What beautiful readings we have today!
1st Reading - 1st Book of Kings 3:5, 7-12
Psalm 119
2nd reading - Romans 8:28-30
Gospel - Matthew 13:44-52
Have you ever thought about what you would say if God said He would give you anything you wanted?
Health? Take care of my family? Just let me have enough money (how much is enough?) No worries/problems? Joy? Peace? Love? Happiness?
I did pray for patience once....but then God gave me lots of opportunities to see how patient I was....lol - not a pleasant time in my life!
I don't think I would ever have thought about having an understanding heart to govern your people. (although - now I do! Thanks, Solomon!)
Today, as God transforms me, as I grow closer to God, my prayer is simple - Help me be more like you and less like me! Help me be the person you created me to be! Help me to love unconditionally!
Psalm 119 - Lord, I love your commands.
This, too, has been a journey. I didn't always love God's commands. As a young person, I felt God was too controlling. I felt His commands were too limiting. But now I see the wisdom in His commands. I see the love and mercy in His commands. Living His commands has helped me to be more like Him and more of who He created me to be.
Romans 8:28 is one of my all-time favorite verses. Do you ever wonder why bad things happen to innocent people? I do! It happened to me. I couldn't figure out why God would allow this to happen. It wasn't my fault. It was devastating. This verse was explained to me in this way - and I have used it to comfort me in times of pain and suffering often.
We know that all things (He didn't say some things - some of the time) work for good (that means that at sometimes in the future God will use this bad thing and turn it around and use it for something Good!) -
for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. I do love God and I am here to do His Holy will. So when bad things happen to me or my loved ones, I trust that MY ALL LOVING GOD has a great plan and will use this for HIS GLORY!!! I trust in Him!
I had a friend who was a priest once - who helped me understand God's great love for me with the pearl of great price. I know that God's love for me is the Great pearl. I should sell all I own in thanksgiving for what Christ has done for me! I do love Him and I am so grateful, but I admit I take it for granted most days.
Fr. told us to look at us as the pearl. That Christ gave His live up for us, because we were the pearl of great price. Just looking at the parable in that light - makes me see how much Jesus does love me!!!
As for the large net and the fish being separated at the end of time. I just pray that I am selected for heaven! I pray I stay faithful and that I draw even closer to God for the rest of my life.
What great readings - drawing us closer into the depths of God's great love for us! How blessed are we!
Have a blessed Liturgy!
Be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Nancy
Friday, July 25, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
July 20, 2014 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1st Reading - Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Responsorial Psalm - 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16
2nd Reading - Romans 8:26-27
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43
I had trouble separating these readings this week. I keep reading all of them and after reading all of them - I felt I had an overall feeling of the wonder and awe of God. I realized that God gave us free will out of His complete and unconditional love for each of us. As much as He wants each of us to choose Love, to choose Good, to choose truth and beauty.....He allows us to choose evil, too! But He doesn't judge us right away (although, I have experienced His loving discipline when I have sinned). The ultimate judgement is saved for the end of time. We actually will choose our final eternal resting place. Will it be heaven or hell?
God is certainly merciful. We read that over and over in the Holy Scriptures. But I believe He is also just to condemn when we use our free will not to choose to Love.
The Gospel also teaches me to not judge others. Remember last week when I shared that I had been every seed in the gospel? I praise God, that I wasn't thrown into Gehenna when I was the bad seed. God gave me time to repent and choose to Love. Yes, I still mess up. That's why I love the sacrament of confession! It's such a "shower for the soul!" It's the ultimate Catholic "do-over". God is ready to forgive and forget as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).
Just this week I was struggling with someone who "rubs me the wrong way". Someone who is Christian but doesn't act like it very often. I was judging that person harshly. At Friday mass, the priest's homily reminded me about my call by Jesus to love unconditionally - regardless how others act to me. Isn't God wonderful? I was in the midst of my great sin of "judging" someone else of being "sinful". Will I ever get it? Will I ever be Holy? It's a good thing it's Saturday, I can go get my shower of Confession!!!
Have a blessed week!
Nancy
Responsorial Psalm - 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16
2nd Reading - Romans 8:26-27
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43
I had trouble separating these readings this week. I keep reading all of them and after reading all of them - I felt I had an overall feeling of the wonder and awe of God. I realized that God gave us free will out of His complete and unconditional love for each of us. As much as He wants each of us to choose Love, to choose Good, to choose truth and beauty.....He allows us to choose evil, too! But He doesn't judge us right away (although, I have experienced His loving discipline when I have sinned). The ultimate judgement is saved for the end of time. We actually will choose our final eternal resting place. Will it be heaven or hell?
God is certainly merciful. We read that over and over in the Holy Scriptures. But I believe He is also just to condemn when we use our free will not to choose to Love.
The Gospel also teaches me to not judge others. Remember last week when I shared that I had been every seed in the gospel? I praise God, that I wasn't thrown into Gehenna when I was the bad seed. God gave me time to repent and choose to Love. Yes, I still mess up. That's why I love the sacrament of confession! It's such a "shower for the soul!" It's the ultimate Catholic "do-over". God is ready to forgive and forget as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).
Just this week I was struggling with someone who "rubs me the wrong way". Someone who is Christian but doesn't act like it very often. I was judging that person harshly. At Friday mass, the priest's homily reminded me about my call by Jesus to love unconditionally - regardless how others act to me. Isn't God wonderful? I was in the midst of my great sin of "judging" someone else of being "sinful". Will I ever get it? Will I ever be Holy? It's a good thing it's Saturday, I can go get my shower of Confession!!!
Have a blessed week!
Nancy
Friday, July 11, 2014
July 13, 2014 - 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time
I love today's readings. I have spent many hours reflecting on them in my faith journey!!!
As I read them over this week I feel my roots growing a little deeper into the soil, as my faith has grown through trials and challenges - I see that God's living word - all of His promises have proven absolutely true! Nothing in my life has been wasted, even all my mistakes.
Let's look at the first reading from Isaiah 55:10-11. Such a short and powerful reading. "My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it." Sometimes I get my faith walk all twisted up with what I do for a living. I think it's more about what I do, and not about my own faith walk. Today, God reminds me - that this verse is not only for others, but ESPECIALLY for me! He has written HIS LIVING Word for me! His promises are for ME! When I look back on my life, I see it! He has been so faithful. He has been so merciful and so loving to ME! He has challenged me when I needed it, He has consoled me when I needed it! He has promised me VICTORY in Him when I am discouraged and given me courage when I am AFRAID! He is always there for me! The more I read His WORD, the more it quickens to my mind and heart when I need it in life! This encourages me to keep reading His Word everyday!
The Psalm is a beautiful promise - as I (and YOU!) are disciples! Apostles! Sent out to make more disciples! Sent out to love! "The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest!" We don't need to see it to believe it! (especially if we believe with all our hearts the first reading from ISAIAH!!!) We just keep loving, preparing people's hearts for the love of GOD!!!
The 2nd Reading has comforted me in my discouragement. Some days don't you wonder why bad things happen to good people? This reading from Romans gives me hope. It keeps my eyes on the prize - the Glory of Heaven. There is a song on the radio - "Where I Belong" by Tree 63. The lyrics remind me of this verse - Where I Belong"
As I read them over this week I feel my roots growing a little deeper into the soil, as my faith has grown through trials and challenges - I see that God's living word - all of His promises have proven absolutely true! Nothing in my life has been wasted, even all my mistakes.
Let's look at the first reading from Isaiah 55:10-11. Such a short and powerful reading. "My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it." Sometimes I get my faith walk all twisted up with what I do for a living. I think it's more about what I do, and not about my own faith walk. Today, God reminds me - that this verse is not only for others, but ESPECIALLY for me! He has written HIS LIVING Word for me! His promises are for ME! When I look back on my life, I see it! He has been so faithful. He has been so merciful and so loving to ME! He has challenged me when I needed it, He has consoled me when I needed it! He has promised me VICTORY in Him when I am discouraged and given me courage when I am AFRAID! He is always there for me! The more I read His WORD, the more it quickens to my mind and heart when I need it in life! This encourages me to keep reading His Word everyday!
The Psalm is a beautiful promise - as I (and YOU!) are disciples! Apostles! Sent out to make more disciples! Sent out to love! "The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest!" We don't need to see it to believe it! (especially if we believe with all our hearts the first reading from ISAIAH!!!) We just keep loving, preparing people's hearts for the love of GOD!!!
The 2nd Reading has comforted me in my discouragement. Some days don't you wonder why bad things happen to good people? This reading from Romans gives me hope. It keeps my eyes on the prize - the Glory of Heaven. There is a song on the radio - "Where I Belong" by Tree 63. The lyrics remind me of this verse - Where I Belong"
Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the
outside
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive
I won't keep searching for answers that aren't here to find
All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
So when the walls come falling down on me
And when I'm lost in the current of a raging sea
I have this blessed assurance holding me.
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive
I won't keep searching for answers that aren't here to find
All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
So when the walls come falling down on me
And when I'm lost in the current of a raging sea
I have this blessed assurance holding me.
We are not Home yet. This world does not promise us all roses! God put us here for a reason. He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us through the challenges - so that we can love others and share His love and mercy with others - sometimes it is through our trials that we can help others the best!!! I can't wait for the Glory in Heaven!!!
And finally, the gospel! One of my favorites. I have been every seed in this gospel! It makes me chuckle to go back and think of my life as a seed! I have been so lost - I don't even know how God found me! I actually rejected God so many times! Yet, here I am! His mercy and grace are so amazing! This verse also gives me hope! We all have a story. We all have a journey. Even those most lost in this very moment (our grown children - family members)....are only lost for the moment (remember God isn't limited by time!) His timing is perfect! He has a plan and it is that all of His children are with Him forever in Heaven! He uses His Living Word (Isaiah) which will not go Void! He uses us to love! He thirsts for us to thirst for Him! He is always chasing after us!
Thanks be to God! He never gives up! He never gave up on me! and HERE I AM! It's such a miracle! Let us not give up on those around us! Let us continue to spread the seeds of God's love and mercy and compassion - knowing that we are not home yet!
Have a blessed week!!!
Nancy
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