Wake up, Jesus! Or not...

"Their awakening him was a sign of their lack of right understanding of who he was. They knew his power to rebuke when he was awake, but his power to rebuke when asleep they had not yet grasped."

St. John Chrysostom, "Give Us This Day"

 

Whoa!  This is amazing to ponder!  I guess I always feel the need to awaken the sleeping Jesus in my boat when the storm comes.  You mean I don't?  I guess, not only do I feel a need to awaken Jesus, but then I need to tell him all about the storm and even make suggestions for how to calm it.  St. John tells us here that Jesus can calm the storms in our lives in his sleep. In his sleep! That is going to take some time to sink in, Friends.  It kind of points to the fact that God is constantly helping us, even though we may not feel God's presence.  But I, personally, feel more comforted and secure when I feel the presence of Jesus in the storm--awake.  This was such an interesting twist to the Gospel of Jesus calming the storm, I really need to spend some time praying with it.  How about you?  Love, heidi

Change me, O God!

"He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, 'Get up quickly,' The chains fell from his wrists."

Acts 12:7

 

This was our first reading yesterday and we listened to a very good homily about change and not giving up on ourselves.  Yesterday was the feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Peter always being noted first!)  Both Peter and Paul were ordinary men.  Both of them had their good points and bad points, but both allowed God to change them, and that is why they are the pillars of the faith.  Peter was impulsive and hasty and he fled when the going got tough...he denied Jesus three times.  But, he didn't despair in his own failings.  He could easily have gone the road of Judas and given up, but he did not.  He allowed God to change him and mold him into The Rock, someone who could work for God.  Paul was a persecutor of the early church, but he didn't despair in his deplorable early actions either.  He allowed God to change him and admitted his errors, heading off in the opposite direction--to make more followers of Christ instead of persecuting them.  Both Peter and Paul allowed God to change them.  Can we spend some time praying that we, too, can be as pliable? Can we allow God to change us so we can work more efficiently for God? I hereby give you free reign to change me, O God!  I know I can serve you so much better if I get myself out of the way!  Love, heidi

Love others

"Jesus said to his disciples, 'Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."

Matthew 7:21

 

Talk is cheap, as they say.  Words are easy.  Which is probably why words aren't enough for Jesus.  Jesus wants actions behind the words.  He wants our words to translate into something good for someone else...he wants our words to manifest into action, benefitting others.  When I was praying on retreat, I prayed that my life be all about Jesus. How can I do that? I prayed.  Jesus answered me with just two words, "Love others."  My life can only be about Jesus if I love others.  That's how THAT works.  Jesus won't know that my heart belongs to him unless I show him by loving others.  And Jesus will help me with that every step of the way.  Thank you, Jesus, for giving us such clear marching orders!  There is no question how we are to behave in the world...love, heidi

We are good fruit!

"So by their fruits you will know them."

Matthew 7:20

 

As I ponder this reading today, I am thinking of the adjective "genuine."  We all know people who are so genuine and real.  You can see immediately the sincerity, the lack of pretense.  I think these people are the good-fruit people Jesus is talking about today.  These people don't do what they do so others will praise them.  They sincerely do what they do because it's the good and right thing to do.  They are honest, true to themselves and others.  They are kind to strangers and the people they love know they are genuinely loved.  They are good listeners and don't try to impose their views on everyone else.  They share what they have with others without judging.  They are compassionate and kind.  Who are these Divinely-inspired people and where to we find them?  These people are actually all of us, when we stay close to Jesus and live the love we find in him.  Let's go out there, this summer Wednesday, and bear good fruit, worthy of all the love we receive constantly from Jesus!  Love, heidi

Named and called

"The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name."

Isaiah 49:1

 

It isn't just the "famous" people called into God's service...like John the Baptist, whose birth we commemorate today.  On Pray-As-You-Go this morning, the point is made that we all are called to do God's important work here on earth.  Each one of us is named by God before we are even born into the world.  We are given gifts that will enhance our ability to serve God.  Wow! Makes you sit up a little straighter, doesn't it?  It's a wonderful day to spend some time with God pondering what God wants us to do and to be grateful that we have all we need, already, to do it!  We have God in our corner, cheering us on, giving us tips on how we can do better.  Our job is to look around and see where we can help.  So, today, let's appreciate the fact that we are uniquely gifted with all we need to do God's work.  We are named and called by God to be just who we are!  Isn't that something to celebrate on a summer Tuesday?  I think so!  Love, heidi

A lesson on prayer from Fiddler on the Roof...

"Would it spoil some vast, eternal plan? If I were a wealthy man?"

Tevya, "Fiddler on the Roof"

 

I attended a wonderfully fun production of this play over the weekend and it really got me thinking.  I love Tevya's relationship with God! Because it IS a relationship.  Tevya talks to God as he carries out delivering his milk orders and he is honest and even blunt in his side of the conversation.  (Actually, he often sings his side of the conversation, but the point is the same.)  He relates to God, even questioning God's reason for this or that to happen.  Why did a bad thing have to occur at his daughter's wedding? Why that, God?  Was that really necessary? Tevya talks to God the same way he talks to his neighbors and family, even beginning a sentence with "As the Good Book says..."  But then to God he realizes, "Oh, I don't have to tell YOU what the Good Book says!"  Tevya gives us a great example of relating to God honestly, constantly, and relationally...just the way God likes it!  If you get a chance, catch the play at the Civic in Idaho Falls tonight or tomorrow night.  Or rent the movie, or listen to the CD.  How would it feel to have such a relationship with God?  Love, heidi