Today is the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The response for the Psalm is, “The Lord is King; he is robed in majesty.” (Psalm 93:1a). Take some time to reflect on this. What is this King like?
As you continue to envision the Lord as King, think about what you have learned about Jesus through both Scripture and experience. How has his majesty impacted your life, and influenced your choices?
In today’s Gospel (John 18:33b-37), Jesus is being interrogated by Pilate. This is after Peter has denied knowing Jesus for the third time and the cock has crowed.
In response to Pilate asking, “Then you are a king?”, Jesus replies,
“You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” – John 13:37
Think about how Jesus testifies to the truth—to God—in his life, through his words and actions, and the choices he makes. What do you admire most about Jesus? And how does he inspire you?
Mindful of being someone who belongs to the truth, robed in majesty, and continuing to hold onto the qualities of Jesus that you admire and are inspired by, consider how you are listening to Jesus’s voice in today’s world, by entering into a conversation with Jesus. Invite him to show you the ways in which you are listening to his voice. Ask him to reveal any blind spots that may be interfering with your ability to listen and/or creating misunderstanding of his voice and to what it testifies.
After a sufficient period of time, when the conversation has run its course, what is your prayer to Jesus as you prepare to go forth?
Now, giving Jesus the last word, what is his prayer for you?
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. – Psalm 93:1a
In The Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen wrote, “Both trust and gratitude require the courage to take risks because distrust and resentment, in their need to keep their claim on me, keep warning me how dangerous it is to let go of my careful calculations and guarded predictions. At many points I have to make a leap of faith to let trust and gratitude have a chance. The leap of faith always means loving without expecting to be loved in return, giving without wanting to receive, inviting without hoping to be invited, holding without asking to be held. And every time I make a little leap, I catch a glimpse of the One who runs out to me and invites me into his joy, the joy in which I can find not only myself, but also my brothers and sisters.”
Take a moment now to reflect on where you’ve experienced the Lord this past week and to what degree trust was involved. How did or does your experience help you to trust or to have faith, placing hope in the Lord with regards to a situation(s)? What happens when you bring areas in which your trust has possibly shifted away, back into prayer and back to the Lord?
Continuing to contemplate your experience, what qualities or characteristics that you associate with the Lord, are most noticeable? And how do these same qualities inform, influence, and inspire you and your choices?
The Gospel for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 10:46-52) begins in a sea of people, from within which, Bartimaeus, the blind man, is calling out to the Lord. And despite others around him telling him to stop and to keep quiet, he keeps calling out, “Son of David, have pity on me!” (v. 48).
Imagine what Bartimaeus might be holding in his heart as he’s trying to get Jesus’ attention? How about Jesus? What might be in his heart as he navigates through the crowd? What qualities do they each seem to have that might be informing, influencing, and inspiring them? What do each of them seem to be focused on?
Next, notice how Jesus receives and responds to Bartimaeus, the blind man who has let his guard down and opened himself up to both chance and Grace.
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. – Mk 10:49-52
Jesus is essentially saying: I’m here and I’m listening… I see you… I hear you… Come closer… Tell me more. And Bartimaeus, by coming closer and sharing more with Jesus, is able to receive peace, healing, and greater faith.
Take whatever you are focused on, to Jesus, the One who is, who was, and who will ever be—here for you, listening to you, seeing and hearing you, and always saying, come closer, tell me more.
Then, after a period of sharing and listening, envision Jesus saying the same to you as he did to Bartimaeus, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. – Psalm 126:3
Walking past crates of pumpkins and gourds at a local farm, the different colors and shapes are stunning. It’s interesting to think that such variety can grow out of the seemingly blah ground. Yet, when examined more closely, the soil, although drab compared to its yield, is actually quite diverse and multidimensional, holding various nutrients necessary to growth.
Turning to the readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are provided with an invitation to contemplate the relationship and impact of prayer, openness to Wisdom, and placing hope in God on environment and yield.
First, in the Book of Wisdom, we are encouraged to seek Wisdom above all else. It is written:
I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands. – Wisdom (7:7-11
Notice how the passage begins with praying and pleading, or in other words a humble posture. Not only that, but there is also the choice to seek Wisdom as well as to abide by it; this is further described throughout the passage. However, to be open to Wisdom, one must be open to the possibility that things are not what they seem or that there might be a better way. In addition, one must also be willing to loosen the grip, or let go of other notions, even if just temporarily, so as to allow Wisdom to shine the Light and make things clear.
In Psalm 90, the Psalmist also writes of Wisdom, reminding us of its source—God’s kindness (love)—and characteristics as well as its impact—prosperity through God’s grace.
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Make us glad, for the days when you afflicted us, for the years when we saw evil. Let your work be seen by your servants and your glory by their children; and may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! – Psalm 90:12-17
Although we cannot control the timing and placement of Wisdom, we can pray and plead for it, be aware of its characteristics, and open ourselves to it, and the graces it holds. In the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews, we are reminded of the power of God’s word.
Brothers and sisters: Indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. – Hebrews 4:12-13
As human beings, our natural tendency is to fall into wanting to possess (control) or to fall into being possessed (controlled) by or too attached to things. However, God is not subject to this Achilles heel of ours. God, and God’s word, is “living and effective” because God is not bound, tied up, or confused, like we can be. Rather, God is all-knowing and constantly evolving, adjusting, and adapting to meet us where we are. This is not to inflict punishment or take away freedom, but to lift us up and fill us with an abundance of love and mercy, making the way for Wisdom to help us see clearly, and to use our free will to operate and navigate this world with love and mercy.
Looking at the Gospel passage for this week, we are reminded that faith and faithfulness to God not only extends beyond oneself, but that they also require flexibility and an openness to change, which is hindered when attachments to people, places, or things, outside of God exist.
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” – Mark 10:17-27
In the passage above, the man who approaches Jesus likely finds a great deal of security and comfort through his possessions, so much so that he walks away. In what ways can you understand how the man’s attachment prevents him from talking more with Jesus, or even asking Jesus for help? Notice how Jesus acknowledges that what he asked the man to do is not easy. Take some time to share with Jesus any challenges you may be facing with sharing the wealth—whether it is in the form of making a sacrifice to actively show care and concern for those in need, sharing something that you’re carrying all on your own and is weighing you down, or something else you’ve refrained from bringing to Jesus. Envision yourself as the man who walked away, and then, turn back around and bring yourself and your concerns back to Jesus.
We all have struggles, challenges, and hardships, yet at the same time, life and prosperity, and so many signs of it, also occur. It’s not an all or nothing, one way or the other, too late kind of world, but rather, it’s a world created by a God who is broadminded, far-reaching, for whom nothing is impossible, showing care and concern for everything and everyone, who tells us, place your hope in me, because, with me, anything is possible.
The Gospel acclamation for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time is, “If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.” (1 John 4:12). Take some time to consider this verse.
What are the things that you heard and saw this past week that caught your attention? What values, notions, and ideas did they express?
It can be tempting to rush toward opinions and judgments based on listening to and watching what others are doing, what they have to say about situations, and about what’s happening in society and throughout the world. Not only that, but also to not really take time to honestly consider, reflect on, and discern the values being represented.
It can also be easy to be drawn in by a thing or two that may seem of the utmost importance, only to be swept up and moved along without recognizing movement away from values, expressed notions, and ideas that truly align with and promote the sentiments of Love.
In the coming days try to notice the words and actions to which not only your ears and eyes are exposed or drawn, but also your heart. What is stirred inside of you? and how are these things a reflection of Love?
Continuing to take these things to prayer, seek to see them as God sees them.
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. – 1 John 4:12
From where chaos comes, Base passion and design, Stirring ill will, division, Seeds sowing lies. Looking, always looking, To seep and settle in.
From where chaos spreads, Human passions and designs, From what we, as masters, embrace, What we give into, And what we withstand.
From where peace comes, Divine passion and design. Love weaving in and out, Through time and space. Ushering good tidings, Encouraging good will.
From where peace spreads, Human passions and designs, From what we, as servants, embrace, What we give into, And what we withstand.
“Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.” – Albert Schweitzer
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. – James 3:16-18
With each breath, life. Stepping forward Into the fresh, cool air. That feeling in the air, It’s all around. Rock of ages, For the ages, From the ages. Layer upon layer, Lines of grandeur. Moments of mist, Moments of majesty. Sounds of water flowing, Then its rush within sight. Rolling over, dripping down, Passing through, Gentle like the breeze. Invigorating, enthralling, Comforting, to the soul, Soothing to one’s spirit.
As a young person, August was synonymous with some last hurrahs and the winding down of what we considered summer; the passage of time between the ending of one school year and the beginning of another. The readings for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time offer an opportunity to consider more deeply, where God is in the in-between moments.
In the First Reading (Ex 16:2-4, 12-15), the Israelites are in between leaving Egypt and arriving to the Promised Land. They express feeling even more destitute than they did as slaves, complaining about the lack of provisions.
“Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!” – The Israelites to Moses and Aaron, Ex 16:3
Oftentimes, the in-between moments can feel worse than the known moments that precede or follow them. God is aware of the complaints of the people as well as the position that Moses and Aaron are in, and God responds by meeting all of their needs (those of the people as well as Moses and Aaron), and thus helping them to hang on and continue the journey. How do you express your needs in prayer? And how has God provided for you in times when perhaps you felt like you couldn’t take more of whatever you may have been experiencing or felt stuck in between?
Looking to the Psalm (Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54), we are called to remember and to share the stories of God’s faithfulness.
What we have heard and know, and what our fathers have declared to us, We will declare to the generation to come the glorious deeds of the Lord and his strength and the wonders that he wrought. – v. 3-4
It is our belief in God and our experiences of the Divine which strengthen and increase our faith. By recalling and sharing these experiences, we not only help to pass along faith and tradition, but also to build awareness and gratitude in ourselves and of those who journey alongside us, in terms of the personal ways in which God works, and the depth of God’s care and love for creation.
The response for the psalm is, “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” (v. 24b). The people did not know what manna was and it is described as “fine flakes on the ground” (Ex 16:15). Take some time to reflect on what has been your bread from heaven—ways in which God has provided for you that perhaps you didn’t initially recognize, or were unexpected and/or different from what you thought you needed.
In the Second Reading (Eph 4:17,20-24), St. Paul exhorts the people:
“you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds;” – v. 17
This is a key component to faith. That is the fact that, along the way in seeking to find and fulfill one’s purpose, human reasoning alone is not enough. For the human mind alone, cannot fully comprehend or discern what is best. The only way, as St. Paul says is to be renewed in Christ:
“…be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” (v. 23-24)
Recall a time when you felt stuck or challenged by a situation. What happened and how did your faith come into play? How might you be renewed in Christ regarding a situation you’re facing now?
Turning to the Gospel for the 18th Week in Ordinary Time (Jn 6:24-35), we are told about the crowds going out to find Jesus when they realize he is no longer in their midst. They end up finding him across the sea, and Jesus says to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” – v. 26-27
Jesus is referring to the crowd’s experience of eating their fill when he multiplied the loaves of bread and fish (Jn 6:1-15) and calling them, and us, to consider, or examine, what satisfies us, what is it that we are seeking, and to what lengths or degree do we go (or have we gone) to find or obtain it. Take some time to consider this in the light of what is currently going on in your life and in the world. What are you seeking and to what extent? How does this differ from or fit in with the past? How is God present to you in this process, and what comes to mind when thinking about it as an in-between moment?
Love is the bridge between you and everything. – Rumi
What’s known, And what is not. Calculating possibilities.
Looking then leaping, A snapshot in time. Measuring risk, and seeking reward.
Guarantees, Warranties, Yet, nothing is certain.
The seeker being sought, The Sought, searching seekers. Meeting up, teeing up, And, finding what is lost.
“…to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace…” – Ephesians 4:1-3
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