The Kingdom of God starts now!

"For behold the Kingdom of God is among you."

Luke 17:21

 

Now? Here? With these people? This all seems puzzling to us, as it probably did to the disciples.  They were looking for a better life, out from under the Romans.  We are looking for a better next life, away from the suffering and sorrows that creep into even the finest lives here on earth.  So, Jesus, what gives with your statement--"The Kingdom of God is among you?"  In thinking about this, I realized that the Kingdom is not just our time spent in church.  It is not just our celebration times, when things are going well and we are doing well.  The Kingdom of God isn't even the times when our families are gathered and we think it just doesn't get any better.  The Kingdom of God is our work-a-day lives.  Hard to believe, the Kingdom is not just our time in church, but our time at the grocery store.  The Kingdom is not just our time with loved ones, but strangers and even those who may irritate us.  The Kingdom of God is our REAL time with REAL people.  Jesus showed us that when he dined with saints and sinners alike.  The Kingdom isn't something out there on another day. The Kingdom is today, in whatever we do today, whether it is in the classroom, on a bus, in an office, on a highway. We need to open our eyes to the Kingdom of God. It is on our calendar for Today!  Love, heidi

 

What to do, what to do?

"And when he saw them, he said, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' As they were going they were healed."

Luke 17:14

 

One of the reflections I heard for this reading today, suggested we put ourselves in the place of these lepers.  Sitting, pondering this, there I was, hurrying to show myself to the priest.  Suddenly, I look down at my hands and notice they are healed of leprosy!  Whoa!  This is fabulous! What should I do? Well, the guy, Jesus, told me to go and show myself to the priest, so that is probably what I should do, isn't it? Maybe my staying healed is contingent on me complying with that.  Or should I go back and find Jesus again? Well, the priest will know what I should do so I will stay the course.  Now, I'm not defending the lepers here, at all, and I know the gist of this story is gratitude--a lesson I need to relearn daily.  But, after putting myself in the sandals of these lepers, I'm not going to point at them and say, "Wow, I sure would have done better than you guys! Didn't you know you should have returned to thank Jesus?"  Come to think of it, I'm going to try not to judge anyone harshly today...I could, so easily BE them.  Thanks be to God on this Hump Day! Love, heidi

Knowing Jesus

"Sheer scholarship alone cannot reveal to us the gospel of grace."

Brennan Manning, "Reflections for Ragamuffins"

 

I had the time to really study and ponder this yesterday and it was fascinating to me. Reading about Jesus doesn't mean we know Jesus.  I have read so much about Abraham Lincoln, but that doesn't mean I know Abraham Lincoln.  (I have high hopes for that in heaven, but that is another Heidi-Gram!) We can read and reread the New Testament cover to cover but that doesn't give us the experience of knowing Jesus.  And we need to know Jesus. How do we experience Jesus?  Fortunately, unlike Lincoln, Jesus can enter into our lives and make himself available for us to experience him.  As I have grown on my spiritual journey, I can see that happen more and more.  I seem to experience Jesus in many different situations; alone, most certainly, but also while gathered with friends, in the midst of nature, celebrating the Eucharist in community, snuggled under the covers in bed. To know Jesus and experience Jesus is to love Jesus.  We can read all about him, but we need to have the experience of Jesus as companion and friend, not just a character in a book...although it IS an excellent book!  Let's think about our relationship with Jesus as we go through our Tuesday-that-feels-like-Monday!  Love, heidi

Christ working through us...

"For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me..."

Romans 15:18

 

I was thinking about this today and it dawned on me.  Jesus will certainly work through us in matters of faith; such as our sharing our faith with others.  But, what I notice every single day, is that Jesus works through me in other endeavors as well.  I was standing on the front porch of a new referral just yesterday, praying that Jesus will help me help her.  I'm not evangelizing on my job, per se, but Jesus is still there, putting words in my mouth, handing me low vision aids to try, putting ideas and suggestions into my head.  I couldn't do my job without what Christ has accomplished through me.  Let's think about our lives this weekend and try to realize all the ways that Christ works through us.  I bet we can't count that high! Blessings on your autumn weekend!  Love, heidi

Let love be our currency!

"Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another..."

Romans 13:8

 

The human need for reciprocity is an interesting thing.  I was thinking about it in light of this reading this morning.  We feel so much more comfortable returning a favor, paying for a service, reciprocating for an invitation.  But Jesus and here, St. Paul, turn all that on its ear.  Jesus tells us to invite those who cannot invite us back.  St. Paul says that we should reciprocate others with love.  That is enough.  Think about how difficult it is to love everyone and realize that can be a job in itself.  When we serve others with love we find that we are the ones gifted in the end. And how do we serve each other in love? By speaking well of each other--no gossip or complaining about each other! By sharing what we have with each other--do you have things you are no longer using, wearing? By treating each other with kindness, patience, and with a smile!  Let our love be freely given in abundance today, with strangers and friends.  Let love be the currency we exchange this autumn Wednesday! Love, heidi

Use your gifts!

"Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them..."

Romans 12:6

 

Fr. Caleb taught us so many wonderful things while he was in Idaho Falls, but he was especially great at teaching us about using our gifts.  That was one of his gifts, and he used it beautifully!  I remember him saying that the best way for us to praise God for the gifts we are given is to use them--often--and give God the glory.  So simple, and yet, true.  I also remember the homily about the ice cream...it bears paraphrasing here.  Fr. Caleb was given a container of fancy ice cream from someone and, since he wasn't hungry for ice cream right then, he stashed it in the freezer.  Many months later, he rummaged through the freezer, found the ice cream and decided to have some.  One bite was all he needed to realize it was freezer-burned and tasted awful! Non-use of the gift rendered it un-usable.  Wow, that!  St. Paul tells us that we all are gifted in many different ways.  We need to recognize our gifts, pull them out of the freezer and use them!  And, by all means, give God the glory!  Love, heidi