Tuesday 23rd Week of Ordinary Time

 

Jesus spent the night in prayer. Lk. 6:12

Jesus would often the spend the night in prayer.

Why?

After a long day of preaching, teaching, debating and walking everywhere He went;

Jesus needed to spend time in prayer.

For in prayer He could be alone with His Father

And renew His Spirit for the next day.

After a long day, how do you renew your spirit and prepare for the work of the next day?

Monday 23rd Week of Ordinary Time

 

One Bad Apple. 1 Cor. 5:1-8

St. Paul encourages the Corinthians to get rid of the old yeast of malice and wickedness,

So as to receive the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Because just even a little yeast can leaven all the dough!

In other words, even a little sin is like yeast.

It can ruin a soul as it leavens one’s spiritual life with malice and wickedness.

We must strive to remove ALL yeast, even the smallest sin in our soul so that it does not grow and infect and affect our hearts and souls.

Friday 22nd Week of Ordinary Time

 

What God sees. 1 Cor. 4:1-5

The red carpet in Hollywood is a time when people strut like peacocks.

Showing off the latest styles.

Other people show off by driving fancy cars, wearing expensive jewelry or living in mansions.

None of this however impresses God.

He sees right past it into the human heart.

And one day God will bring to light what is hidden in darkness

And manifest the motives of each human heart.

Thursday 22nd week of Ordinary Time

 

They left everything! Lk. 5:1-11

When Jesus called the disciples they left everything.

Family, livelihood, home.

Because Jesus filled not only their nets,

But every longing of their heart.

What have we left to follow Jesus?

If our hearts are empty,

Maybe it is because we have been fishing all our lives in the sea of this world and caught nothing.

Only when we are willing to leave everything behind and follow Jesus,

With our hearts be filled to overflowing.

Wednesday 22nd Week of Ordinary Time

 

St. Paul wanted to feed the Corinthians Spiritual Food,

but they desired the Food of the Flesh which was jealousy and rivalry.

The food of the Flesh is Jealousy, rivalry, anger or division,

While food of the Spirit is Peace, Harmony, and Unity.

We will become what we eat!

Eat therefore the Body of Christ,

And let His Spirit live and move and have its being in you.

And leave no room in your hearts for the appetites of the Flesh.

Tuesday 22nd Week of Ordinary Time

 

No one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. I Cor. 2:10

This is why those who live according to the Flesh,

do not know the mind of God for God is Spirit.

The way of the Flesh is eventual decay,

While the way of the Spirit leads to Eternal Life.

The flesh will decay in the grave,

While the Spirit will soar to the heights of Heaven.

Those who follow the way of the Flesh with its Passions and desires,

Will go the way of the Flesh.

While those who follow the Spirit with its Freedom

Will go the way of the Spirit.

Monday 22nd Week of Ordinary Time

 

The Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

Herod was attracted to John,

Much like a moth to a flame.

But at the same time he rejected John,

Because he did not want to hear the Truth;

The Truth that he cannot marry his brother’s wife.

And eventually Herod silenced the Truth,

By having John beheaded.

Or so he thought.

The life and message of St. John the Baptist lives on,

While Herod fades away.

This is how it is with Truth.

People are attracted to it.

But often reject it because it convicts them of the falsehood of their opinions and desires.

Jesus was crucified by public opinion as the crowd cried crucify him crucify him.

Truth is Always being crucified on the altar of public opinion.

If the polls say it’s true then it must be true.

Public opinion and polls change like the weather.

Truth is Eternal and Unchangeable.

We may be Put on trial in the court of public opinion as was Jesus and Saint John the Baptist.

And Like Jesus and Saint John the Baptist,

We too may be crucified in one form or another, for holding onto the Truth.

But it is better to die a martyr for the Truth live than live as a slave to Public opinion.