"Looking around at them with anger and grieved at the hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'"
Mark 3:5
Pray-As-You-Go asked a ponderous question with this reading today. What caused the hardness of the Pharisees' hearts and could that happen to us? Wow, that's not something I admit I've thought about. They were the leaders of the faith, the Higher-Ups, the guys in charge. What caused them to totally miss this guy with the withered hand and concentrate only on the fact that Jesus healed him on the sabbath? Couldn't they see how diminished his life was with this disability and how better he would be with two good hands? What was it about them that prevented them from going there? I'm thinking they were very comfortable within the rules of the faith and those rules gave them a sense of security. After all, in those days it was all about obeying the rules to being able to justify yourself before God. Here comes this guy, Jesus, who is disobeying the rules and making good things happen in the process. What would that do for those who depend on the rules to look good themselves? Compassion could fly right out the window in that case, couldn't it? And what about us? Do we get so caught up in the rules that we lose compassion and concern for those who we perceive breaking the rules? Are we so concerned about our own well-being that we can't look beyond ourselves to the needs of others? Can we ever look into the eyes of real, live human beings and see their Divine spark or do we just see them as threatening rule-breakers? It isn't a stretch to see this scenario playing out in our country right now. Where are we with it? Love, heidi
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Rules, rules, rules...
"Then he said to them, 'The sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord, even of the sabbath.'"
Mark 2:27-28
As I am watching a beautiful sunrise in Boiseville, I'm thinking how the sabbath was meant to be freeing for the people. They toiled long and hard all week, they deserved a nice rejuvenating rest, and that is why God told them to take it easy for one day a week. But, humans, as humans tend to do, got all twisted up in the rules of it. The sabbath became much less freeing and much more confining, with intricate rules marking what people could and could not do. The goal became about obeying the rules rather than resting. Pray-As-You-Go asked if we think humankind is still too caught up in the rules and I nearly spit out my coffee. Jesus proclaimed himself Lord of the sabbath to return it to its freeing nature, to give it back to the people as it was intended to be, sans all the strict and crazy rules. Take a day off, put your feet up, spend time in quiet mindfulness. Don't get wigged out about the rules for yourself and, certainly, don't be nit-picky about the rules for others. Because, you see, that's exactly what they did; they policed each other strictly and critically, which is why Jesus had to remind them not to judge, too. And this was two thousand years ago...where are we with it now? Love, heidi
Mark 2:27-28
As I am watching a beautiful sunrise in Boiseville, I'm thinking how the sabbath was meant to be freeing for the people. They toiled long and hard all week, they deserved a nice rejuvenating rest, and that is why God told them to take it easy for one day a week. But, humans, as humans tend to do, got all twisted up in the rules of it. The sabbath became much less freeing and much more confining, with intricate rules marking what people could and could not do. The goal became about obeying the rules rather than resting. Pray-As-You-Go asked if we think humankind is still too caught up in the rules and I nearly spit out my coffee. Jesus proclaimed himself Lord of the sabbath to return it to its freeing nature, to give it back to the people as it was intended to be, sans all the strict and crazy rules. Take a day off, put your feet up, spend time in quiet mindfulness. Don't get wigged out about the rules for yourself and, certainly, don't be nit-picky about the rules for others. Because, you see, that's exactly what they did; they policed each other strictly and critically, which is why Jesus had to remind them not to judge, too. And this was two thousand years ago...where are we with it now? Love, heidi
Monday, January 21, 2019
Like a bridegroom and his bride...
..."and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you."
Isaiah 62:5
My ears perked up when I heard this at mass yesterday. Our son just proposed to his wonderful girlfriend while they were in Australia and New Zealand. Last evening, we got to see them for the first time since their engagement and hear all about their adventures. It doesn't seem possible that God could rejoice in us more than this young couple rejoices in each other! But I know it's true...It makes me tear up to realize that so much love exists; I can't begin to comprehend it. But it does and it is showered upon us constantly. Isaiah uses the example of a bridegroom and his bride to illustrate the most powerful love human beings can experience and thus, fathom, and still, God's love is so much more. To see a young couple so in love, though, I feel I've gotten a glimpse and it's so fabulous... Blessings on your Monday! Love, heidi
Isaiah 62:5
My ears perked up when I heard this at mass yesterday. Our son just proposed to his wonderful girlfriend while they were in Australia and New Zealand. Last evening, we got to see them for the first time since their engagement and hear all about their adventures. It doesn't seem possible that God could rejoice in us more than this young couple rejoices in each other! But I know it's true...It makes me tear up to realize that so much love exists; I can't begin to comprehend it. But it does and it is showered upon us constantly. Isaiah uses the example of a bridegroom and his bride to illustrate the most powerful love human beings can experience and thus, fathom, and still, God's love is so much more. To see a young couple so in love, though, I feel I've gotten a glimpse and it's so fabulous... Blessings on your Monday! Love, heidi
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Take action...
"Turning our feelings into practical action is one expression of solidarity. Jesus was good at finding ways to be with and support people and was a living expression of solidarity."
Pray-As-You-Go, January 17, 2019
No doubt, Jesus had a powerful belief system. He grew up in a Jewish home, going through the prescribed rituals and studying the scriptures. He was a faithful Jewish man. But, all through scripture, Jesus took it a step further. Jesus showed the people of his time, as well as the rest of us, that it isn't enough just to believe, we are called to go further. Our actions must follow our beliefs to make them real and living. In today's Gospel (Mark 1:40-45), Jesus seemingly goes against the Jewish laws about touching lepers and heals the leper who comes to him for help. Jesus' action reflects the greater law that he gives us with his whole life--the law of love. In touching the leper, Jesus shows solidarity with those suffering, in this case a leper. But all through the Gospel, Jesus shows solidarity with those on the fringe of society, the outcasts of his time. Let's spend some time thinking and praying about where Jesus is today, showing solidarity with those cast out. Because, Friends, we are Jesus' hands and feet in our world now. Where Jesus would be is where we should be. Love, heidi
Pray-As-You-Go, January 17, 2019
No doubt, Jesus had a powerful belief system. He grew up in a Jewish home, going through the prescribed rituals and studying the scriptures. He was a faithful Jewish man. But, all through scripture, Jesus took it a step further. Jesus showed the people of his time, as well as the rest of us, that it isn't enough just to believe, we are called to go further. Our actions must follow our beliefs to make them real and living. In today's Gospel (Mark 1:40-45), Jesus seemingly goes against the Jewish laws about touching lepers and heals the leper who comes to him for help. Jesus' action reflects the greater law that he gives us with his whole life--the law of love. In touching the leper, Jesus shows solidarity with those suffering, in this case a leper. But all through the Gospel, Jesus shows solidarity with those on the fringe of society, the outcasts of his time. Let's spend some time thinking and praying about where Jesus is today, showing solidarity with those cast out. Because, Friends, we are Jesus' hands and feet in our world now. Where Jesus would be is where we should be. Love, heidi
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Simply living simply?
"If we follow Jesus we need to live simply--it's not just giving up possessions but about putting Christ at the center of our lives."
Pray-As-You-Go, January 15, 2019
It's no secret that living simply has been a theme for me the past several years. But Pray-As-You-Go really gave me pause today when they pointed out that Jesus should be the one replacing all the surplus possessions and the focus of the extra time I find with a simpler life. It's one thing to get rid of stuff, live small and clutter-free. It's another thing altogether to put Jesus at the center of my life. Am I truly putting Jesus front and center of my simple life, or am I just simply living simply? I mean, it sure is fashionable now to declutter and downsize, isn't it? Am I just doing it to be eccentrically interesting or can I fill up the new empty spaces with Jesus? These are ponderous questions, Friends, and, if I can pull myself away from Netflix long enough, perhaps I will ponder them! No really, what do we fill our empty spaces with as we uncover more time in our lives? Let's pray with these questions today! Love, heidi
Pray-As-You-Go, January 15, 2019
It's no secret that living simply has been a theme for me the past several years. But Pray-As-You-Go really gave me pause today when they pointed out that Jesus should be the one replacing all the surplus possessions and the focus of the extra time I find with a simpler life. It's one thing to get rid of stuff, live small and clutter-free. It's another thing altogether to put Jesus at the center of my life. Am I truly putting Jesus front and center of my simple life, or am I just simply living simply? I mean, it sure is fashionable now to declutter and downsize, isn't it? Am I just doing it to be eccentrically interesting or can I fill up the new empty spaces with Jesus? These are ponderous questions, Friends, and, if I can pull myself away from Netflix long enough, perhaps I will ponder them! No really, what do we fill our empty spaces with as we uncover more time in our lives? Let's pray with these questions today! Love, heidi
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Message to us, too!
"You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Luke 3:22
One thing I noticed with this reading is that the voice from heaven is affirming Jesus, not talking to the crowd telling them who Jesus is. Had you noticed that before? God is letting Jesus know that he is loved and appreciated and, here's the thing: Jesus hadn't really even started his ministry yet! God isn't expressing appreciation for what Jesus has done because Jesus is just getting started! So, what about us? Can we imagine God saying this to us? Maybe each morning, before we even begin our day? Before we have a chance to get out there and make busy doing what we think will please God? Because, I believe, God loves and affirms us just on the basis of having created us. God loves what God creates--God actually loves us into being. There is nothing we need to do to earn God's love, nothing we can do really. So, this morning, let's prayerfully imagine God greeting us this very day with this very greeting: You are my beloved, with you I am well pleased! With that in our hearts, we will have a fabulous day! Love, heidi
Luke 3:22
One thing I noticed with this reading is that the voice from heaven is affirming Jesus, not talking to the crowd telling them who Jesus is. Had you noticed that before? God is letting Jesus know that he is loved and appreciated and, here's the thing: Jesus hadn't really even started his ministry yet! God isn't expressing appreciation for what Jesus has done because Jesus is just getting started! So, what about us? Can we imagine God saying this to us? Maybe each morning, before we even begin our day? Before we have a chance to get out there and make busy doing what we think will please God? Because, I believe, God loves and affirms us just on the basis of having created us. God loves what God creates--God actually loves us into being. There is nothing we need to do to earn God's love, nothing we can do really. So, this morning, let's prayerfully imagine God greeting us this very day with this very greeting: You are my beloved, with you I am well pleased! With that in our hearts, we will have a fabulous day! Love, heidi
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