“The Lord said to Elijah: 'Leave here, go east and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.'” 1 Kings 17:2
There is an enormous difference between hiding from God and hiding with God. Most of our lives, even after we have experienced God's love directly, we hide from God. Aware that God is demanding, we get busy about many things in order to avoid listening to God, and changing our lives. Unfortunately, for those who have been on the Way for a while, there is no hiding from God long term. God will be God and until we accept God's direction on a daily basis, we will be frustrated.
Elijah, on the other hand, listens to God, warns Ahab that no rain will fall upon the land of Israel until the people repent, and then goes East and hides with God. Not only will Elijah have water to drink and food to eat, God will be with him as long as he listens and obeys, and the same promise will be ours as long as we are willing to live the Gospel, and announce it with power.
The journey or the pilgrimage to which every believer is called is simple but difficult. Elijah teaches us to let go of our security, and trust that God will provide us with what we need to live. Trusting God, however, is a great challenge, because so many people seem to live well and happily without the burdens or the challenges of the Gospel. Ahab, believing his power as King was enough to make him prosperous and secure, ignored Elijah, worshiped Baal and exposed all of Israel to God's wrath. Only after Elijah demonstrated that he was God's prophet by challenging the prophets of Baal, was Ahab willing to submit himself to God again.
Today, pray to be open to whatever God asks.
Have you been tested by God and known God's promise as true?
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Pentecost
"Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them."
The winds of Pentecost are cleansing, empowering and renewing. Freed of the limitations of the Old Law, the Gospel assures believers that the Spirit of God will be their guide and strength. What might have made the first disciples anxious before the Spirit's coming upon them, now is a tool of rebirth, something that becomes their strength. Remembering that Jesus told them many times not to be afraid, the Apostles and disciples trusted the fire of the Spirit's power to be their gateway to a rekindled faith life.
Pentecost, one of the three most important feasts in the liturgical calendar, is both a consolation and challenge to believers. When we accept the promise of Jesus to be with us always through his Spirit, and allow ourselves to be bathed in this assurance, our lives change. We discover a strength, even in difficult times, that is more than we could have imagined, and we know with a new certainty that we are not alone.
Lifted up by the fire of God's love, we are sent into the world as a challenge to others to let go of the empty values of wealth and power over others for our own satisfaction, and led into and by the light of faith into a lifestyle that finally hears and responds to Jesus' command that we take nothing for the journey. Our gift is the peace of God that we give away freely to those seeking a new way of life. Simple and without conditions, God's love is open to all who are willing to be possessed by God's spirit and root themselves in the commitment to share all God's gifts with all people.
Today, let the fire of the Spirit tell you how to live in Christ.
Have you ever been "blown away" by faith and its promises?
The winds of Pentecost are cleansing, empowering and renewing. Freed of the limitations of the Old Law, the Gospel assures believers that the Spirit of God will be their guide and strength. What might have made the first disciples anxious before the Spirit's coming upon them, now is a tool of rebirth, something that becomes their strength. Remembering that Jesus told them many times not to be afraid, the Apostles and disciples trusted the fire of the Spirit's power to be their gateway to a rekindled faith life.
Pentecost, one of the three most important feasts in the liturgical calendar, is both a consolation and challenge to believers. When we accept the promise of Jesus to be with us always through his Spirit, and allow ourselves to be bathed in this assurance, our lives change. We discover a strength, even in difficult times, that is more than we could have imagined, and we know with a new certainty that we are not alone.
Lifted up by the fire of God's love, we are sent into the world as a challenge to others to let go of the empty values of wealth and power over others for our own satisfaction, and led into and by the light of faith into a lifestyle that finally hears and responds to Jesus' command that we take nothing for the journey. Our gift is the peace of God that we give away freely to those seeking a new way of life. Simple and without conditions, God's love is open to all who are willing to be possessed by God's spirit and root themselves in the commitment to share all God's gifts with all people.
Today, let the fire of the Spirit tell you how to live in Christ.
Have you ever been "blown away" by faith and its promises?
Friday, June 6, 2014
Our Faith Stories
"There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually,
I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written." Jn 21:25
All of us have faith stories we can tell about how God entered and changed our lives. At times, it is simple. People speak about sitting in church expecting nothing when a great peace comes over them. While they can't describe it adequately, they know that God touched them in a way that altered their lives forever, and although they may forget it at times, the memory is never far away.
The early church was very conscious of how God was within and among them. Knowing the Spirit would always direct them, they had to choose among the many faith stories they heard in order to announce the Good News of Jesus with power and conviction. When John reminds us that it would be impossible to record all the marvelous things Jesus did, he is not speaking literally but figuratively. So many of Jesus' actions were life transforming that anyone of them can help us remember how fortunate we are to be people of faith.
It is important for us, especially parents and older people, to tell our faith stories. Young people need to know that God acted in our lives in marvelous ways, especially when we were struggling or lost. Only then will they realize that our faith is not simply an adherence to a dogma, but a living expression of gratitude to the God who is always near.
Today, pray in gratitude for the simple gift of faith.
If you had to tell your faith story aloud, where would you begin?
All of us have faith stories we can tell about how God entered and changed our lives. At times, it is simple. People speak about sitting in church expecting nothing when a great peace comes over them. While they can't describe it adequately, they know that God touched them in a way that altered their lives forever, and although they may forget it at times, the memory is never far away.
The early church was very conscious of how God was within and among them. Knowing the Spirit would always direct them, they had to choose among the many faith stories they heard in order to announce the Good News of Jesus with power and conviction. When John reminds us that it would be impossible to record all the marvelous things Jesus did, he is not speaking literally but figuratively. So many of Jesus' actions were life transforming that anyone of them can help us remember how fortunate we are to be people of faith.
It is important for us, especially parents and older people, to tell our faith stories. Young people need to know that God acted in our lives in marvelous ways, especially when we were struggling or lost. Only then will they realize that our faith is not simply an adherence to a dogma, but a living expression of gratitude to the God who is always near.
Today, pray in gratitude for the simple gift of faith.
If you had to tell your faith story aloud, where would you begin?
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Do You Love Me?
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Who wouldn't be distressed if a friend and colleague questioned you over and over again about your loyalty and love? It is unnerving and upsetting, to say the least, when someone you trust seems to doubt your integrity. That Peter is troubled is not the point, however. Jesus is asking Peter not simply to be his friend, but to love him unconditionally just as Jesus loves Peter, which is another matter altogether.
When you read it plainly and openly, the Gospel is very demanding. Jesus challenges us to love one another, even our enemies, in the same way God loves him and us. It is a daunting task, but one we can complete with God's grace. While the Gospel is impossible when we think we must live it alone, it becomes a joy when we enter it with God and all the saints who have ever proclaimed God's name.
Today, ask for the grace to love God unconditionally.
Have you known the unconditional love of God in difficult circumstances?
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