"They chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism." Acts 6:5
Acts of Apostles tells us why the Apostles chose Stephen to help them in the mission of Jesus. Stephen was "filled with faith and the Holy Spirit," but it simply names the others. Why did the Apostles choose Philip, Prochorus, Nicamor, Timn, Parmenas and Nicholas? Why we have we been chosen as disciples?
Every person has gifts, many of which are hard to see and appreciate. When someone is a good listener, we appreciate their ability to sit quietly and pay attention to us without being distracted, but we can also be frustrated when they choose not to have an opinion about our concerns. Others have the ability to articulate matters carefully and succinctly, but can also make us wonder if life is as transparent and easy as their words seem to make it.
No doubt Philip, Prochorus, Nicamor, Timn, Parmenas and Nicholas had gifts that benefited the community, but we should not expect them or our friends to have answers to every problem. Rather, we pray to be grateful for the uniqueness of what each person brings to us, and seek to make our gifts available to others. Doing this regularly will us find and celebrate our vocation.
Today, pray to hear God's daily call to live the Gospel as a gift for others.
Have you discovered gifts in others that you never knew were there?
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
The Miraculous Works of Jesus
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these." Jn 14:12
Jesus uses the phrase "whoever believes in me" often in John's Gospel. He promises us that we will never be thirsty if we believe in him, that we will not remain in darkness, and most tellingly that we will not die, but live forever. When he also assures us that we will do even greater works than the ones he did, he plants the seed in the hearts of his disciples about the power of the Spirit in the church. Doing the works of Jesus in the world does not belong only to the leaders in the church, but to all.
The question posed by John's Gospel is clear. What works are we called to do on behalf of the Gospel? How can we announce Good News with our lives? Although it might sound outrageous, we are all called to do miracles, to care for those who don't deserve it, reject us and waste our love. More, we are challenged to love our enemies for the sake of the Gospel, and when we do this, Jesus' becomes believable.
Today, ask God to help you do the impossible for the sake of the Gospel.
What miracles have others done for you?
Jesus uses the phrase "whoever believes in me" often in John's Gospel. He promises us that we will never be thirsty if we believe in him, that we will not remain in darkness, and most tellingly that we will not die, but live forever. When he also assures us that we will do even greater works than the ones he did, he plants the seed in the hearts of his disciples about the power of the Spirit in the church. Doing the works of Jesus in the world does not belong only to the leaders in the church, but to all.
The question posed by John's Gospel is clear. What works are we called to do on behalf of the Gospel? How can we announce Good News with our lives? Although it might sound outrageous, we are all called to do miracles, to care for those who don't deserve it, reject us and waste our love. More, we are challenged to love our enemies for the sake of the Gospel, and when we do this, Jesus' becomes believable.
Today, ask God to help you do the impossible for the sake of the Gospel.
What miracles have others done for you?
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Solace for the Broken
"Do not let your hearts be troubled...I am the way, and the truth, and the life." Jn 14: 1,6
When I was a boy, I remember my mother talking about a friend of mine saying: Trouble always finds that boy. I wasn't sure exactly what she meant, but I did know that "Billy" seemed always to be under suspicion. Either because he started a fight or stole some penny candies from the corner store, our parents warned us not to befriend him. It must have been a lonely time for Billy. Although he was a good ball player, he was rarely chosen first when we picked teams for a game, and seemed always to be walking home from school alone.
Jesus is forever trying to appeal to people like Billy. He tells those who labor and are heavy burdened to come to him and find rest, and reaches out for women and men who the authorities label as unclean. In many cases, Jesus was successful in these invitations. Tax collectors ate with him, and sinners sought to touch him. Hopeful of a new life or a new lease on life, the broken found in him an understanding friend and companion.
How to appeal to those rejected by our society and invite others who have chosen a dark and destructive path to know the Lord is always the task of believers. Because Jesus challenges us to see with his eyes, we need always to try to look past what isolates sinners from society in order to find that core part of them that is anxious for redemption and life in a community. While we might often fail in our endeavors, we can never stop trying.
Today, have a conversation with someone who seems lost.
Who has brought you comfort when you were troubled?
When I was a boy, I remember my mother talking about a friend of mine saying: Trouble always finds that boy. I wasn't sure exactly what she meant, but I did know that "Billy" seemed always to be under suspicion. Either because he started a fight or stole some penny candies from the corner store, our parents warned us not to befriend him. It must have been a lonely time for Billy. Although he was a good ball player, he was rarely chosen first when we picked teams for a game, and seemed always to be walking home from school alone.
Jesus is forever trying to appeal to people like Billy. He tells those who labor and are heavy burdened to come to him and find rest, and reaches out for women and men who the authorities label as unclean. In many cases, Jesus was successful in these invitations. Tax collectors ate with him, and sinners sought to touch him. Hopeful of a new life or a new lease on life, the broken found in him an understanding friend and companion.
How to appeal to those rejected by our society and invite others who have chosen a dark and destructive path to know the Lord is always the task of believers. Because Jesus challenges us to see with his eyes, we need always to try to look past what isolates sinners from society in order to find that core part of them that is anxious for redemption and life in a community. While we might often fail in our endeavors, we can never stop trying.
Today, have a conversation with someone who seems lost.
Who has brought you comfort when you were troubled?
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Humility
"When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: 'Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.'" Jn 13:16
When Jesus assumed the posture of a slave and washed the feet of his apostles, he startled them and us. That we ought to be kind to one another and welcoming to all, even our enemies, is clear, but that we should kneel down and wash others' feet made no sense at the time of Jesus and continues to feel alien to us. While we might offer someone access to a bathroom to refresh themselves, the idea of washing their feet would never occur to us.
In Jesus' day washing feet was common, but it was done by women and foreign slaves. Heads of household would never wash feet, and although many of the great figures of the Hebrew bible offered kind service to their friends and family, Jesus' willingness to stoop to wash his disciples feet signalled a new kind of leadership and a radical view of God. Jesus' challenge was clear. We must see ourselves as less in order that God can be more.
Today, think about the God in others, not your own power or prestige.
Who taught you most about a life of Christian service?
When Jesus assumed the posture of a slave and washed the feet of his apostles, he startled them and us. That we ought to be kind to one another and welcoming to all, even our enemies, is clear, but that we should kneel down and wash others' feet made no sense at the time of Jesus and continues to feel alien to us. While we might offer someone access to a bathroom to refresh themselves, the idea of washing their feet would never occur to us.
In Jesus' day washing feet was common, but it was done by women and foreign slaves. Heads of household would never wash feet, and although many of the great figures of the Hebrew bible offered kind service to their friends and family, Jesus' willingness to stoop to wash his disciples feet signalled a new kind of leadership and a radical view of God. Jesus' challenge was clear. We must see ourselves as less in order that God can be more.
Today, think about the God in others, not your own power or prestige.
Who taught you most about a life of Christian service?
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