Example Speaks

 

 

Mk 9:38-43; 45; 47-48

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where“‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

"Actions speak louder than words" goes the old saying we learned as children. It sums up today's Gospel neatly and succinctly.  We need such a "bullet" to hit us between the eyes and wake us up and put us back on the right track. We slip so easily into misbehaviors by cutting corners, or by following the false dictum that "everyone else is doing it, so why not me?" No, if Jesus recommends cutting off the foot that walks us into sin, then he would also require a substantial turn around in behavior that deviates from common sense, the commandments or the law of charity.  There's no cutting  corners; it's all or nothing.

Bro. Rene 

Dear God, help me to examine my words and behaviors and discard all that is contrary to your laws. Amen

Amazed and Afraid

 

⁴³ And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Witnessing the cure of the sick and the lame, hearing the profound message of Jesus, observing his tender compassion on all as he gave of his time without cost, and hearing the prediction of his death from his own lips, surely amazed and at the same time frightened his followers. Who was this man? A question asked by generation after generation for over 2000 years. A question for us today in our world that continues to separate itself from God's teachings and delves deeper and deeper into chaos. May our prayer today lead us to amazement at the greatness of God, and to a deeper appreciation for his patience and loving care. Jesus was willing to lay down his life for us, can we lay down ours for him?

Bro, Rene

 Dear Jesus, thank you for your patient and loving care. Guide me as I continue to try to follow you and live what you taught. Amen. 

 

God's Messiah

 

 Lk 9:18-22

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

¹⁸ Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

¹⁹ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

²⁰ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Jesus Predicts His Death

²¹ Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. ²² And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Evidently, from the report of the disciples, there was no clear conclusion among the people Jesus cured or who heard him speak about who he was. Jesus was interested even more in how his own disciples thought of him and received a clear and reassuring answer from Peter, "God's Messiah". He warned them not to tell this to anyone so that people could come to their own conclusion.  What if he asked me that same question, what would I say?  Take some time in your daily meditation to put some beef into your answer, even to the point of that belief requiring some sort of suffering, physical,emotional or spiritual.

 

Bro. Rene

 

Dear Jesus, help me to acknowledge with Peter that you are the Messiah, and if called to it, accept suffering in my life as you did in yours. Amen.

 

Searching

 

Lk 9:7-9

Find Him in Prayer

⁷ Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. ⁹ But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him. 

We're pretty sure that Herod's interest in seeing Jesus was simply to satisfy his curiosity and perhaps witness a miracle.   On the other hand, many believers gather daily to search and pray over the Scriptures to get a closer look at Jesus, to listen more attentively to his teachings and find support and encouragement to apply them to their lives. May we listen to the invitation God may be offering to us to spend more time with him by meditating on his words and deeds.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, may I take the time to seek you sincerely, not as Herod, and allow you to feed my soul with your words. Amen.

 

A Mission Of Trust

 

 Lk 9:1-6

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵ If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶ So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Can we imagine how the Apostles felt on hearing these instructions and guidelines for their first mission?  Basically, put your life in God's hands and TRUST! As crazy as it may sound, this works! I came close to following this pattern when I walked from Assisi to Rome in 1977.  I did have a bag with a few extra clothes and I did have a bit of money, but no food and no reservations for each night. I learned, as did the Apostles, that God gives the strength for every step of the way and even takes care of "incidentals" like food and a place to sleep. I may not have worked miracles, but miracles were worked on me. I can verify by my own life that these instructions hold true to this day and I continue to try living by them.  I invite you, my readers, to try to live by them as much as possible.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, help me to live in total trust that you give strength each day for every step of the way. Amen.

Hear and Practice

 

 

 Lk 8:19-21

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

¹⁹ Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. ²⁰ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

²¹ He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Not to disparage his mother and brothers, but to open the door and invite all of us to be his family, Jesus gives this terse response to the announcement that his family had come to see him. It is an encouraging and consoling welcome to us and a motive to live more and more a life consonant with being part of his family. We may see ourselves as outsiders, but Jesus sees us as his brothers and sisters.

Bro Rene

Dear Jesus, thank you for seeing me as part of your family. May my life, my words and actions show my kinship with you. Amen. 

 

Whoever Has, Will Be Given More

 

 Luke 8: 16-18 

A Lamp on a Stand

¹⁶ “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. ¹⁷ For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. ¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

This simple, common sense illustration of light and darkness reminds us that we all have a special, unique light to bring to the darkness of this world.  We are not to hide it, but to allow it to illumine our path and to help others see and walk on theirs. The more light we have been given, the more we are called to give others and thus will receive even more ourselves. Let us take time today to reflect on the unique light we have been given and commit ourselves to let it shine brightly to others. 

Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to let the light you have given to me shine through me to all the people I encounter today. Amen