Shepherd of Faith

Inspiration for your journey to God!

Category: Lectio (Page 11 of 32)

The unknown day and hour – Mt 24:37-44

December 1, 2019 / / 0 Comments
the unknown day and hour
He’s already there, let Him out into the world!

The unknown day and hour is the title of today’s Gospel.

Matthew 24: 37-44

For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this; if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

stay awake

THE SECOND COMING! STAY AWAKE! The unknown day and hour! We’ve all heard it before and as faithful as we are, it’s a bit scary to hear, is it not? Today, as I read this, I thought: could it be that this “second coming” is our realization that He is always present, that He resides in our hearts? Maybe THAT’S how He is released into the world?

Could “stay awake” mean be mindful, aware and present in order to recognize that He is not “out there” somewhere but “in here” in our hearts? By staying awake we get to witness day in and day out how He is working in our lives through the good and bad.

taken/left?

“One will be taken” – could taken mean converted or awakened to the true Source of joy. “One will be left” – could left mean unmoved, unaware of God’s action and presence in their life?

I feel like this Gospel is telling us not to seek Him out there. Remain present and mindful, remain open to His promptings, trust in His timing. I recently read words from Fr. Thomas Keating that have stayed with me and help me trust more: “Let what’s happening, happen.” His plans are way better than our plans. We’ll get it eventually but we have to remain open to His life and love. Surrender and trust.

When will we arrive?

The truth is we never “arrive” in this spiritual journey. Jesus tells us so when He says: “but of that day and hour no one knows.” Two steps forward, one step back – we make some progress but it’s almost as if we’re always beginning. We “arrive” when we pass from this life and of that day and hour no one knows.

God bless you!

He did not come to abolish the law

March 27, 2019 / / 2 Comments
After the crucifixion comes the resurrection. Jesus gives us a reason to hope.
Jesus gives us a reason to hope!

In Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus tells us that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.  So what does that mean for us? 

One word that came to mind as I thought about it was: difficulty.  Our need to regularly receive the sacrament of Reconciliation is proof of how difficult it is to follow the law. If Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, then it must mean He didn’t come to rid us of difficulty:  whether the difficulty be our inability to follow the law – a form of self-inflicted suffering or whether the difficulty is some other form of suffering like an illness or tragic loss.  Instead, He came to “carry it out” through example.

Yes, Jesus came to save us but in His infinite love and mercy He also came to show us how life is done.  He came to model for us how to see our way THROUGH suffering.  Jesus showed us what it means to accept God’s will and proved to us once and for all that beyond the suffering lies a glorious resurrection.  Jesus gave us a reason to HOPE!

Control?

We all tend to become anxious or disappointed when life doesn’t go according to plan.  Our need to control every aspect of life is probably what causes most of our suffering.  The sooner we accept the reality God is in control, the happier we’ll be.  Jesus actually gave us a prescription for happiness in the Beatitudes!  It’s certainly worth pondering.  

How we deal with suffering determines where we go from there.  Accepting it and surrendering  to God’s will allows us to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   We see the lesson, we grow in virtue. In choosing to avoid it at all costs we remain in darkness, constantly reliving the pain and never coming out on the other side.

WWJD?

Jesus prepared for His suffering by slipping away to pray.  When he was tempted, He relied on Scripture.  When He doubted, He trusted.  When He was in pain, He surrendered. We are called to do the same.  So how do you manage your stress, pain and suffering?  How do you prepare for a tough road ahead?  Do you follow Jesus’ example?

I recently read the following excerpt in a daily inspirational journal titled The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo:

Even in the Dark

Seldom seen, growing along the ocean floor, the white plumed anemone is a watery blossom.  It is white lace, opening under tons of black, opening as if bathed in the sun, while so far from the sun.

This is the trick to staying well, isn’t it:  to feel the sun even in the dark.  To not lose the truth of things when they go out of view.  To grow just the same.  To know there is still water even when we are thirsty.  To know there is still love, even when we are lonely.  To know there is still peace, even when we are suffering.

None of this invalidates our pain, but only strengthens our way back into the light.

Imagine the “this” in that last sentence is Jesus.  Jesus strengthens our way back into the light!  Lean on Him, trust in Him, follow Him!


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