Maundy Thursday

Good Morning, dear reader. Today is Maundy Thursday. It is the day that Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples. It would be His last meal before His crucifixion.  

Our reading in Isaiah focuses on all the good things that God has given us and done for us. He tells us to rejoice in all this! He heals those who are broken, gives justice to the unjust, and restores the land that He formed. We can rest in His embrace, knowing He will make things right again. We need to remain thankful for all of this, for without God, we would have nothing. 

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John is writing a letter to the churches of Asia, telling them that all will see when Jesus returns, even those who persecuted Him. Jesus is refered to as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end; He is for all time. It was through His death and resurrection that we are freed from our sins. He has given us new life through the loss of His. We are to honor that sacrifice by walking as He did. To minister to others, to give comfort to those who mourn, to share His word so others may also be saved. This is a huge commitment Jesus lays before us. But we know that by putting our trust in Him, He will help us to do these things. 

This is the same request we see in Luke's Gospel. The Holy Spirit is imbued in us, to move in us so that we may be Jesus's disciples. We are to reach out to the "forgotten ones" in today's society; the poor, the lost, the homeless, the infirmed, just as Jesus did. These are the people who need Jesus's love the most. I know as I have been struggling with my own life of late that I have come to rely on Jesus more and more. It is in His love and hope of better things to come that keep me going. 

As we enter the most difficult part of this week, be mindful of how Jesus has moved in your life. Give thanks for all He has done and will continue to do. And most of all, be a nice human. 😇 

I found this video that briefly explains the meaning of Maundy Thursday: https://youtu.be/XRQ0qn7KQ8w

 

Seeing is Believing

Good Afternoon, dear reader! Today, we are again seeing the theme of words and deeds. If our words and deeds don't match up, then people feel no confidence in you. You absolutely need to "walk the walk and talk the talk". 

We see, in today's first reading, that the prophet Jeremiah is speaking out against those who have persecuted him. He is aware of the fact that his supposed friends are always waiting for him to make a mistake, to find some fault. He warns his detractors that God may come down to exact His revenge. Notice how he says MAY. That one little word will make them wonder. This is not a direct threat. It's more of a passive-aggressive statement. I believe that Jeremiah also phrased it this way because he knew that it was not up to him to judge or punish these people. God may come to punish.... or He may not... are you willing to risk it?! lol

When we look at todays Gospel, we see it is similar to our last few readings in this book. The Jews are mad, they think that Jesus is committing blasphemy for saying He is the Son of God or God incarnate. It seems no matter where Jesus goes, these people just don't understand. Jesus tries to tell them that it's fine if they don't want to believe His words, but look at the things He has done "If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe Me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe Me, believe the works" (Jn 10:37-38, NAB). This is clearly a case of seeing is believing. 

Once again, the Jews try to arrest Jesus, and once again He avoids it, as it is still not His time to be captured. After all this, Jesus decides to go to the river where John the Baptist baptised Him. He again encounters more people. They tell Jesus that even though John did not perform any sort of miracles, the things he said about Jesus were true, so this Jesus is the real thing. Again, a case of seeing is believing.

Sometimes it's hard trusting in people, especially if they say one thing and do something else. How can you actually believe what they say? We see this so much in the world today. Promises are made, rhetoric abounds. It is up to us to discern whether or not they will live up to the things they say. We need to decide based on reputation and past actions if they can be trusted. It's a sort of slippery slope. 

However, we as Christians know that faith comes from believing in what we cannot see. But, God gave us the ultimate sign that we CAN believe....the empty tomb. We know that God lived up to His word. We can believe all that was prophesied in the Old Testament, we saw it play out in the New Testament. We saw it played out on the cross. Because of this, we know that we can trust in everything God does and everything He promises us.

Be blessed, dear reader. And, as always.... be a nice human. 😇

Father Bill's reflection on today's readings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pixbZ_rJjJQ

"What Faith Can Do" Kutless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1JBSQMkQEo

The Hope of Things to Come

Good Morning, dear reader, and happy Tuesday! The sun is out, which is a good thing! Today's reading in the book of Numbers kind of reminds me of our transition from winter to spring. We slogged our way through snow, ice and bitter cold, holding on to the promise of the coming spring and warmer weather. We tick off the days on the calendar in anticipation of better weather. And, as the months wore on, we saw the subtle signs. Less snow, less cold. A little more sunshine. The honking of the returning geese. The chirpping of the birds in the morning. This gives us hope that it won't be long till we see spring and all its glory! 

I'm sure the Israelites must've felt the same way. They've been travelling for a long time, experiencing war and hunger. They just wanted to get to the place that God had promised them. They wanted to be able to finally relax and enjoy their new lives. The desert was just about the last straw. No edible food, no water, just sand.. lots and lots of sand. They wondered if God really had a plan for them. They've fought battle after battle. Their numbers were dwindling. Would any of them still be left to even settle in the promised land? 

The Israelites began complaining to Moses, they complained to God. God hears their complaints
and becomes angered that they would question His plans for them. To complain about their journey. In an answer to their grievances, He sends snakes to punish them! One by one, the snakes pick off more of our weary warriors. The people realise what their complaining has done. It made it seem like they doubted God's plan. They realise what they had done was wrong. They ask God to forgive them. In His infinite mercy, God provides them with a remedy. He tells Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on the tip of a spear, "Make a saraph (snake) and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover" (Nm 21:8, NAB).

We know that God wouldn't ask us to worship some false idol. So why the snake on the pole? This is actually a metaphore. We have to look in John's Gospel for the explanation, "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (Jn 3:14, NAB). God was telling His people to remember that when they question His motives, when they question why this is happening, they are not putting God first. They are not relying on their faith. They need to trust that God has a plan for them.

We experience the bad so that we can appreciate the good things even more! We need to experience the pain, the uncertainty, to put our faith to the test. We need to put in the hard work first. We have to be reminded that we must trust God's plan for us. It is only through these trials of life that we can appreciate the good things that happen even more! We can look back at how far we have come, the things we have survived, the things that have brought us to this place we are now at. 

Now... on to John's Gospel... 

This is the first time that we are seeing the Jesus alluding to the fact of His eventual death, 'I am going away and you will not look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come" (Jn 8:21, NAB). The ones listening speculate that Jesus is referring to His own death, which He was. Except that it would not be self-inflicted. Rather, it was pre-destined by God. He further tells them that if they do not believe in Him, and in His Father, then will we die with the stain of our sins on our souls. Jesus admits that He can say quite a bit about their sins and unholy ways, but He chooses not to, for His words come from God above. He speaks for His Father. And His Father is the only one who can judge. Jesus tells us that the only way we can follow Him is by believing in Him, in the things that His death and ressurection will bring us. Jesus will redeem us and our sins through His own suffering. He will give us the greatest gift of all, eternal life in heaven. 

So, dear reader, this concludes our "lesson" for today. Keep praying, keep believing. Jesus loves us all. And as always... be a nice human. 😇

For a better reflection on today's word, watch Father Bill's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYuHzSHvJ3o

Here is a version of "Lead Me To The Cross" by Maranatha Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c0-ga-5dRg

A Leap of Faith

Good morning and a blessed Saturday to you, dear reader. I hope this finds you well. As we draw near to Holy week, we look at what it is to have faith and allow God to guide us each day.  

In today's world, it's not an easy task to be a Christian. There are so many ways which will lead us astray of God and His plans for us. Sometimes it can feel like we are the lambs being led to slaughter. How many times have you done something, then regretted it, because "it seemed like a good idea at the time"? I know I'm guilty of it. I imagine God must be banging His head up there, wondering what it will take to get us to listen. He keeps trying to send people to deliver His message, but people being people, we often don't pay attention. Sometimes it takes a holy uprising, so to speak, to get us to realize that we've lost our way. 

I think that God decided to send down Jesus to us to see if maybe a "kinder and gentler" approach might work better. Sometimes that old fire and brimstone just don't cut it. Jesus preached forgiveness and peace. But, still, people would not listen. Who was this Man who talks a good a game? He's not from around here. We are suspicious of strangers. They must have some sort of ulterior motive. They're looking for something. Jesus was the ultimate stranger in a strange land. 

Sometimes we can't see what's in front of us. Maybe there is no "end game", maybe
there is no ulterior motive. Sometimes it is what it is. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck! And that's what Jesus is.. He's our duck. He is what He appears to be. A simple Man, sent from God, on a mission. 

That's what we see here, in John's reading. Word of Jesus has spread far and wide. But people are still doubtful. He speaks so eloquently and with conviction. He is cool and confident. Some are willing to risk it and not believe He is who He says He is. But, still others, not so much. Maybe this is Him. Just because He's not from around here doesn't mean it can't be Him. Just because He speaks with such knowledge and compassion.... 

When we believe in Jesus, we have to take that leap of faith. We have to trust that Jesus is who He says He is. I can personally atest to the fact that I have a hard time just saying ok, Lord, take this and YOU deal with it because I can't. Will He really do it? What will happen if I don't do anything except rely on Him to fix it? But that's what it means to have faith. That's what it means to believe. That's what it is to be a follower of Jesus. We step out of that fear, that darkness, that uncertainty. 

Today, try and have a bit of a conversation with Jesus. Give whatever your burden is to Him. Take that leap of faith. He will hear you. I promise. And, as always, dear reader... be a nice human. 😇

***Pray and meditate on Psalms 142 and 143***

Have a listen to Father Bill. He pretty much speaks of what I have written. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u86ozLIx4AI 

Some musical encouragement, Chris Tomlin "I Lift My Hands"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c24En0r-lXg

A New Creation

Good Morning, dear reader, and a blessed Sunday to you!! This morning we are looking at becoming a new creation in Christ. The two parables we read tell us about someone who has fallen away, but then repented and was received with great joy!

We see this same theme in Joshua, but in a slightly different manner. The Israelites have come through some awful trials. They are now on their way to a new, and better, life. They celebrate the feast of Passover joyfully. This is their new beginning. They remained faithful to God's word and followed His path. They are free to celebrate. They are free to worship God. 

In the Gospel readings this morning, Jesus uses parables, stories that teach a basic truth or moral about life, to demonstrate His point that even if it is one soul who departs from Him, it is still important to Him. He will seek out that one person and console them with His love and forgiveness.

In our first part, from the Gospel of Luke, we see the story of the lost sheep. The people who were assembled could not understand why Jesus would invite the sinners and the tax collectors to eat with Him and to pray with Him. Why would someone as Holy as Jesus choose to be with these kinds of people? Jesus uses the metaphore of the lost sheep to explain it. We should not ignore or foget the ones who fall away. We need to seek them out. We need to bring them back into the fold. We need to reassure them that Jesus loves them just like He loves the faithful and obedient ones. We need to celebrate the ones who choose to come back. We need to love the ones who voluntarily leave their sins behind so they can follow Jesus. 

In the second part of the parable, the prodigal son, we see how the son who stayed on to help his father, the one who remained faithful to his father, become indignant when the son who ran off to squander his fortunes, was welcomed back with a big celebration. Why would his father do that? This one did not stay to help. Rather, he went off to spend what was given him, to indulge in things that were sinful. What he didn't understand was that the son who wandered away was the one who CHOSE to come back and seek forgiveness. He was truly sorry for what he had done. It required him to humble himself to his father and beg forgiveness. It's a difficult thing to admit we were wrong, to admit our failings. It's quite the vulnerable place for most of us.

In our readings from 2 Corinthians, we are reminded that when we go to Jesus and admit our sins, when we admit our weakness, when we repent for our sins, we become new. We are given a second chance through Jesus's love for us. He will never turn away from one that willingly comes to Him. He reminds us that no matter how far we may have fallen, He will always be there to catch us. He will always forgive us if we are truly sorry for what we have done. It's not an easy task. And it shouldn't be. If it were easy, we would just keep doing what we were doing, and keep asking for forgiveness. But it doesn't work that way. We need to suffer, in a sense, for what we did. And we have to try and not do it again.

When Lent begins, it is a good time to reaffirm our choice to follow Jesus. We need to take the time to rekindle the flame of our excitement. It is also a time to celebrate with those who are newly born into God's family! It is our chance to help lead them along the path! 

Take some time today to be thankful for your faith. Take time to celebrate Christ and what He sacrificed for us. Remind yourself WHY you chose to follow Him. And, as always, dear reader, be a nice human. 😇

“A Prayer Of Affirmation Of Faith”**

Father, we are grateful to be Your children. It is not by our own goodness, behavior, or generosity that we purchase or earn this standing. It is because of Jesus, who came clothed in human flesh so that He might reach His own people and release them from their sins. Though many reject the Gospel message, we choose to believe and gratefully declare that we are the children of God. Nothing can compare with such privilege or power as we make our earthly journey below and anticipate eternity in heaven above. In the name of Jesus, we reaffirm and joyfully proclaim our decision to follow You all the days of our lives. Amen.

**Source: https://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2021/12/10/a-prayer-of-affirmation-of-faith/

Here is a wonderful song that reminds us we can never fall too far from Jesus's grace and mercy. https://youtu.be/Sa7PrjpE8dY 

Prayer

 

Good Morning Lovely People!! 😇

Today's word brings us to the topic of prayer. We are reminded that God hears our prayers and often knows what we need before we utter a single word. But, like every good father, He wants us to actually come to Him and tell Him what we need. This is, indeed, a humbling act. Which is why He expects this of us.

In this morning's reading from Isaiah, God reminds us that His word gives us nourishment of the soul, much like bread gives nourishment to the body. In Matthew's Gospel, God tells us HOW to pray, saying "Thy will be done", just as in Isaiah it says "It (our prayers) shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will". 

When we hear "Thy will be done", how do you interpret it? Do you think it means that God hears you and it will get done or do you hear that HIS WILL will be done? There's quite a difference in the meaning of each. When we follow God's plan for us, when we do what He wills us to, then we will achieve what it is that God wants from us. We do His will, His bidding, but it is always all for good. So we must "pray always" with intent, wait to hear God's response and trust that He knows what He's doing. I can promise that it won't be easy, but it will be worth it. 

Be blessed dear friends. Go forth and spread the word of God.