Sunday, February 28, 2010

Perspective

SCRIPTURE
For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Ph.3:20

OBESERVATION
Paul is writing while imprisoned to the church in Philippi, giving doctrinal teaching on what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The basics are being covered and warnings given to watch out for those who are enemies of Paul and what he preaches.

APPLICATION
This verse gives us believers our most profound change of perspective on life. It is a mystery to non-believers, something they can never understand. Our gaze is always over the horizon. As good as this life gets (and it is very good) it is still “shadow lands” compared to the glories of the next. We are aliens, travelling through a foreign land. Heaven is our home. Today, whatever it brings, only makes sense because of the hope I have in tomorrow… eternity spent with my Lord, my Saviour and my friend.

PRAYER
I wait in joy and hope for the coming of my Saviour Jesus Christ. Come, just like you promised!

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Teach Me How to Love

SCRIPTURE
But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven…
Mt.5:43

OBSERVATION
Jesus continues his blueprint for Christian life in His Sermon on the Mount. He’s now getting down to the nitty-gritty… Love your enemies! This goes against everything the world tells us, which is to hate your enemies and defeat them. This would probably be the most well known command for Christians that non-believers quote… “Christians? They the ones who are meant to love their enemies aren’t they?” Yes, meant to but seldom do.

APPLICATION
This is an area I haven’t been really tested in. Sure, there are people I find it hard to get along with, some types of people I even avoid. But I can’t think of anyone I actually hate.
I’ve heard it said that the opposite of love isn’t hatred but indifference. Maybe that is the starting point… look out for those I avoid or turn my back on… and love them. This could be harder than I thought!

PRAYER
Jesus, no one is beyond your compassion, not even me. Teach me how to love, that I may be a true son of our Father in heaven.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Friday, February 26, 2010

All are Family

SCRIPTURE
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Mt.5.21,22

OBSERVATION
Jesus is giving His Sermon on the Mount, the great exhortation on how to live the Christian life. He deals with the basest of human conditions: murder, divorce, lust, unforgiveness, hatred. He equates unforgiveness with murder.

OBSERVATION
Anger and judgement both happen in my mind. On the outside I can appear all peace and sweetness but on the inside be in a turmoil of stinking thinking. Jesus is telling me to change the way I think. This is not easy. It will involve changing old habits, retraining myself in the way I think about others. The starting point for this is in a word Jesus uses repeatedly in this portion of His famous teaching, the word “brother”:

…anyone who is angry with his brother
…anyone who says to his brother, 'fool!’
…and there remember that your brother has something against you
…be reconciled to your brother

You work harder at relationships with family. Today, I remember that all whom I meet is my brother, my sister… is family.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus. Thank you for roll-modelling what a true brother is. Strengthen me today to see all as brothers and sisters, as family.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Place of Refuge

SCRIPTURE
Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel…
Esther 4:17

OBSERVATION
Esther has just been appealed to by her uncle Mordecai to approach King Xerxes and reveal Haman’s plans to eradicate the Jews. She knows that to approach the King unbidden is punishable by death. But if she remains silent, she and her race will be annihilated. In short, she is between a rock and a hard place.

APPLICATION
The story of Esther is a wonderful story of courage and faith winning out over evil. In the early stages, Esther looks doomed whichever way she turns, so she turns to the only way left to her… she turns to her God.
I’ve just received news that my office faces the possibility of closure, leaving me made redundant. It looks gloomy whichever way I turn. I choose to turn to the only way left to me, …my God.

PRAYER
Father in heaven, my times are in your hand. Give me the peace your Son gives to those who love him.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Foolishness of God

SCRIPTURE
‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’     Mt.6:15

OBSERVATION
Jesus has just given advice to His disciples on how to pray by giving them (and us) the most powerful prayer known to the Church, the Lord’s Prayer.  This is recognised by the Church and used in every Mass celebrated around the world.  It is a prayer constantly being said and offered up to our Father in Heaven.  But Jesus didn’t stop there.  He underscored the most important verse, the verse on forgiveness.

APPLICATION
Jesus is telling me I am forgiven as much (or as least) as I am prepared to forgive others.  There are two messages for me here.  One, I am a sinful man in need of forgiveness.  Two, I am a resentful man who struggles to forgive.

Forgiveness is totally illogical.  The little lawyer within me says “fight for your rights; you deserve it; you are a fool to not demand recompense”.  The foolishness of God says to me “Give up your rights; be the first to forgive; let it go”.   Forgiveness is always a choice.  Today, I choose the foolishness of God.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, forgive me, for I am a sinful man.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Subtleties of Darkness

SCRIPTURE
But Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.’...  Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’...  (The devil said) " for scripture says:" He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you".
Luke 4:1-13


OBSERVATION
Today's Gospel records the titanic battle between Jesus and the devil while Jesus is in the desert for 40 days following His baptism (interestingly, baptised with water and with the Holy Spirit).  The first two temptations Jesus refutes using scripture against the devil.  The devil catches on and tries to use scripture to under-pin his third temptation.  Even when the devil uses sacred scripture to disguise himself, Jesus still recognises and defeats him. Praise God!


APPLICATION
"The subtleties of darkness never cease to amaze, as the physical world creates a spiritual haze" (Jesus Freak, DC Talk).  I am no stranger to temptation.  But what I am vulnerable to are the "subtleties of darkness".  The devil will use anything to attack me, even something as beautiful and scared as the Word of God.  He was quite right when he said to Jesus the world has been given to him to use as he chooses.  The world is God's creation and is beautiful, but I must always remember the devil can use any of it to seduce me.


The antidote to the attacks from the devil against me is in today's psalm, Psalm 91:
 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he knows me as Lord."

This was the defense of Jesus.  He knew His Father.  He had just heard the words spoken over Him: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased".  Today I choose to press further up , further in, to know and be known by God my protector.


PRAYER
Jesus, be my protector here in earth and defender in Heaven.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Pure Motivation

SCRIPTURE
But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’ Mt. 9:15

OBSERVATION
Jesus is countering the Pharisees’ accusation that His disciples don’t fast as they do. As in today’s first reading from Isaiah, Jesus puts the spotlight on the motivation for fasting. The act of fasting by itself is not the point. It’s the conversion of the heart that is the sanctifying act.

APPLICATION
I don’t find fasting easy. The headaches from my coffee withdrawal and light-headedness from missing breakfast don’t make me want to rush in and embrace this Lenten observance. Yet, the Church places fasting firmly among the three Lenten traditional practices: Prayer, alms-giving and fasting. Now, the prayer I don’t mind…

So, what’s the antidote to my avoidance? Look at the heart benefit. As promised in Isaiah, when pure motivation gives pure fasting: “Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.” What a promise!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me have a pure motivation to fast this Lent, that my light may shine and my wound be healed.

Little Flower, please pray for me.