A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus said to his disciples: “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 also 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.” The Gospel of the Lord
The beauty of Christmas is approaching. When I was a boy I longed for the mornings when I woke up to find that it had snowed overnight. Everything covered so neatly in snow. It was bright and clean.
This is what Jesus is telling you that when he comes back he wants to find you faithful and clean.
How many of us are looking forward to the Holiday as a time to party and receive instead of a time to be thankful and give.
We cannot expect mercy but be worthy of it. If we know we are worthy of it then we are too proud to know the truth.
If you are truly faithful and truly concerned for your soul and everyone else, you would not be busy making a Christmas wish list, but you would be praying and serving.
Jesus reminds us of a time when everyone took everything for granted. They lived in excess and envy for more, instead of rejoicing in the gift of life.
God found a few faithful people and put them on a boat and cleansed the earth with a flood.
May this be the year that the love of Christ floods your heart and may that love overflow to the world.
That upon the return of Christ he will find us all as beautiful and pure as a bright white snow on Christmas day.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Reflection Second week of Advent Matthew 3:1-12
A Reading form the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Danger, Danger Will Robenson! When I was a boy I loved reruns of, “Lost in Space.” It was about a family, a pilot, a Doctor, and a Robot. The robot could sense when trouble was coming and would warn the young man, waving his arms, Danger, Danger. The robot was created to do so.
What are we created for? John the Baptist wore camel’s hair and a belt, and ate bugs in the desert. He was created to prepare us for the coming of Jesus. This was God’s plan and was prophesied by Isaiah. God wanted us to know John the Baptist.
John warns us today, that we cannot take salvation for granted. We must be aware that we offend God and most repent.
Have you taken a good look lately? What is your life producing, is it good or bad? The chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire. Chaff is defended as worthless material. If you have no idea what it is you should do be doing pray. Pray that God will reveal to you what is his will. That you will always understand the good from the bad.
Let us produce the good fruit. That we will all be working from the perspective of Love. That our every moment will be filled with work that creates goodness for an eternity in God’s Kingdom.
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Danger, Danger Will Robenson! When I was a boy I loved reruns of, “Lost in Space.” It was about a family, a pilot, a Doctor, and a Robot. The robot could sense when trouble was coming and would warn the young man, waving his arms, Danger, Danger. The robot was created to do so.
What are we created for? John the Baptist wore camel’s hair and a belt, and ate bugs in the desert. He was created to prepare us for the coming of Jesus. This was God’s plan and was prophesied by Isaiah. God wanted us to know John the Baptist.
John warns us today, that we cannot take salvation for granted. We must be aware that we offend God and most repent.
Have you taken a good look lately? What is your life producing, is it good or bad? The chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire. Chaff is defended as worthless material. If you have no idea what it is you should do be doing pray. Pray that God will reveal to you what is his will. That you will always understand the good from the bad.
Let us produce the good fruit. That we will all be working from the perspective of Love. That our every moment will be filled with work that creates goodness for an eternity in God’s Kingdom.
Reflection Third Sunday of Advent Matthew 11:2-11
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The Gospel of the Lord
When we were kids we used to make treasure maps, X marks the spot. From childhood we dream of buried treasure, than later it becomes dreams of winning the lottery.
Always dreams of something happening that gives us an easy life without effort.
Jesus question to the people ask, “What are you looking for?” We learn it is not right to look for truth from people in fine cloths, and false profits.
This reminds me of a song from the 80’s, “Looking for Love in all the wrong places.”
Do not put your faith in worldly things for there is no truth there. The Messiah states, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” Born of woman, we are not to follow prophets born of the world. John the Baptist, born from Elisabeth, Jesus born from Mary, Deacon’s, Priest’s, and Bishop’s, born from Mother Church.
Our true treasure is found through the Word of Christ, and a life worthy of always receiving Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass. As great is John the Baptist he is not as great as the least in Heaven. To be a true Saint is our focus.
When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The Gospel of the Lord
When we were kids we used to make treasure maps, X marks the spot. From childhood we dream of buried treasure, than later it becomes dreams of winning the lottery.
Always dreams of something happening that gives us an easy life without effort.
Jesus question to the people ask, “What are you looking for?” We learn it is not right to look for truth from people in fine cloths, and false profits.
This reminds me of a song from the 80’s, “Looking for Love in all the wrong places.”
Do not put your faith in worldly things for there is no truth there. The Messiah states, “I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” Born of woman, we are not to follow prophets born of the world. John the Baptist, born from Elisabeth, Jesus born from Mary, Deacon’s, Priest’s, and Bishop’s, born from Mother Church.
Our true treasure is found through the Word of Christ, and a life worthy of always receiving Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass. As great is John the Baptist he is not as great as the least in Heaven. To be a true Saint is our focus.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)