Blueprint for life

"See that no one returns evil for evil; rather always seek what is good for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

 

And there it is.  Exactly what God asks of us...always seeking good for each other, praying, rejoicing, giving thanks.  It is spelled out so clearly and makes so much sense, and yet, we as humanity cannot seem to get it right.  In the two thousand years since this was given to us as a blueprint for how to live, we struggle to put it into practice.  God seems to be giving us extra time to learn these lessons and put these words into our hearts and therefore, into practice.  What can we do, as individuals, to live this way in Christ Jesus?  We can look at the whole of humanity and see disappointing results, but individually, people are living like this all over the place.  As we pause to give thanks this week, let's take all of this reading to heart.  Let's try to change our own lives to live as Jesus taught.  If enough people do it, real change can be seen in humanity as a whole!  Blessings to each of you as we all give thanks.  See you in Advent!  Love, heidi

Offering our "all"

"Give us the courage to speak the truth, with respect and sincere love."

Prayer Intercession, Give Is This Day

 

As I read this today I thought, Wow, if that wasn't written for me!  I so often speak before I think and say things I later regret.  It's one of the hardest bug-a-boos of my behavior and one would think I could learn better, but alas...

Today's Gospel (Luke 21:1-4) is the story of the poor widow putting all she has into the treasury.  Jesus comments on how her gift is so precious because it represents all she had.  How can we offer all we have today?  We can certainly help monetarily, but what if we offer our honest efforts to work on our own areas of sin.  What are the sins we battle daily as we journey with Jesus? Do we hold a grudge against anyone? Do we battle for control in all situations? Are we overly judgmental with those around us?  Can we offer our efforts to rectify these up to God today?  I love working on the courage to speak "the truth with respect and sincere love." That will help me to pause and think before saying the first thing that pops into my head to say.  What "all" can we offer to God this day?  Love, heidi

Honor the sacred

"Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things..."

Luke 19:45

 

Several things about this reading popped into my head as I read it this morning. I often think of this reading when pondering Jesus' humanity.  "Jesus was a real human being--look how angry he got in the temple!" I often think. I picture him turning over the tables and see him consumed with righteous anger over what was happening there.  What was happening there?  People were buying and selling.  Commerce was happening.  People needed to purchase birds and other animals for their temple sacrifices and other people were making a buck providing them for purchase.  What's so wrong about that? I remember hearing a homily that explained people selling were taking advantage of the "buyers." If people were being mistreated in this process of buying and selling it is easy to understand Jesus' anger. What does it mean for us, today?  What is Jesus teaching us?  I think it is it is be reverent and aware of all that is sacred...and that includes other human beings.  God's house is sacred and so are God's people.  Love God and love each other...always the message of Jesus!  Love, heidi

Leave it on the ground...

"So (Zacchaeus) ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way."

Luke 19:4

 

I always love the story of Zacchaeus because it calls to mind a little cartoon character guy (like maybe the Boras character in the Bullwinkle cartoon--remember him?).  Besides providing an entertaining visual, though, the story is one of letting go and letting God.  Zacchaeus let go of his dignity and pride and let Jesus welcome him, by interestingly, welcoming Jesus. It also illustrates that Jesus came and surprised everyone.  He invited himself to a party at Zacchaeus' house and that shocked all present. No one can put God in a box because they have God all figured out.  Jesus sure showed us that!  So, Zacchaeus threw off his dignity and pride, climbed a tree to get a better look at Jesus, then completely turned his life around.  It can be done! And we can never underestimate the power of Jesus to change us.  What can we let go of today to catch a better glimpse of Jesus? Pride? Anger? Feelings of unworthiness? Whatever they are, let's leave them on the ground and climb a tree!  Love, heidi

Ask not, what Jesus can do for you...

"What do you want me to do for you?"

Luke 18:41

 

It's so easy for me to write about this passage! I had such a powerful experience praying with it while on retreat over a year ago and it still rings in my heart. Jesus asks us constantly, just as he asked the blind man, "What do you want me to do for you?" But today, while praying with it, a little different twist popped into my head.  Today I thought, "What do you, Jesus, want ME to do for YOU?"  I realized that I had wonderful Jesus Time over the weekend, and that time leads me to want to do what Jesus would have me do, not as much the other way around.  As it happens, my calendar is full of opportunities today to serve Jesus' people.  Please help me to do with your love today, Jesus! Love, heidi

Recognizing healing

"And one of them, realizing that he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice..."

Luke 17:15

Most often this reading calls us to express our gratitude, but it hit me a bit differently this morning.  I see the one returning leper as a person who has the ability to recognize he is changed after his encounter with Jesus.  In their haste to follow Jesus' instructions to show themselves to the priest, the other lepers were caught up in that--following the instructions, doing it as Jesus had said.  They may have been so involved in that it took them a while to realize the healing that had taken place as they hurried along.  The healings in our lives may be much more subtle than these, certainly.  But, after struggling with a difficulty for a while, it may take us a while to notice we no longer feel the painful twinge or we may feel more compassion for someone who hurt us. We may finally recognize that a healing has taken place within us. 

Khaled Hosseini, the author of "The Kite Runner," expressed it so well in his book, when one of the characters suddenly realized he had gotten over a terrible wrong done to him many years before.  "I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night." (Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner)

Isn't that amazing?  Today, let's spend some time with Jesus, taking stock of all the healing God has brought to our lives and give thanks.  Love, heidi