Purpose

Celtic Healing Cross

You, have redeemed the world…

“The Holy Scriptures were not given to us that we should enclose them in books, but that we should engrave them upon our hearts.” ― St. John Chrysostom

Praying with the scripture readings for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 78:1b-2, 34-38; Philippians 2:6-11; and John 3:3-17), contemplate what it means to engrave them upon your heart.

In the First Reading, we hear of the Israelites, at wit’s end, upset by their situation in the desert, and making it known to Moses. We also learn of the punishing arrival of saraph serpents, leading to the surmise of many, and the subsequent realization of sin and prayer for relief. Following this, Moses prays for the people to be spared from the serpents, and the Lord replies, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.” (Numbers 21:8).

What do you make of the notion that to be cured, or to overcome the serpent’s bite, requires looking at the bronze serpent mounted on the pole?

Take some time to consider a situation or area in which your patience is worn thin, or where you have been bitten. What has your reaction or response been? And how might you ask for, and receive, God’s grace to move toward peace and healing—a better way?

The response for the Psalm (Psalm 78:1b-2, 34-38) is, “Do not forget the works of the Lord!” (Ps 78:7b). Like it was in the desert for the Israelites and Moses, it can be tempting for anyone to react or respond out of feelings of discontent or anger, when it feels like needs are not being met or answers are nowhere to be found. This psalm invites us to recall what is true. None of us are without mistakes and missteps along the way. Still though, God is merciful and forgiving. This psalm encourages us to recall and remember the ways that God has been, and is, steadfast toward us.

Think about your experience of God turning something bad into something good?

Throughout the week, in moments with or without concern or upset, pause to acknowledge and give praise to God for God’s faithfulness to you. Allow yourself the space and invite God into it, to help you to see the entire picture, and to remember what is true.

In the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:6-11), it is written:

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Continuing to pray with the thoughts, feelings, and situations that have come to mind and heart thus far, where might the words emptied, humbled, exalted, and bestowed—the past tense verbs used by St. Paul to describe actions of Jesus and God—be applicable or come into play? Ask the Lord to help you to identify ways that these words operate in your life, and what purpose they might be serving.

Turning to the Gospel passage (John 3:13-17), Jesus is mid-conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee who has come to see Jesus in the darkness of night. Nicodemus is trying to understand what Jesus means by, “no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” (Jn 3:3).

What does being born from above mean to you?

For the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we are reminded of where, and who, we currently are—our place as well as our call—eternal life through Jesus.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus refers to Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the desert and says, “so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (Jn 3:14-15). He knows that Nicodemus will be familiar with and understand what has been written in Scripture. However, an earmark of Jesus is to elevate and help us along toward living Scripture. This is what he is trying to do, when he follows up with:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (Jn 3:16-17).

Enter into conversation with Jesus about these two verses, inviting him to elevate and help you along in your journey toward living Scripture, or living it more fully. When your prayer time comes to a close, add the following:

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
because by your Cross you have redeemed the world. – St. Francis of Assisi

Celtic Healing Cross

On Schedule…

On a recent trip into the city, memories of daily travel into the office by commuter rail came to mind. In particular, the schedules and the frequency of trains, or lack thereof, depending on what the workday had to offer and when it ended up being time to go home. During that time, there were a number of trains between 4:45pm and around 6:30pm on the line that I needed to take, so if I missed one, I could just hop on the next without much of a wait. However, if I was delayed at work past 6:15, and not able to run fast enough to make it to the platform and onto the 6:30 train before it started pulling out, the wait for the next train was substantial.

Thinking back on those times, I remember running for that last rush hour train and seeing other people do the same, sometimes making it, and sometimes times not. Then there were those occasional times of choosing not to make a mad dash for it, but rather to slow down, letting go of any notion of getting onto the train in those last moments before it pulled away. On those days, it was interesting how the station gradually transformed from being so crowded and noisy to a quieter, more spacious, easy-going place as it moved past the hours known for their rush. It was also easier to appreciate, once foregoing the push to move quickly, hop on, grab a seat, and get outbound.

It seems like a lot of life can be focused on being outbound and moving on to the next thing. Society just keeps pushing for more and more, and with greater speed, seemingly unaware of what is being lost or left behind. This constant hustle often leads to losing sight of what’s personal and meaningful, diminishing the time and patience that allows for potential to be seen and nurtured, and forgetting that “best” is most often brought out in one another by that which is rooted in a higher purpose—that which is mutually beneficial.         

In the First Reading of the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time it is written,

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.” – Isaiah 55:6

In this busy, challenging world in which we live, what’s it like to turn this verse around and to contemplate the Lord seeking you, and calling your name with a desire to draw near to you? Where are the places that you invite or allow the Lord to find you and to be close to you? Where are the places where perhaps you don’t?

In verse 18 of Psalm 145, we read, “The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.” And in the Second Reading, we read part of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, where he relates his desire to be Christ-centered (“Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” – Phil 1:20c). For it is in the Lord, and in living out the ways of the Lord, that he not only finds purpose and meaning, but also becomes an extension of God’s grace to others, encouraging them to also strive toward that which is greater than.    

How are you inspired in relationships? Where do you find purpose, meaning, and mutual, generative benefit? In what ways do you desire to deepen your relationship with God, and others?

In the Gospel reading, Jesus shares the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) where the focus is on the desire and willingness to join in and work in the vineyard, rather than who got there first, who worked the longest, or any other credentials. This passage is a great reminder that with God, it’s never too late, nor too early, patience is abundant, potential is appreciated, and there’s always room for those who desire a place in the vineyard and come willing to do the work. With God, you can’t miss, not just because the time is always right, but also because the schedule is flexible, as well as forgiving.

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” – Matthew 20:1-16

Heart Set…

Mind over matter,
What difference does it make?
The set of one’s mind,
May toggle or break,
Or yet even worse,
Get stuck in one place.

Heart in the matter,
What difference does it make?
The set of one’s heart,
When inspired by God,
Finds purpose, builds faith,
Sings praises, gives faith.

One cried out to the other: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!
All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” – Isaiah 6:3

Work of Our Hands…

It’s said that the owl’s wisdom lies in its waiting, watching, and listening. In its patient, persistent process, its senses are fine-tuned, making it easier to recognize and distinguish between and among things. The owl’s very own nature leads and nurtures the animal, teaching it to tap more deeply into what it genuinely needs to survive and thrive.

This in-born nature that helps the owl to be at its best, also resides within all living things. And when tuned into, exercised, and held onto, it helps all living things to operate at their best, most authentic self. For human beings especially, the task at hand is to sort through and root out all that interferes with this natural, God-given ability.

In the Book of Wisdom, King Solomon shares:

“I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me” – Wisdom 7:7.

While this is a great example of “ask and you shall receive,” it is also an example of the gift of humility. Oftentimes, it is humility that opens the door to wisdom. King Solomon humbled himself, he “prayed” and “pleaded” for wisdom, a gift that no amount of money in the world could buy. Throughout the Bible, and throughout history, there is no wisdom, without humility. For it is a gift that can only be received at the time and place where an open, willing, and humble heart meets the humility of God—unconditional love.

So how does one move toward this place? For starters, perhaps by praying for the grace to become more aware. Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Wisdom stands at the turn in the road and calls upon us publicly, but we consider it false and despise its adherents.”

Thinking about current day events, where do you see wisdom? In what places do you meet unconditional love… truth and peace together?      

Looking back to history, Psalm 90 begins:

“A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our refuge through all generations. Before the mountains were born, the earth and the world brought forth, from eternity to eternity you are God” (verses 1-2).

Wisdom draws Moses’ heart to give voice to God’s faithfulness, and seek God’s help, “Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart,” (verse 12), mercy, “Make us glad as many days as you humbled us, for as many years as we have seen trouble,” (verse 15), and grace, “May the favor of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!” (verse 17).     

When you reflect on the work of your hands, what aspects of God (loving, patient, gentle, kind, honest, peaceful, faithful, life-giving, etc.) resonate in them? When you look at the world around you and the things in which you choose to participate, which ones bring you closer to the image of God, Love, in which you were created? In what ways do you feel inspired by the humility and generative nature of God, for whom all things are possible?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5V2_cs8gTIw%3Fstart%3D9

Establish the Work of Our Hands – https://youtu.be/5V2_cs8gTIw?t=9 – the Porter’s Gate (feat. Aaron Keyes and Urban Doxology)

If You don’t build it, we labor in vain,
Without Your Spirit, we stand with no strength.
I know my life is passing away,
but the works of Your hands
are what will remain.
Let the favor of the Lord rest upon us…

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!
O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

Teach us to number the length of our days,
Pour out Your power, we’ll pour out Your praise.
Teach us to run, to finish the race,
for only what’s done in love will remain.
Let the favor of the Lord
rest upon us…

O Lord, establish the work of our hands!
O Lord, establish the work of our hands!

Al – le – lu – ia, al – le – luia, al – le – luia
Al – le – lu – ia, al – le – luia, al – le – luia 

© 2017 Hymns From the Porter's Gate (ASCAP) and Porter's Gate
Publications (SESAC). All rights reserved and administered by
Fair Trade Music Publishing c/o essentialmusicpublishing.com.

Chance of a Lifetime…

Oftentimes the phrase, “chance of a lifetime” is used to refer to events that are typically beyond one’s every day, common experience. Words used to promote something as special, exciting, or perhaps unique and momentous. Around just about every kind of contest, there seems to be a chance of a lifetime. Sometimes, that chance needs to be earned, and other times it comes with taking a gamble or throwing one’s hat in the ring through any number of ways.

In the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah there is the “Call of Jeremiah” in chapter 1. It is written:

“The word of the LORD came to me:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” – Jeremiah 1:4-5

Just like Jeremiah’s life, each and every life is ordained. Created and brought into existence with meaning and purpose. Extraordinarily more than one might possibly conceive.  

Many go to great lengths for the “chance of a lifetime.” However, life is not by chance… ever. The opportunity for life is actually there each and every day throughout one’s lifetime.

Choose Life. The opportunity is a gift, the possibilities limitless, and the blessing inherent.

Sky

Waterloo…

Surrender, keep doing it, I thought as I heard the beginning lyrics to the song. On the 18th of June, in 1815, Napoleon surrendered at the Battle of Waterloo, ending the 20 year span of Napoleonic Wars. Just five months earlier, on January 18th, the War of 1812 ended as the Battle of New Orleans came to a close, also with surrender by another general, from another country.

In all the years prior to 1815, and all those since, many a battle has been fought throughout the world. Sometimes they have been to make right, wrongs, and oftentimes they have been to take or keep hold of power, land, and possessions. Throughout time, who is “in charge” and of what they are in charge changes. Also over time, as things change, we may change, and our perceptions of events tend to shift too.

Just as battles have raged on, around the world throughout the centuries, they also occur within our souls. There is so much that perhaps we see only in hindsight. Why is that? Or, even better, what causes that?

Possessions, of one kind or another, clearly seem to take hold, to strike up life, and attempt to take root inside us, creating a fog along the way. However much that might seem to be part of human nature though, it does not have to be the rule. How so?

Seek to uncover, or if you have already discovered it, each and every day, seek to cling to and keep embracing, the truth of who you are, the ways in which you are blessed, and what your universal purpose is. That is, strive to be one with the mission and version of you that is simpatico with the good of all. Live from that place, and you will be set free of all that might otherwise possess you, and cull you into seeking possessions and territories.

And when you slip, or fall, because we all do, go back to that place, and “waterloo”.

Waterloo