Bread of Life, nourish us!

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven..."

John 6:51

 

What does this mean to us? How can Jesus' bread of life nourish us? Physical food gives us fuel for our bodies to function and perform.  How does Jesus being the bread of life actually work for us?  Jesus' spiritual food gives our spirits nourishment--fuel for the spiritual journey. When our spirits struggle due to difficult life circumstances, Jesus nourishes us with hope.  How often throughout the New Testament did Jesus tell us, "Do not be afraid!" Our Bread of Life gives us hope.  Also, Jesus gives us comfort in times of loss, no matter what the loss.  Our grief is shared with an understanding Jesus who, himself, wept at the loss of his friend Lazarus. Our Bread of Life gives us comfort.  And Jesus' bread gives us the will to carry on. Whether our journey seems long or not-so-long, it can still seem daunting. The road ahead can seem difficult or tedious, but Jesus is there, cheering us on. "You can do this!  I'm with you every step of the way!" Our Bread of Life gives us encouragement.  Jesus, Bread of Life, please nourish us this day, with your hope, comfort and encouragement!  Love, heidi

Jesus promises...

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day."

John 6:39

 

As fabulous as that sounds, I need a little something to get me through a Wednesday! So I scouted about and found promises of Jesus that apply to us, right here, right now.

Jesus promises to never leave us, to be with us always, no matter what (John 14:18, Matthew 28:20)

Jesus promises to calm our fears (John 14:1)

Jesus promises to love us, faults, failings and all (John 14:21)

Jesus promises to help us, each day, become the best we can be (John 14:26)

And finally, Jesus promises us peace.  "Peace be with you," he says (John 20:21)

Those are real promises I can ponder and celebrate all day, this spring Wednesday!  Love, heidi

A stone as a reminder...

"They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him."

Acts 7:58

 

Although we can certainly look at incidents of religious persecution in our own day, I feel called, this morning, to examine my own role in persecuting others. Oh, yes, a nice, middle-aged (if I live to be 120) Catholic lady and I AM guilty of persecuting others. I can stone others with my words just as easily as I can draw a breath. Can and do, unfortunately.  Author Claire J. King in "Living With Christ" yesterday suggested setting a rock on her desk at work to remind her that her words can stone others. She set one on her kitchen table too.  I think I will do the same.  I can so easily get swept away criticizing others and not even realize what I'm doing until the words are too far out of my mouth.  Once the words are out there, the stone has been thrown.  Lord, you know this is such a weakness of mine and here and now, today, I ask you to help me change.  Let this stone I put on my desk be a reminder to me that any harsh, unkind or critical words I say are just like stones being hurled through the air at someone.  Help me to show your kindness, mercy and love for others around me today!  Love, heidi

Peace be with you...

"Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'"

John 20:19

 

Peace be with you...what does that mean, exactly, for us in our world today? 

It means peace in our hearts, despite the difficulties that may be churning around us.

It means peace within us as we live and love in a complicated world.

It means peace within us as we age, change, and let go.

It means peace within us as our loved ones leave, change and grow, too.

It means peace within us as we get up every morning and set about doing the work of God--that is: loving others.

It means that whatever we go through in our day today, Jesus is with us, breathing his peace upon us and that is all we really need to get through our day.  Difficulties, situations, and even people come and go from our lives constantly, and only one thing is certain--the love of God for us. And that is worth celebrating on a spring Monday! Love, heidi

All the time in the world...

"I don't have to wait in line to meet Jesus. I don't have to worry about others who are 'more important' and have better access to Jesus. No. The risen Lord Jesus speaking to Mary is now able to be present to me wherever I am."

The Little White Book

 

I absolutely love this today!  The reading talks about how the risen Jesus is no longer limited by time and space as when he walked the earth.  Now, the spirit of Jesus can be present with my spirit any time, any place.  This has been my experience in my life recently, too.  And I have had just that sensation that Jesus has all the time in the world for me.  It's not like I have just a few minutes and then Jesus needs to dash off again to someone else.  This reading pointed out to me that the beauty of the Risen Jesus is that he can be with me, fully present. Jesus has all the time in the world for me. And you. Isn't that lovely?  Love, heidi

A name like no other...

"Jesus said to her, 'Mary!'"

John 20:16

 

In The Little White Book we are asked to imagine this scene with Jesus and Mary Magdalene at the tomb.  Mary does not recognize Jesus until he speaks her name with the familiarity she enjoyed as his dear friend for years.  The question is then asked of readers, "What name does Jesus call you?" It was wonderful to sit with this question and, I realized that Jesus has used a couple of names when beckoning me.  But it isn't so much just the name Jesus uses, but also the tenderness and love with which he says it and the accompanying arm around my shoulder or hand cupped gently under my chin.  These moments, names and actions stand out as highlights of my spiritual journey.  Some have occurred during the most difficult times of my life and some during the most peaceful.  But the message is that Jesus wants relationship with us.  He calls us by name, tenderly and lovingly.  His only desire is that we respond.  Love, heidi