True freedom

"Courage, child, your sins are forgiven."

Matthew 9:2

 

And that, my Friends, is the birth of True Freedom.  Several of the sources of reflection I read on today's Gospel talked about how paralyzing guilt and the lack of forgiveness are in our lives.  The paralyzed man Jesus encounters in this reading is physically paralyzed, but Jesus, knowing his heart, heals the man's guilt first. Because that is actually more debilitating.  What paralyzing force are we struggling with today?  Is it guilt that keeps us from moving forward? Is it an inability to forgive someone else? Is it a paralyzing sense of our own "rightness" and looking down on others who don't see it our way? Whatever is keeping us immobile on the mat, let's look into Jesus' eyes and ask for healing.  That is what Jesus wants to heal first.  Because that is the most debilitating.  Blessings on your holiday weekend!  Love, heidi

Fear not!

"Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their district."

Matthew 8:34

 

It has been pointed out, by many more learned than me, that people often respond to a personal encounter with Jesus with fear.  That is the LAST response Jesus desires from us as he says so often, "Do not be afraid..." Encounters with Jesus take us out of our comfort zones, though.  Consider this Gospel today, where Jesus drives two demons out into a herd of pigs and the pigs all jump into the sea.  No wonder the townspeople were afraid! People fear what they cannot understand or explain. People fear what does not fit neatly into the box of their normal experience.  People fear other people, too, who don't fit neatly into those categories. We fear who and what are different from ourselves.  And that fear can cause to do stupid things, like begging Jesus to leave.  Let's spend some time on a summer day pondering what things cause us fear.  Can we believe Jesus when he tells us, "Do not be afraid." Love, heidi

Storms at sea

"(Jesus) said to them, 'Why are you terrified...?'"

Matthew 8:2

 

Why indeed?  The storm was raging, the boat was sinking...just like now! How can Jesus be asleep in the boat?  On Pray-As-You-Go this morning we are reminded that this storm at sea represents the chaos and storms in our own lives. Each day things come up--big and little--that challenge us, force us to act, shake us to the core, just like the storm in this Gospel.  And Jesus is there, asleep on a cushion in the boat.  Sometimes, we panic and jar him awake, other times we may be more gentle: "Please, Jesus, wake up...I'm nervous and anxious about this and that."  Jesus responds to us, "I'm here. Trust me. Why are you terrified?" Today, whether the storms of life are overwhelming or just troubling little squalls, realize that Jesus is in your boat.  Trust that, even though he may be napping, Jesus is with us during the difficulties of this life.  There is no reason for us to be terrified, anxious or even troubled.  Jesus is here.  Love, heidi

If you wish...

"Jesus stretched out his hand and said, 'I will do it. Be made clean.' His leprosy was cleansed immediately."

Matthew 8:3

 

And, just like that, the leper is cleansed. There have surely been times when I wanted such immediate and positive results to my prayers. But, when that hasn't happened, God has been teaching me patience. In the fullness of time...  Thanks be to God I haven't lost faith when the prayers haven't been immediately answered because I can look way back and see that prayers have indeed been answered in God's way and in God's time. Sometimes God used my suggestions and sometimes not. As I grow on my journey, I hope to pray more like this leper who said,   "If you wish, you can make me clean" (v. 2)  Let's all learn from this dear fellow today and begin our prayers with "If you wish, Lord..." Blessings on your summer weekend! Love, heidi

Give thanks!

"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good...his love is everlasting."

Psalm 106:1

 

This whole week, since returning from retreat and class, God has shown me, daily, how blessed I am to have the job that I have.  As I sat on the porch of my hermitage on retreat, I was so aware that, anything gleaned there from my time alone with Jesus, must be put into practice once I travel back down the mountain.  It must be taken to and shared with everyone else in my everyday life. Thankfully, God has been working in that for me all week with my clients.  Yesterday, as a magnificent elderly lady hugged me good bye, I knew I am right where God wants me to be, doing what God wants me to do...for now. Sometimes, just like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, we have to leave home to find home. Blessings on your Thursday! Love, heidi

Just a snippet of a song...

"I hold your tomorrow..."

~song on KLOVE

 

I didn't catch the song title or artist, but as I was driving to an appointment with a retirement counselor, this song caught my ear.  I'd like to retire from my state job in a few years, but was nervous and unsure about what this counselor would tell me.  Hearing this snippet of a song told me all I need to know.  "I hold your tomorrow."  God has got this.  Whatever happens God is with me and "all will be well," as Julian of Norwich says.  We all have situations like this where it is reassuring to know we don't travel these roads alone.  "I hold your tomorrow..." Thanks be to God!  Love, heidi