Moments of contemplative prayer come quietly, softly and often by surprise.
Waking this morning, starting the day with my bedside "Our Father," I had a realization of how much the Lord has changed my life and the moments of peace it has brought me, despite my sin, my human frailty...and my stubborn pride. I am thankful to the Lord God for the many blessings he has bestowed.
The key is that you work to put yourself in the position to hear.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sign of Jonah (Mt, 12:38-42)
Do the Pharisees really want a sign from Jesus? Or are they in search of something else?
When we see Christ, are we open to see who He really is? Or are we looking for something else? Then what?
When we see Christ, are we open to see who He really is? Or are we looking for something else? Then what?
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Martha and Mary
Just what is the Lord asking you to do? How do you know?
Martha is serving, Mary is listening. In this case, who's right? Not the question, because both are. There is a time and place for both. So why does Jesus tell Martha that Mary has chosen the better share? Because that is what He wants of her at that time...to listen. Martha is doing good work that she thinks she should be doing, and that Mary should be helping. She's doing good work because everyone does need to eat! But can they eat later? Is there something better here that Martha is not seeing? Is there something else that Christ is calling her to do first?
What about us? When we think we are serving the Lord, are we really? Or are we really working over our own agenda of what we think the Lord wants us to do?
Do we listen with open hearts? Or do we frame the questions of our prayer and focus on what we want? Very easy to do, isn't it.
Are we willing to die to our old self, including our concepts of what we think the Lord wants, or are we willing to empty ourselves of our perceptions and be willing to go somewhere we never would have thought of on our own?
Martha is serving, Mary is listening. In this case, who's right? Not the question, because both are. There is a time and place for both. So why does Jesus tell Martha that Mary has chosen the better share? Because that is what He wants of her at that time...to listen. Martha is doing good work that she thinks she should be doing, and that Mary should be helping. She's doing good work because everyone does need to eat! But can they eat later? Is there something better here that Martha is not seeing? Is there something else that Christ is calling her to do first?
What about us? When we think we are serving the Lord, are we really? Or are we really working over our own agenda of what we think the Lord wants us to do?
Do we listen with open hearts? Or do we frame the questions of our prayer and focus on what we want? Very easy to do, isn't it.
Are we willing to die to our old self, including our concepts of what we think the Lord wants, or are we willing to empty ourselves of our perceptions and be willing to go somewhere we never would have thought of on our own?
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