13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Discipleship Mt. 10:37-42

Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter more than Jesus is not worthy of Him. 

And whoever does not take up his cross,

Is not worthy of Jesus.

And whoever loses his life for the sake of Jesus will find. 

At first this seems rather harsh. 

But do not soldiers do the same when they go into battle?

As much as they love their family;

They take up their cross

And risk losing their life. 

Do not explorers do the same to go where no one has gone before?

Many long hours away from loved ones;

Sacrificing much,

And risking their life.

Do not Fireman, Policemen do the same?

What makes them all willing to give up everyone and everything they love?

Even their very lives!

It is precisely their love for family and a great good than even heir own lives that they are willing to risk so much. 

So what Jesus asks is really no different. 

Who are we willing to give up;

What are we willing to sacrifice;

For Jesus?

Amen, I say to you,

The one who does will surely not lose his reward!

Friday 12th week of Ordinary Time

When all seems lost.  2Kings 25:1-12

The city of Jerusalem was surrounded. 

The walls were breached;

The Temple burned;

The walls of the city were torn down;

And the people were exiled to Babylon. 

All appeared to be lost, FOREVER!

But after 70yrs in exile.  

God brought them back to the land of Israel

And the temple was rebuilt. 

We may feel at times as if they have lost everything;

Exiled into the land of tears and sorrow. 

But those who Hope in the Lord;

Will one day find their way home again;