Hurricane Blessings

The East Coast is bunkering down as Irene passes. Closings abound and common sense might dictate a total "stay-at-home" day. Electricity might be off as well. What to do without cable? Think of the apostles in the boat when the winds threatened to capsize them. They went to the sleeping Jesus both pleading for help and chiding him for his non-chalance. He arose and calmed the storm and in turn chided them for their lack of faith. This could be a day of panic or a day of peaceful faith-building. Time to actually meditate on today's rich readings, time to talk to Jesus, as well as to the family. Time to sit quietly and absorb the blessings that come with cancellations. We who have lived more than fifty years know hurricanes...damage, disruption, the works, yes, but somehow we pick up and move ahead with new tales to tell. In other words, we will survive.
Here is a brief synopsis of the readings and their citations so that you might find them in your Bible: Jeremiah 26: 7-9. The key word here is duped. "You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped." How many times did it seem that God has "conned" us into doing things his way or doing what he wants. Jeremiah did not want to be a prophet, but when he resisted, the Word burned like fire in his bosom and he had to speak. When has God "duped" us? How many times...you'll find MOST of the time. And did it work out?
Paul to the Romans, 12: 1-2, short but to the point: "...offer your bodies in sacrifice...do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." What do I need to purge from my life in order to renew my Christian life? Even if it's just one thing, it's a step forward.
And in the Gospel: Matthew 16: 21-37: Peter misses the point and gets "yelled at." Again, God's ways are not our ways, indeed they demand that we take up our cross and follow Jesus. Lots to consider here. Do we try to tell God what is best? We all have crosses, we all try to escape them. What is God asking us today?
As we sit tight today, let us count the blessings Irene is giving us and grow in our Christian life.
Bro. Rene