we die of self, so we may live? What do we deny in our daily lives for the sake of having life in Christ? Do we hear him calling us out of the depths of death? The death we suffer daily by burying ourselves in so much stuff, that we lose our souls. Pride, sinfulness, and so much more kill us. Can we too be as Martha was. Yes, Lord. We have come to believe that you are Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into this world.

Seek Jesus, and live.

lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them. Matthew 13:15

Reflection:
We were given two parables today to reflect upon. One had to do with what we already have more will be given and what we do not have will be taken away. Do any associate this with money? Because many people have, it seems the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer. But why does Jesus tell us about the poor, to feed and help them in many ways. But this is a parable after all, and it is looking at it in Jesus' way.

When you have faith and special gifts that accompany that faith, and you practice it faithfully, more will be given. And even though we have faith, but do not practice it, it seems what gifts we were given have been taken away.

What gifts are we talking about then? Think about the ability to have patience, which is a virtue. Think about some of the other gifts that come from the Spirit, Understanding, compassion, charity are a few to mention that with faith go beyond the limits. But without faith we loose them, we become people who have no understanding, no compassion, without charity for one another.

We all have special gifts, even with an ounce of faith can produce more. It is when we stop living our faith that it is all taken away. We cease to let the living water nourish us as the reading in Jeremiah speaks of from God himself.

Do we wonder what this has to do with the chosen quote I put on here. Pretty much, because if your eyes are closed and your ears do not hear, you will not know the love God gives to you through his Word. Your heart is sealed shut for any living water to cleanse.

When we seek God's living Word the water of life, we open our hearts to him, we slowly begin to see the many wonders he gives us, and we begin to hear Him speak lovingly to our hearts.

As with any thing that is given, we would first of all have to be open to it. But many refuse and fear conversion. That would mean a change in lifestyle, a change in how they treat others, a change in themselves mostly. People fear this most of all, a change in themselves, because it would remove their comfort.

Little do they know they change daily, jobs change, driving routes are changed due to road work, illness changes people and so forth. When people do everything possible to not change, then they are hard of heart, they will not bend themselves for no one, and not for God either. So we go on living, without really having life.

What's the point of today's parable from Jesus, well if we are not willing to see or hear, how can he heal us as he so lovingly wants to.

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:"A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear." Matthew 13:1-9

Reflection:
Since Jesus is the sower of seed, what soil are we then. His parable today gives us an idea of how we live and how we develop in faith.

The Word of God is the seed, some of us do not even hear it, when it is sprinkled around. Such as when bits and pieces are written for encouragement. We see every now and then quotes to send us on our way. But many times they go unheeded and unnoticed.

We have come to those that see and hear the Word, it touches the heart, but soon dissipates. It's like getting wet in the rain, but then we soon dry off and forget that we were once wet.

Then we have those who hear the Word of God, know how to live it, but are passive and easily swayed. They hear but do not follow. The world is their word to live by. They live among the thorns that choke out the Word. They let people choke out the Word of God in their lives.

Now we come to those who hear the Word of God and live it. They proclaim his Word, they follow faithfully, they produce fruit for the Kingdom of God. They are happy to know God and live his Word.

Which soil are we? That the Word of God will take root in and produce everlasting fruit. Since Jesus is the sower and he sends out the seeds of love, are we going to nourish this seed so it will come to be a full blossomed tree. Or do we want to be a withered, dying tree, with no fruit at all.

She answered him,"Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom." Jesus said in reply,"You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." Matthew 20:21-22

Reflection:
What mother does not want the best for their son or daughter? Many mothers seek for their children to become great. But do they know what they ask as a price for them to pay. In today's reading we have one commanding that her two sons be seated one on each side of Jesus in His Kingdom. So he asks, can you drink the chalice I am going to drink? Their reply, they can. Since they have been with Jesus and know him, they know what life they will be living. And how they will die, as martyrs.

So again the question is, do we know what we ask for? When we seek a better future for our children, we seek to place them if possible, with the help of others, in positions that will give them much. But do we know what type of sacrifice they will have to endure for those positions? Some sell their souls to keep a position, by compromising their morals. Others stay steadfast and true. By the grace of God we will have a place in heaven with Him, when we stay loyal to Him. It is through Him all that we have is given, or taken away. So again do we know what we are asking when we seek a higher seat in this world, because it may not guarantee a seat in heaven. Will you be able to drink of the chalice, of loyalty to God?
Can you follow God's will and all that it entails? Can you drink the cup of bitters, where you will not be liked because of your faithfulness to God?

You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,"Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." Matthew 12:38

What God has said to Micah, we have been told, what is good and what the LORD requires of us. We have it in the Ten Commandments, and from His prophets, through the years. Why is it then so hard for us to follow? And on top of it because we sin, we seek signs from Him.

When Jesus was asked, it was by the scribes and Pharisees, not by those who truly believe, nor by those who have sought healing. All the questioning came from the upper courts, from lack of their own belief. Or did power go to their heads, having them believe that they are infallible, as if they too were a god. But Jesus told them then, they would not see one because of their evilness.

Since his Resurrection, he has given us many signs to help us along the way. Many of us are blind to these, due to sin. And also because we were not looking for them either. When we open our hearts to God's love, the eyes of our souls become open to the many gifts that God sends to keep us on our path.

Don't be like the scribes and Pharisees, hard of heart. Let the seed of hope bear fruit within your hearts.