Tag: division and union

• 2 Maccabees 15: Battle – Part II

  
  

  2 Maccabees 15: Battle – Part II

  

  Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025

  It is not through arms but through the Lord’s decision that victory is won by those who deserve it. 

  We know when God joins the battle because we do not see more power, more might or more strength. When we enter the skirmish with God, there is always a call to unity. That struggle is always the endeavor to heal, restore and reunite. That fight is fought in the open in the plain light of day rather than in back alleys or under cover of darkness. We know that the skirmish has God’s blessing when we see the good fruit that is born to replace the rotting fruit of evil.

  It is not through arms but through the Lord’s decision that victory is won by those who deserve it. 

  When we are confounded by choices, when we feel overcome by something larger than ourselves, when we are anxious about an outcome, we must look to the Lord. The outcome of the battle between dark and light will be eternal and life-giving. The result of a clash into which God enters will sustain and heal.

  It is not through arms but through the Lord’s decision that victory is won by those who deserve it. 

  Tomorrow, God’s armor.

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  Written on February 28, 2009. 

  Image from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Maccabeus

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  March 5, 2025

  division and union, Judas Maccabeus

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• Mark 14:12-16: Preparation of the Dwelling Place

  
  

  Mark 14:12-16: Preparation of the Dwelling Place

  Corpus Christi Sunday, June 19, 2022

  The Feast of Corpus Christi is a celebration of Christ’s presence in the world in a very special way. Today we read and reflect on how Jesus – he who is the son of the living God – prepares for and celebrates a day when God has saved us all.  We might forget this easily unless we remind ourselves often that we need not struggle with the world.  Our only struggle is with our own stubbornness or willfulness when we refuse to hand over our suffering to God.

  Some of us think of our meeting with God as taking place in some foggy future just after we die; there are many stories, novels, plays, films and poetry about how we humans shed our mortal skin and meet with our creator to make an accounting of all that we have done – or not done – on earth.  We forget that God is with us constantly, seeing all that we do, available for a conversation, able to give advice, loving us into goodness.  We ought not hesitate in preparing a chair for God, a bed for Jesus, a meal or conversation to share with the Spirit.

  Everything we have heard about the story of our salvation is good news; yet we hesitate to believe.

  Everything we have seen about the story of our rescue is about our new freedom; yet we hesitate to hope.

  Everything we have known about the living presence of the Christ is immediate and irrefutable; yet we hesitate to join God in this union of love.

  We must prepare a place today in which we can find Christ and spend time with him in an honest, authentic dialog about both our worries and joys. If we have a special place where we find God’s presence readily, let us remain a few moments longer than usual . . . and let us thank Christ for the gift of mystery that keeps us close and questioning. Let us thank God for the gift of life that brings us eternal peace. And let us determine more than ever to live as fully as we might in the Spirit. For all of this, let us prepare ourselves to accept this miracle of Corpus Christi, this mysterious, wonderful, singular dwelling place where for each of us in our own time and in our own way . . . body and spirit are one.

  Tomorrow we continue our reflections on mystery with The Mystery of Resurrection. 

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  Image from: http://stjohnscathedral.ca/?attachment_id=8817

  Adapted from a reflection written on May 10, 2010.

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  June 19, 2022

  Corpus Christi, division and union, mystery, willfulness

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• Revelation 1:16: Cleaving God’s Word

  
  

  Saturday, August 8, 2020

  Revelation 1:16

  Cleaving God’s Word

  In his right hand [the son of man] held seven stars. A sharp, two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest. 

  Commentary tells us that the seven stars represent the pagan authority over the world in which the writer, John of Patmos, lived.  The sword refers to the Word of God.  The shining face represents the divine mystery of Christ. (Senior cf. 401)

  God says: Like the vineyard owner who sends his son to gather the rent, I have sent my own son among you for your acceptance of rejection. This son is My Word to you. His actions are mine. His love is mine.  All that he is and all that he does speak My Word and in this he is constant and faithful. Sometimes he brings you fire. Sometimes he brings you tranquility. Always he brings you justice tempered with mercy, mercy enacted through justice yet it is not always easy to hear this word. My son always brings you healing. Always brings you transformation. Always brings prudence and persistence. This double edge may be difficult for some to understand yet it describes my son’s nature and thus my nature.  t both divides and unites. It harvests where it can. Live by the word brought to you on this double edge. Imitate this two-edged sword as best you can for it is in this fusion of two worlds that you find me. It is in the inversion of your world that you best feel my presence.

  In Ephesians 6:17 Paul writes of this sword of the spirit, the word of God, that sings as it completes the armor of the steadfast servant. As we arm ourselves today and all days to go into the world, let us remember that God’s word cleaves the faithful – it both divides and unites.  Let us spend time with God today to determine how we react to the fire and restoration brought to us by the two-edged sword of God’s Word.

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  Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990. 401. Print.   

  The Parable of the Tenants: Matthew 21:33-46

  Image from: https://www.bing.com

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  August 8, 2020

  division and union, double-edged sword, Ephesians 6:17, God’s Word, inversion, Matthew 21:33-46

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