Prayer is at the center of human petition. Cries of anguish rise from the human throat. Cries of pain rise from the human heart. In today’s NoontimeJesus teaches us why we should petition the Father. And he teaches us how. Jesus reminds us that prayer is always answered. And he promises that we will all have answers for our questions when we seek.
We ask for change – Jesus is the change we seek.
We ask for peace – Jesus the peace we crave.
We ask for mercy – Jesus is the mercy that heals.
We ask for an end to sorrow – Jesus is new life that restores.
Ask and you will receive – we are impatient with God’s time and space.
Seek and you will find – we want to be in control rather then become one with God’s timelessness.
Knock and the door will be opened to you – we want to know all the answers before we step forward in faith.
How much more will the Father in heaven give?God gives us life always and endlessly.
Our human eyes want to see God, and so we do – each day in the many small goodnesses that happen in and to us.
Our human hearts want to experience God, and so we do – each day in the multitude of prayers we offer and receive.
Our human hands want to touch God, and so we do – each day in the many small acts of compassion and healing that we perform.
May we be in constant prayer. May we live in mercy. May we know peace.
Michelangelo: DavidWritten on January 30 and posted today as a Favorite . . .
Today we see a part of the story of David that might be difficult to understand if we view life as a series of good decisions. When we view life as it really is, however – as series of decisions we make both bad and good – we have less anxiety and fear, we experience more hope and serenity. I heard a radio preacher recently say: When you live your life in the Spirit, you can’t make a mistake. “This is incorrect,” we might say to ourselves. “How can a good life have bad decisions in it? How can a life of flawed decisions be good?” If this is our thinking, we have forgotten something and it is this: If we are living in the Spirit, we will have arrived at understanding how God operates; we will fully comprehend that God turns all harm to good. So whether we err accidentally or whether we mean to inflict harm in any way, God will use these flawed acts to work in his favor for – God turns all harm to good.And this is part of the story we see today.
David has been a good leader and faithful to God, but he has also sinned and erred. What sets David apart is the way in which he reacts when others urge him to take revenge. When he was younger, his soldiers encouraged him to murder the sleeping Saul when he had the opportunity. David instead makes it obvious that he has breached the enemy’s lines and yet has not taken a life where he could. David lives in the Spirit. David later becomes infatuated with Bathsheba and plots her husband’s death; he confesses this sin when confronted by Nathan and sings a beautiful lament of repentance that we still sing today during the Lenten season (Psalm 51). Even though he has erred, David lives in the Spirit.
David does not use his good standing with God to ignore what he has done; instead he confesses and atones. He lives his life in the Spirit and does not try to avoid culpability for his actions or gain immunity so that he might do whatever he likes. Rather, David praises and obeys God. Living in the Spirit has become part of who he is and what he does.
Today we read of some of the intrigue that mounted as David aged and the time came for one of his sons to rule Israel. The sibling rivalry, the palace intrigue, and the political plotting are fascinating to see but what is most interesting is the way we see David living in the Spirit. In verse 10 he speaks the wisdom we can all use today: What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the Lord has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, “Why are you doing this?”
We can read commentary to sort through who is aligned with whom, who is against whom, but today we have the opportunity to see another way to step away from revenge, anger and violence and move toward hope and serenity. We see another opportunity to step away from fear and anxiety and move toward peace and unity.
When we live our lives in the Spirit, we cannot make a mistake. Do we believe this? If not, we must study, we must seek, we must be patient, and we must be persistent in living lives directed fully for, in, and to God.
When we live our lives in the Spirit, we cannot make a mistake. Do we believe this? If not, we must witness, we must watch, we must wait, and we must insist on living lives governed fully for, in, and to God.
When we live our lives in the Spirit, we cannot make a mistake. When we believe this, the fretfulness and panic drop away – for we have focused our lives on God, we have learned to trust in God, we have begun to love like God – and we know that God will turn all harm to good. We will not worry or fret for we, like David, will reply to a challenge. Suppose the Lord has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, “Why are you doing this?” We will be truly living in and of the Spirit.
If we sit patiently with Job to read his story, we are rewarded – just as Job is rewarded for sitting with the Lord through suffering.
If we take in the ideas Job exchanged with his friends, we are healed – just as Job is healed when he remains in God.
If we live in fidelity to God as Job does, we experience humility – just as Job does when he hears the Lord speak.
If we seek wisdom as Job does, we find satisfaction – just as Job does when he hears the Lord address his friends. After God had finished addressing Job, he turned to Eliphaz the Temanite and said, “I’ve had it with you and your two friends. I’m fed up! You haven’t been honest either with me or about me—not the way my friend Job has.”
Honesty, authenticity, perseverance, courage, fidelity. These are the signposts we might follow as we move through life. They are antecedents of the meekness and fulfilment we see in Christ nearly a thousand years later. They are the presence of the consolation and healing we encounter in the Holy Spirit we experience in our own lives. They are the wisdom and peace we seek today.
If you listen to me, you will know what is right, just, and fair. You will know what you should do.
This advice brings us comfort.
You will become wise, and your knowledge will give you pleasure. Your insight and understanding will protect you and prevent you from doing the wrong thing.
These words are ones we want to hear.
They will keep you away from people who stir up trouble by what they say—those who have abandoned a righteous life to live in the darkness of sin, those who find pleasure in doing wrong and who enjoy senseless evil, unreliable people who cannot be trusted.
In out tumultuous world, change permeates every facet of life. We look for places to stand when familiar foundations crumble. We ask for assurance. We know that we must put aside fear and replace it with trust in the Lord.
God says: Although the world seems a dangerous place, you must trust that I hold each of you in my hands. My servant Paul tells the Ephesians – and he tells you – that I chose you to be holy, with every spiritual blessing, before the foundation of the world. My son Jesus tells you that you ought not let your hearts be troubled. I tell you that despite the troubles surrounding you, my mercy and justice will lift you above the battles of your days and the uncertainties of your nights. Remain in me as I remain in you so that my peace and love will permeate your every fiber to bring you even closer to me.
When we move against injustice, we must allow God to guide us. When we speak up about hatred, we must allow Christ to show us the way. When we are betrayed by people and institutions we once thought just, we must allow the Spirit to heal and bless. And this allowing will show us clearly what we are to do.
When we compare varying translations of these words, the light if understanding will lead us to Christ’s serenity.
Click on the image to read an NPR Science opinion piece about how confusion con sometimes be helpful. Or visit: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/12/14/459651340/sometimes-confusion-is-a-good-thing
We are familiar with the elements of this story: the birth of Moses, the call from the burning bush, the killing plagues, crossing the Red Sea, wandering in the desert, and finally a glimpse of the Promised Land. This is Moses’ story, it is Jesus’ story, it is the story of the faithful servant, and it is our own.
From DAILY REFLECTIONS FOR LENT: NOT BY BREAD ALONE 2018 written by Michelle Francl-Donnay. Exodus reminds us we are not to settle into our pews, to watch events unfold like an epic movie in which the hero rises in the very last scene, only to pour back out into the lobby at intermission, tossing our crumpled worship aids into the recycling bins. No, sit on the edge of your seats, and be ready to fly forth with only what you have in hand”.(Francl-Donnay 92-93)
Francl-Donnay reminds us that as faithful servants, we must be ready for flight.
The Eucharist is fast food, trail food. This is not a private feast, a family dinner to be lingered over, however reverent, and beautiful the liturgy is. This is a public meal, food for those in flight, food for those about to be dispatched on a mission. (Francl-Donnay 92-93)
James Tissot: The Last Supper
Francl-Donnay reminds us that as faithful servants, we must be prepared to receive God’s promise in the person of Jesus.
Tonight we will do as Jesus commanded at the Last Supper. We will wash each other’s feet, to show each other in the presence of the faithful what we have vowed to do. (Francl-Donnay 92-93)
Francl-Donnay reminds us that as faithful servants, we must go into the world with words and acts of peace.
So now we wrap Christ around us, and kneel before the hungry child, the homeless mother, the refugee whose shoes are worn through, to care tenderly for what the world would trample underfoot. (Francl-Donnay 92-93)
Francl-Donnay reminds us that as faithful servants – and no matter the sorrow or pain we suffer – we must make our exodus into the world with words and acts of joy.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gives to me eight maids a-milking.
The ancient carol reminds us that happiness comes to us in a variety ways; and as Jesus tells us, all ways lead to The Way. Christ continues to lead us along the path that asks us to reduce ourselves so that he may increase in our lives. This Way is narrow yet full of blessing and promise that come to us through inversion – as does so much that Christ explains to us.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, the ones who hunger and thirst, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake.
Rather than encourage self-centered thinking, Jesus asks us to care for others as readily – or even more – than ourselves. This is difficult living, Christ reminds us, yet the reward will be great indeed.
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven, they will be comforted, they will inherit the earth, they will be filled, for they will receive mercy, they will see God and be called children of God, for again . . . theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Contrary to a world that tells us to tend to ourselves, Christ asks us to show preference for those on the margin. Despite this apparent contradiction to survival, Jesus promises a life that is beyond any we might have expected. A life that produces fruit in endless abundance.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great.
On this first day of the new year, let us explore the words Christ has for us about happiness, one of the gifts he brings to us this Christmastide; and let us consider how we might find this eternal bliss today and all days.
For notes on the Beatitudes, click on the post image, or enter the word Happinessinto the blog search bar and explore.
We may well want to consider how we react to the news that we are chosen loved ones.
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Do we step ahead quickly to shove our way forward in response to God’s call? Or do we tend to those along the margins who cannot find a way into the unifying force of God’s hope?
Bear with one another . . .
Do we follow Christ in fits and starts? Or do we move constantly and slowly forward, always remaining faithful in reflection of God’s fidelity?
If anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other . . .
Do we greet one another with greed or compassion? Anger or mercy? Chaos or peace?
Just as the Lordhas forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Do we welcome the stranger, speak out against injustice, console the sorrowful, and heal the sick?
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Do we work for reconciliation? Do we open our eyes, ears, hearts, hands and minds? Do we act as if we are chosen in God’s humble love?
When we use the scripture link and the drop-down menus, we find that being chosen is more than we have first thought.
In this Eastertide, we spend time with the Gospels of the Easter Octave, the eight days comprising the celebration of Easter. We hear John’s familiar story of Jesus appearing at the Sea of Galilee. The details in the story open doors of Easter joy and hope for us.
First, we choose a translation that speaks to us most clearly. Then we reflect. If we want to hear an audio version of today’s verses, visit the USCCB site. We may find other versions by using the scripture link and drop-down menus.
In the MESSAGE translation, we see again that the disciples do not recognize Jesus when they first see him. Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.
We reflect on the number of times Christ has stood before us, and our eyes have not seen. The unwanted visitor. The neighbor who challenges us. The colleague who asks a question we do not want to answer.
Jesus asks the disciples to expect something new when he asks them to do something they have been doing for hours. Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.
We reflect on the number of times Christ has asked us to once more open ourselves to optimism when we have already given up on hope. The task we have already completed. The cause we believe to be dead. The optimism we see as pointless.
Jesus prepares a meal for his friends, and then he says, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.
We reflect on the number of times Christ has waited on us, served us, healed us and loved us. We recall the worries and anxieties that too often govern us. We remember the doubts and fears that too frequently control us. We remember the Easter promise of healing and transformation. And we look toward the end of John’s Gospel when he tells us, There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.(John 21:25)
And we ask ourselves . . . can we recognize the Christ moments in our lives? Are we willing to muster the courage to throw our nets another time where we have already thrown them endlessly? Are we prepared to welcome the joy and peace of Easter? And are we willing to witness to these life-giving encounters with Christ so that others might live and believe?
Prayer is at the center of human petition. Cries of anguish rise from the human throat. Cries of pain rise from the human heart. In today’s Noontime Jesus teaches us why we should petition the Father. And he teaches us how. Jesus reminds us that prayer is always answered. And he promises that we will all have answers for our questions when we seek.
The Noontimes 