Here I am back in Hong Kong, the place where I was first baptized some 50 years ago! This trip is especially special as I am returning as a Catholic. I feel like I am coming back to my first spiritual home! The more I think about it the more I an convinced that it was the sacred sacraments (baptism and confirmation) which I received 50 years ago that had protected me to this day. I feel so blessed.
There are a number of things I am doing now that are different from when I was practicing as a protestant. I have a deep desire to go to daily mass whenever possible. I went to mass at the Toronto airport before the flight to Hong Kong - that was a first! And now I am staying in a village town of Mui Wo on Lantau Island. Guess what, there is a mass this evening (Friday). Moreover, there will be a two hour adoration prior to mass which I can attend also. The wonderful thing about being a Catholic is that the experience of receiving the Holy Eucharist is the same wherever I go. In the past I would "shop" for a church to worship on Sunday when I am away on a trip. Now it doesn't really matter which Catholic church I go to. The "universal" (that's what the word "catholic" means) church uses the same liturgy wherever I find a catholic church. And the blessings that go with the worship are guaranteed regardless of who the priest is and what message (usually just a homily) I will hear. It's like going to an International bank wherever it is and making a withdrawal from an infinite bank account!
The next thing that is very different is a real desire to pray. I have been doing at least one rosary a day. I offer up my family, the sick people I know, and the ministries I am involved in to the Lord regularly. I supposed this may have to do with me being retired and feeling the need to deepen my inner life. In any case, learning more about the prayers of the many saints and church fathers gives me a greater arsenal of weapon to fight the spiritual war. I do appreciate being able to ask the many more godly people (saints and the Blessed Mother) to pray for me and my love ones. I also started praying for my parents and my half sister who had passed on. There is so much more I can do to seek divine mercy!
In today's scripture reading, Saint Paul is helping his spiritual son Timothy to be bold with God's gift:
"Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion." (2 Timothy 1:3-4 MSG translation)
"So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us." (2 Timothy 1:13-14 MSG translation)
I have this "precious thing" placed in my custody. This precious thing includes "sincere faith" (verse 5), "the gift of God" (verse 6), and "the Spirit God gave us (which) does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (verse 7). "So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. " (verses 8,9a). May the Holy Spirit give me strength to guard this good deposit!
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)
Thursday 27 October 2016
Friday 21 October 2016
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
My general confession is tomorrow! It's so wonderful to know, as St. Paul would say it:
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
Jesus has been very patient with me! Who would have thought that after 65 years I might be at this very point in my life to receive this tremendous blessing! This isn't something most men would write on their bucket list! Well it's on mine - and it's going to be crossed out this very time tomorrow:)
I was reading 1 Timothy 1 this morning. I learned that when St. Paul wrote "I am the worst of sinners" (verse 15) he wasn't just being humble. He wrote this about himself: "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (verses 13, 14) The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible also pointed out: "The comment is suggestive of the letter's authenticity, since it is unlikely that an admirer of Paul would described him in more humiliating terms than the apostle himself did (see also 1 Corinthians 15:9)".
In the context of St. Paul advising his spiritual son Timothy to warn him against false teachers, who "teach false doctrines" and who "devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies" (verses 3b,4a). So even in the early church the apostle had to deal with heretics, who had departed from the "sincere faith" which calls us to "love from a pure heart and a good conscience" (verse 5).
So what's next after the general confession? I will be able to participate fully at the Holy Eucharist this Sunday! I still remember sadly that when my mother was baptized at the age of 85(!) in a special mass held for her and I was the only "believer" who did not receive the communion! I told the priest I didn't believe in "transubstantiation" so he advised me not to receive the body and blood of my Lord Jesus Christ! Now I realize how ignorant I had been! This article (Christ in the Eucharist) from Catholic.com gives a really good explanation of why I now believe with all my heart the sacred blessing I am about to receive at the mass this Sunday!
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:53–56).
I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude! When I was baptized I was given the new christian names David Michael (BTW I only discovered the name "Michael" after I finally received my baptismal certificate!). I find myself asking this same question as the person I am named after (King David), who asked the Lord:
"Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel 7:18)
For all of this week I was quite aware that Satan won't just let go of me and would try to attack my faith. I have been praying daily to Saint Michael, the Archangel:
"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
Jesus has been very patient with me! Who would have thought that after 65 years I might be at this very point in my life to receive this tremendous blessing! This isn't something most men would write on their bucket list! Well it's on mine - and it's going to be crossed out this very time tomorrow:)
I was reading 1 Timothy 1 this morning. I learned that when St. Paul wrote "I am the worst of sinners" (verse 15) he wasn't just being humble. He wrote this about himself: "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (verses 13, 14) The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible also pointed out: "The comment is suggestive of the letter's authenticity, since it is unlikely that an admirer of Paul would described him in more humiliating terms than the apostle himself did (see also 1 Corinthians 15:9)".
In the context of St. Paul advising his spiritual son Timothy to warn him against false teachers, who "teach false doctrines" and who "devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies" (verses 3b,4a). So even in the early church the apostle had to deal with heretics, who had departed from the "sincere faith" which calls us to "love from a pure heart and a good conscience" (verse 5).
So what's next after the general confession? I will be able to participate fully at the Holy Eucharist this Sunday! I still remember sadly that when my mother was baptized at the age of 85(!) in a special mass held for her and I was the only "believer" who did not receive the communion! I told the priest I didn't believe in "transubstantiation" so he advised me not to receive the body and blood of my Lord Jesus Christ! Now I realize how ignorant I had been! This article (Christ in the Eucharist) from Catholic.com gives a really good explanation of why I now believe with all my heart the sacred blessing I am about to receive at the mass this Sunday!
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:53–56).
I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude! When I was baptized I was given the new christian names David Michael (BTW I only discovered the name "Michael" after I finally received my baptismal certificate!). I find myself asking this same question as the person I am named after (King David), who asked the Lord:
"Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel 7:18)
For all of this week I was quite aware that Satan won't just let go of me and would try to attack my faith. I have been praying daily to Saint Michael, the Archangel:
"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."
Sunday 16 October 2016
Be Reconciled to God
I am so looking forward to my first general confession after almost 50 years! It will happen after the next men's group meeting this Saturday. Interestingly, the men's group has been going through a book/video series called "Be A Man!" by Father Larry Richards. We happen to be going through the 3rd chapter of the book - Be a Man Who Repents!
It's only a 15 minute appointment. How can I confess all my sins committed for 65 years in such a short time? So I wrote it all down so I won't forget. Father Ian suggested that I go through periods of my life - during my high school years... when I was in college... etc. I have been using a number of online references: A Guide to Confession, How to Confess, and a Kindle Book Guide to General Confession, and of course the Catechism on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Although I had probably confessed most of these sins to God directly one time or another, I had not confessed them to a priest. Catholic Answers has a very good explanation on why I should confess to a priest:
"God had sent Jesus to forgive sins, but after his resurrection Jesus told the apostles, "‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20:21–23). (This is one of only two times we are told that God breathed on man, the other being in Genesis 2:7, when he made man a living soul. It emphasizes how important the establishment of the sacrament of penance was.)"
"Is the Catholic who confesses his sins to a priest any better off than the non-Catholic who confesses directly to God? Yes. First, he seeks forgiveness the way Christ intended. Second, by confessing to a priest, the Catholic learns a lesson in humility, which is avoided when one confesses only through private prayer. Third, the Catholic receives sacramental graces the non-Catholic doesn’t get; through the sacrament of penance sins are forgiven and graces are obtained. Fourth, the Catholic is assured that his sins are forgiven; he does not have to rely on a subjective "feeling." Lastly, the Catholic can also obtain sound advice on avoiding sin in the future." (Catholic Answers "The Forgiveness of Sins")
I am so looking forward to receiving the many blessings from this act of obedience. The Catechism described the spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance:
- reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
- reconciliation with the Church;
- remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
- remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
- peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
- an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle. (CCC #1496)
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
I love this picture. It's a very intimate picture of the love of God shown through His church:
It's only a 15 minute appointment. How can I confess all my sins committed for 65 years in such a short time? So I wrote it all down so I won't forget. Father Ian suggested that I go through periods of my life - during my high school years... when I was in college... etc. I have been using a number of online references: A Guide to Confession, How to Confess, and a Kindle Book Guide to General Confession, and of course the Catechism on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Although I had probably confessed most of these sins to God directly one time or another, I had not confessed them to a priest. Catholic Answers has a very good explanation on why I should confess to a priest:
"God had sent Jesus to forgive sins, but after his resurrection Jesus told the apostles, "‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20:21–23). (This is one of only two times we are told that God breathed on man, the other being in Genesis 2:7, when he made man a living soul. It emphasizes how important the establishment of the sacrament of penance was.)"
"Is the Catholic who confesses his sins to a priest any better off than the non-Catholic who confesses directly to God? Yes. First, he seeks forgiveness the way Christ intended. Second, by confessing to a priest, the Catholic learns a lesson in humility, which is avoided when one confesses only through private prayer. Third, the Catholic receives sacramental graces the non-Catholic doesn’t get; through the sacrament of penance sins are forgiven and graces are obtained. Fourth, the Catholic is assured that his sins are forgiven; he does not have to rely on a subjective "feeling." Lastly, the Catholic can also obtain sound advice on avoiding sin in the future." (Catholic Answers "The Forgiveness of Sins")
I am so looking forward to receiving the many blessings from this act of obedience. The Catechism described the spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance:
- reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
- reconciliation with the Church;
- remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
- remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
- peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
- an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle. (CCC #1496)
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
I love this picture. It's a very intimate picture of the love of God shown through His church:
Friday 14 October 2016
You don't have a soul! You are a soul. You have a body.
The talk on Poverty/Social Justice went well last evening. I was particularly pleased with the number of medical students who showed up as well as new physicians who had never been to the Christian Medical and Dental Society (CMDS) meetings before. I started the talk with a quote from C. S. Lewis: "You don't have a soul! You are a soul. You have a body." meaning to direct the audience's attention to the emphasis of spiritual care as Christian physicians. The methods described by the clinical guideline for treating poverty are by and large directed towards the body. We as Christian physicians ought to treat the soul as well. And there is a wealth of resources from God's living community to help those in need.
Just out of interest, I discovered that the above quote was not from C.S.Lewis at all! It had been quoted by a number of prominent Christians attributing it to Lewis, but it took a recent graduate of history and religion to discover that the most likely source was the famous Scottish minister George MacDonald in 1892:
"A closer look at these older sources shows that many of the authors thought that concentrating on the soul would encourage proper behavior. In one instance, The British Friend, one of the two main British Quaker periodicals at the end of the 19th century, published a piece in 1892 on excessive mourning at funerals. The author believed that overly strong mourning kept people from remembering their hope in heaven. It is here, finally, where we find the quote attributed to George MacDonald.
“Never tell a child,” said George Macdonald, ‘you have a soul. Teach him, you are a soul; you have a body.’ As we learn to think of things always in this order, that the body is but the temporary clothing of the soul, our views of death and the unbefittingness of customary mourning will approximate to those of Friends of earlier generations.”
This attribution to George MacDonald finally, perhaps, begins to unveil how C.S. Lewis came to be associated with the statement, given Lewis’ reverence for the Scottish minister."
by Hannah Peckham
There you have it! Other than misquoting the source, the quote was somewhat appropriate to bring attention to the dimension of clinical care for a Christian physician. I am still learning to see, first and foremost, that my patient is a spiritual being. I must learn to relieve the temporary suffering but not to forget the bigger job of helping my patient on his path to eternity.
Just out of interest, I discovered that the above quote was not from C.S.Lewis at all! It had been quoted by a number of prominent Christians attributing it to Lewis, but it took a recent graduate of history and religion to discover that the most likely source was the famous Scottish minister George MacDonald in 1892:
"A closer look at these older sources shows that many of the authors thought that concentrating on the soul would encourage proper behavior. In one instance, The British Friend, one of the two main British Quaker periodicals at the end of the 19th century, published a piece in 1892 on excessive mourning at funerals. The author believed that overly strong mourning kept people from remembering their hope in heaven. It is here, finally, where we find the quote attributed to George MacDonald.
“Never tell a child,” said George Macdonald, ‘you have a soul. Teach him, you are a soul; you have a body.’ As we learn to think of things always in this order, that the body is but the temporary clothing of the soul, our views of death and the unbefittingness of customary mourning will approximate to those of Friends of earlier generations.”
This attribution to George MacDonald finally, perhaps, begins to unveil how C.S. Lewis came to be associated with the statement, given Lewis’ reverence for the Scottish minister."
by Hannah Peckham
There you have it! Other than misquoting the source, the quote was somewhat appropriate to bring attention to the dimension of clinical care for a Christian physician. I am still learning to see, first and foremost, that my patient is a spiritual being. I must learn to relieve the temporary suffering but not to forget the bigger job of helping my patient on his path to eternity.
Friday 7 October 2016
My Father Loves Me: "It is more blessed to give than to receive"
I will be giving a talk on Poverty/Social Justice next week. I have been thinking this familiar saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" but I couldn't remember where it came from and whether it was Jesus or St. Paul who said it. So this is what I found out. In Acts 20:35, St. Paul told the Ephesian elders as he was bidding them farewell, knowing that he would be facing tremendous dangers up ahead and that he would most likely never to see them again, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" It is possible that Jesus had said this directly to Paul when He met him after the Road to Damascus (Acts:9:1-10). These words of Jesus were not recorded in any of the four Gospels. Alternatively, they could have been passed down by the apostles in the form of oral tradition (according to the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible). There you have it!
The context is that St. Paul was reminding the Ephesian elders that he had not been a financial burden to them even though they owed it to him for his preaching the Good News to them. "You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions." (Acts 20: 34). So instead of asking for what he deserved to receive, he gave of himself fully for their salvation. St. Paul was validating Jesus' teaching on the blessings of giving.
When I became a Christian, I had to overcome my weakness of holding on to things that belong to me. I came from a poor family background. I learned hard work in order to move ahead. To give away what was hard earned was not an easy thing for me to do. I still remember (to my shame) that I got into a fight with a university friend over a dime! This is another item for confession!
What came to my mind yesterday as I was hiking through the woods was that I had the tendency of viewing all the commandments from God as burdensome rules to obey. But more and more (praise to the Holy Spirit, and thankful for the examples set forth by Mother Mary and all the saints) I had discovered that these commandments are means by which my Heavenly Father blesses me! I am truly enjoying going to mass (now 3-4 times a week) and reading the Holy Scripture every day. They are opportunities to spend time with my Father and hear Him tell me He loves me.
So giving is the same. The more I learn to give things away generously the more I will discover riches from my Father. This brings to mind the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). I don't want to be like the older brother who became mad when his father was treating his prodigal brother generously. His father reminded him:
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:31)
Oh may I have a big and generous heart like my Father!
The context is that St. Paul was reminding the Ephesian elders that he had not been a financial burden to them even though they owed it to him for his preaching the Good News to them. "You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions." (Acts 20: 34). So instead of asking for what he deserved to receive, he gave of himself fully for their salvation. St. Paul was validating Jesus' teaching on the blessings of giving.
When I became a Christian, I had to overcome my weakness of holding on to things that belong to me. I came from a poor family background. I learned hard work in order to move ahead. To give away what was hard earned was not an easy thing for me to do. I still remember (to my shame) that I got into a fight with a university friend over a dime! This is another item for confession!
What came to my mind yesterday as I was hiking through the woods was that I had the tendency of viewing all the commandments from God as burdensome rules to obey. But more and more (praise to the Holy Spirit, and thankful for the examples set forth by Mother Mary and all the saints) I had discovered that these commandments are means by which my Heavenly Father blesses me! I am truly enjoying going to mass (now 3-4 times a week) and reading the Holy Scripture every day. They are opportunities to spend time with my Father and hear Him tell me He loves me.
So giving is the same. The more I learn to give things away generously the more I will discover riches from my Father. This brings to mind the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). I don't want to be like the older brother who became mad when his father was treating his prodigal brother generously. His father reminded him:
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15:31)
Oh may I have a big and generous heart like my Father!
Thursday 6 October 2016
My Father Loves Me: "You have made me a little lower than the angels and crowned me with glory and honor."
Fall is definitely coming! The two hour hike early this morning was magical. Saying the rosary in the midst of such natural beauty was truly a blessing! Psalm 8 came to mind. As I recalled the words of this familiar psalm I was particularly impressed by a couple of verses which I highlight here:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
You have made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor.
(Psalm 8:1-5)
I was struck by how much God enjoys the praise of children and infants! My wife and I participated in the Life Chain event on Sunday. I remembered taking our children out on such occasion when they were quite small. I often wondered if it was appropriate to bring children to such demonstration. Now I am quite assured that God uses their presence to establish a "stronghold" against the forces of evil in our society.
I was quite aware during the hike through the woods that my Heavenly Father loves me. Who am I that should deserve such glory and honor? God, who made heaven and earth, has the creative power to transform a worthless person to someone fit for the King of Heaven! I am reminded of St. Paul's words in 1 Timothy 1:15-16
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."
This is deep mystery. I shall never understand why my Heavenly Father loves me this much.
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (1 Corinthians 1:25)
Wednesday 5 October 2016
My Father Loves Me: "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"
This is a very familiar verse. I have used Philippians 1:6 many times, quoted in a card of encouragement, or to a new believer on the day of Baptism. What I learned today - or that it had come afresh to me in my adoration of the Father - is that I often quoted only the second half of the verse: "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus". But today the first part of the verse "being confident of this" impressed me the most. What is the basis of Paul's confidence? After all, he was sitting in a jail cell as he wrote the letter (see verses 1:13-14); there were people out there preaching "out of envy and rivalry" (verse 1:15); and the uncertainty that he might soon be martyred (verse 20-24).
I think the key is in verse 19: "for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance." Paul knows! And it's not just head knowledge. He had spent his life since his conversion building a loving relationship with his Heavenly Father! He knows that this loving Father not only provides him with a community of believers who intercede on his behalf, but also the Spirit of Jesus Christ which nobody can lock out of his life!
I recently learned a very good lesson on loving your enemy. I think it was from Thomas More's diary. It had to do with Saint Paul being an accomplice to the murdering of Saint Stephen (Acts 7). Saint Stephen, fully equipped by the grace of his Father, openly forgave him. Guess what they are both doing right now?! They are both at the bosom of their heavenly Father, in love with the Father and with each other!! So we are to love our enemy! You never know, my enemy may end up in heaven with me!
Oh how the knowledge of my Father's love can transform me! Spend time with Him! Listen to Him!
I think the key is in verse 19: "for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance." Paul knows! And it's not just head knowledge. He had spent his life since his conversion building a loving relationship with his Heavenly Father! He knows that this loving Father not only provides him with a community of believers who intercede on his behalf, but also the Spirit of Jesus Christ which nobody can lock out of his life!
I recently learned a very good lesson on loving your enemy. I think it was from Thomas More's diary. It had to do with Saint Paul being an accomplice to the murdering of Saint Stephen (Acts 7). Saint Stephen, fully equipped by the grace of his Father, openly forgave him. Guess what they are both doing right now?! They are both at the bosom of their heavenly Father, in love with the Father and with each other!! So we are to love our enemy! You never know, my enemy may end up in heaven with me!
Oh how the knowledge of my Father's love can transform me! Spend time with Him! Listen to Him!
Sunday 2 October 2016
My Father Loves Me: We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty
In today's scripture reading (Luke 17:5-10), in answer to the request of His disciples - "Increase Our Faith!" - Jesus told them a parable instead. The NIV translation simply gives this section the title: "Sin, Faith, Duty". Jesus was teaching His disciples something He was always doing - He humbly and obediently served others. "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28,Mark 10:45,John 13:1-17). So we are admonished to say "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.". It is with this humble and obedient attitude that we serve God. In return we discover the depth of our Father's love!
"My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God." (1 John 4:7-10 MSG translation)
The conclusion of this commentary "The Parable of the Unworthy Servant (Luke 17)" is very helpful:
"It is the arrogant “You owe me” attitude that Jesus is cautioning us against in this parable. We are servants. We will only ever be servants. We do not deserve any glory or praise for doing the very least that we were created to do, and that means serving our Kings with total devotion. Yet because our Masters are so incredibly generous, They actually enjoy shocking us with rewards that we do not deserve. This is the astonishing position that we find ourselves in: we deserve nothing, yet we are showered with blessings. We have earned nothing, yet we have been invited into an eternal paradise. The whole idea of receiving rewards in Heaven is so utterly nonsensical that we ought to be driven to our knees in speechless gratitude. There is no place for greedily grabbing at the goodies. There is only room for bowing down and saying, “What have I ever done that is worthy of praise? You are the only glorious Ones; I am nothing by comparison.” It is this kind of humility that pleases our Gods. It isn’t about self-loathing and rejecting Their love for us. It is about properly appreciating that love and remembering our place. We were created to serve. The more we understand this, the more we will understand just how wonderful our Gods are."
Lord Jesus, teach me to say YES to what You tell me to do. May I learn from our Blessed Mother to say: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)
"My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God." (1 John 4:7-10 MSG translation)
The conclusion of this commentary "The Parable of the Unworthy Servant (Luke 17)" is very helpful:
"It is the arrogant “You owe me” attitude that Jesus is cautioning us against in this parable. We are servants. We will only ever be servants. We do not deserve any glory or praise for doing the very least that we were created to do, and that means serving our Kings with total devotion. Yet because our Masters are so incredibly generous, They actually enjoy shocking us with rewards that we do not deserve. This is the astonishing position that we find ourselves in: we deserve nothing, yet we are showered with blessings. We have earned nothing, yet we have been invited into an eternal paradise. The whole idea of receiving rewards in Heaven is so utterly nonsensical that we ought to be driven to our knees in speechless gratitude. There is no place for greedily grabbing at the goodies. There is only room for bowing down and saying, “What have I ever done that is worthy of praise? You are the only glorious Ones; I am nothing by comparison.” It is this kind of humility that pleases our Gods. It isn’t about self-loathing and rejecting Their love for us. It is about properly appreciating that love and remembering our place. We were created to serve. The more we understand this, the more we will understand just how wonderful our Gods are."
Lord Jesus, teach me to say YES to what You tell me to do. May I learn from our Blessed Mother to say: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)
Saturday 1 October 2016
My Father Loves Me: He Calls Me by Name!
Now that I am retired I am going to change my weekly blog to a daily journal/devotion - probably much shorter and focusing on one basic spiritual theme. It will still come from gleaning the Scripture, supplemented by what else I am reading that day.
I went to a weekly men's group meeting this morning. It is based on a book called "Be A Man!" by Father Larry Richards. And we are on Chapter 2: Be a Man Who Lives as a Beloved Son. The main scripture passage Father Larry shared was from Isaiah 43:1-7 (I have shortened, paraphrased and highlighted the part that really caught my attention):
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, ... Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters ... you won't drown
When you walk through the fire ... you won't burn
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
I have always known that God, my Father in heaven, loves me. But I think it is mostly head knowledge. I have not known what a father's love feels like. I have what is popular these days, a "Father Wound" (I just googled that term and I got tons of things to read including this one from Patheos). It took Father Larry years in seminary and many 24 hour retreats to truly know what our Heavenly Father's love is like. I do spend time each day to get to know this Father but it's more out of discipline than spending time with someone I love. I am looking for more opportunity to do contemplative prayers based on short scripture passage like this one:
"I have summoned you by name; you are mine."
Oh may I truly appreciate the fact that the God of the Universe knows me by name and He tells everyone - I belong to HIM!!!
I went to a weekly men's group meeting this morning. It is based on a book called "Be A Man!" by Father Larry Richards. And we are on Chapter 2: Be a Man Who Lives as a Beloved Son. The main scripture passage Father Larry shared was from Isaiah 43:1-7 (I have shortened, paraphrased and highlighted the part that really caught my attention):
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, ... Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters ... you won't drown
When you walk through the fire ... you won't burn
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
I have always known that God, my Father in heaven, loves me. But I think it is mostly head knowledge. I have not known what a father's love feels like. I have what is popular these days, a "Father Wound" (I just googled that term and I got tons of things to read including this one from Patheos). It took Father Larry years in seminary and many 24 hour retreats to truly know what our Heavenly Father's love is like. I do spend time each day to get to know this Father but it's more out of discipline than spending time with someone I love. I am looking for more opportunity to do contemplative prayers based on short scripture passage like this one:
"I have summoned you by name; you are mine."
Oh may I truly appreciate the fact that the God of the Universe knows me by name and He tells everyone - I belong to HIM!!!
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