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The Israelites, held captive in Egypt, had pleaded with God for salvation and freedom. When Moses meets God on the mountain, God announces that He has come to their rescue. We know the story from here, the Israelites are freed after a series of plagues and travel across the red sea, and the desert to the promised land. Along their journey they complain about many things from the quality of food, to the fact that they miss being slaves. God tries to help them along the way by giving them mana and then quail in the desert. He also gives them the commandments.
The Gospel tells us that God did not like their grumbling, and many people died because they did not trust God in the journey across the desert. Do we trust God?
God promised Moses that he would lead his people out of slavery into a land flowing with milk and honey. God has promised us that if we come to Him with our burdens, He will take them from us. He is kind and merciful, slow to anger, rich in love. Do we trust that?
Lent is a time to examine our relationship with God. Do you really trust God? When times get hard, do you bring them to God? Do you place your life in God's hands? Do you go where God is leading you? Do you see where God is leading you and try to go somewhere else? While waiting instruction from God, do you create a false god? Do you really trust God? He wants to help us. He has witnessed our affliction, heard our cries, and knows of our suffering. He has come to rescue us and lead us to a promised land. Our savior is His son, Jesus, he freed us from our sin and suffering. He said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Trust Him.
Showing posts with label ex. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ex. Show all posts
Friday, March 5, 2010
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
click here for today's readings
The gospel occurs the day after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Briefly paraphrased it goes like this: “Hey Jesus, why did you leave us?” Jesus replies, “You aren't here for me, you are here for free food. Honestly, you are wasting your time if its just food you are after. You should be coming to me for something better, eternal life.” The people ask, “How do we get that? Show us a sign.” Jesus says, “I am the sign, if you believe in me, you will never worry about food and drink again.”
Do we believe because we received something from God? A job, a car, a family, a fish and some loaves while we sat in the meadow? Or do we believe because Jesus Christ was sent to earth to show us a new way. He sacrificed His body on the cross and died. Then He rose from the dead to conquer death, to destroy death! Would we, like Job, believe if we had nothing? Would we believe if we had lost everything, family, home, wealth, property, our health, and friends?
Paul's letter to the Ephesians urges us to put our old selves away, the selves that show up for free food, who believe because God has blessed us with stuff. He begs us to put away weak faith and to put away our weak and former selves. If we truly believe, we know that we have the gift of Jesus Christ. We no longer belong to this world, but to God's kingdom.
Now that we have the gift of Jesus, we should walk as a child of God. A very small child does not wonder where it is going or what it is doing. A very small child lives in the present moment. In this very moment, God is providing for you. Paul accuses the Gentiles as living in “futility of their minds” - in fear, worry and anxiety. In this moment God is proving for you. Paul says, “be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” Don't worry, don't fear, do not be anxious. God is providing for you right now. Perhaps not for your physical needs - mana isn't raining down from heaven, but He is providing for your spiritual needs. Jesus on the cross has given us the sign we asked for. His life, offered on the cross – for you, for this very moment.
Jesus gives us his body and blood as bread and wine. As we approach the altar, what do we think? Do we think about the substance of the bread and the wine? Do we think about the flavor or the texture in our mouths? Do we think about the people in the line? In the pew? Are we tied to the futility of our minds – the anxiety, worry and stress of the physical things?
Be renewed, brothers and sisters! As you approach the altar, God approaches you. As you lift your hands to make a throne for the host of the body of Christ, God approaches you. The minister proclaims, “the body of Christ.” Your “Amen” proclaims, “I believe this is your body. I come to you so that I may never hunger.”
The gospel occurs the day after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Briefly paraphrased it goes like this: “Hey Jesus, why did you leave us?” Jesus replies, “You aren't here for me, you are here for free food. Honestly, you are wasting your time if its just food you are after. You should be coming to me for something better, eternal life.” The people ask, “How do we get that? Show us a sign.” Jesus says, “I am the sign, if you believe in me, you will never worry about food and drink again.”
Do we believe because we received something from God? A job, a car, a family, a fish and some loaves while we sat in the meadow? Or do we believe because Jesus Christ was sent to earth to show us a new way. He sacrificed His body on the cross and died. Then He rose from the dead to conquer death, to destroy death! Would we, like Job, believe if we had nothing? Would we believe if we had lost everything, family, home, wealth, property, our health, and friends?
Paul's letter to the Ephesians urges us to put our old selves away, the selves that show up for free food, who believe because God has blessed us with stuff. He begs us to put away weak faith and to put away our weak and former selves. If we truly believe, we know that we have the gift of Jesus Christ. We no longer belong to this world, but to God's kingdom.
Now that we have the gift of Jesus, we should walk as a child of God. A very small child does not wonder where it is going or what it is doing. A very small child lives in the present moment. In this very moment, God is providing for you. Paul accuses the Gentiles as living in “futility of their minds” - in fear, worry and anxiety. In this moment God is proving for you. Paul says, “be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” Don't worry, don't fear, do not be anxious. God is providing for you right now. Perhaps not for your physical needs - mana isn't raining down from heaven, but He is providing for your spiritual needs. Jesus on the cross has given us the sign we asked for. His life, offered on the cross – for you, for this very moment.
Jesus gives us his body and blood as bread and wine. As we approach the altar, what do we think? Do we think about the substance of the bread and the wine? Do we think about the flavor or the texture in our mouths? Do we think about the people in the line? In the pew? Are we tied to the futility of our minds – the anxiety, worry and stress of the physical things?
Be renewed, brothers and sisters! As you approach the altar, God approaches you. As you lift your hands to make a throne for the host of the body of Christ, God approaches you. The minister proclaims, “the body of Christ.” Your “Amen” proclaims, “I believe this is your body. I come to you so that I may never hunger.”
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Click here for today's readings.
The first reading from Exodus gives us the laws of God and a covenant. Under these laws, mankind still sinned. Jesus's sacrifice opened a new covenant, that we would have God's word written on our hearts and be free from sin. While the first covenant was marked by the blood of bulls and goats, the new covenant is marked by the blood of Christ. The reading from Hebrews asks, “If the blood of goats and bulls .. sanctified those who were defiled... how much more will the blood of Christ... cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God?”
The body of Christ was given as a sacrificial gift to us. We were not deserving of such a gift, yet he gave of himself totally, freely, faithfully, fruitfully and unconditionally. He gave his entire self out of love for us and so we could be free from sin and worship God. He did not give of Himself partially, he gave us Himself fully, and continually. He left us Himself in the Eucharist so He could be with us until He comes again. On the altar, the bread and wine is transformed by God into body and blood to renew the covenant.
Even now, Jesus offers himself fully to us. On altars around the world the sacrifice is offered continually in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a gift that God has given to us so we can always see the redeeming power of Christ's love. We are invited to receive this gift every day, not just on Sundays. As God transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood, he is also transforming each one of us. By receiving the gift of the most holy Eucharist, we open ourselves to God's transformative power. Our hearts, minds and souls are being renewed and changed. Receiving the Body of the Lord is more than a personal act, it leads us love for our neighbor.
The reception of the body and blood of Christ Jesus is complimented by our worship and adoration of his body in the form of Eucharistic Adoration. On this feast day of the Body and Blood of Christ. I encourage you to spend time praying and thinking about the Eucharist and what you receive when you stand in the communion line. The body of Christ is not a symbol, it is our salvation.
The first reading from Exodus gives us the laws of God and a covenant. Under these laws, mankind still sinned. Jesus's sacrifice opened a new covenant, that we would have God's word written on our hearts and be free from sin. While the first covenant was marked by the blood of bulls and goats, the new covenant is marked by the blood of Christ. The reading from Hebrews asks, “If the blood of goats and bulls .. sanctified those who were defiled... how much more will the blood of Christ... cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God?”
The body of Christ was given as a sacrificial gift to us. We were not deserving of such a gift, yet he gave of himself totally, freely, faithfully, fruitfully and unconditionally. He gave his entire self out of love for us and so we could be free from sin and worship God. He did not give of Himself partially, he gave us Himself fully, and continually. He left us Himself in the Eucharist so He could be with us until He comes again. On the altar, the bread and wine is transformed by God into body and blood to renew the covenant.
Even now, Jesus offers himself fully to us. On altars around the world the sacrifice is offered continually in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a gift that God has given to us so we can always see the redeeming power of Christ's love. We are invited to receive this gift every day, not just on Sundays. As God transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood, he is also transforming each one of us. By receiving the gift of the most holy Eucharist, we open ourselves to God's transformative power. Our hearts, minds and souls are being renewed and changed. Receiving the Body of the Lord is more than a personal act, it leads us love for our neighbor.
The reception of the body and blood of Christ Jesus is complimented by our worship and adoration of his body in the form of Eucharistic Adoration. On this feast day of the Body and Blood of Christ. I encourage you to spend time praying and thinking about the Eucharist and what you receive when you stand in the communion line. The body of Christ is not a symbol, it is our salvation.
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