May 22, 2024 - Wed. of 7th Week in Ord. Time (Opt. Mem. of St. Rita of Cascia)
May you focus on what GOD may be asking of you, more than telling GOD what you want.
We often have what we think are great ideas. We try to get our way with others, and even with GOD. There is nothing wrong with sharing our ideas, but if we go to the next step of always expecting others, including GOD, to do what we have in our minds, we are missing out on what might be more important for our lives. Others, and especially GOD, have GOoD ideas also. And GOD’s plans are always for the GOoD of ourselves and the GOoD of others. Be open to the ideas that GOD might be sharing with you.
May you focus on what GOD may be asking of you, more than telling GOD what you want.
We often have what we think are great ideas. We try to get our way with others, and even with GOD. There is nothing wrong with sharing our ideas, but if we go to the next step of always expecting others, including GOD, to do what we have in our minds, we are missing out on what might be more important for our lives. Others, and especially GOD, have GOoD ideas also. And GOD’s plans are always for the GOoD of ourselves and the GOoD of others. Be open to the ideas that GOD might be sharing with you.
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052224.cfm
Saint Rita of Cascia: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-rita-of-cascia/
Readings: James 4: 13-17; Psalm 49: 2-3, 6-7, 8-10, 11; Mark 9: 38-40
The readings today are short, but powerful (Isn’t the Word of GOD always powerful?). We are reminded, once again, where our focus should be: our relationship with the Lord Jesus and doing the will of GOD.
In our First Reading, St. James reminds his audience (including us) that we should not make plans of how we will make all sorts of money and gain possessions. He calls this attitude a form of arrogance and warns us that we do not know what will happen tomorrow, much less a year or two from now. Our plans should always include “If the Lord wills it. . .”
The Responsorial Psalm echoes these thoughts with the words “in no way can mortals redeem themselves or pay their own ransom to GOD. Too high is the price to redeem one’s life.” The price of our redemption was paid once, for all, by Jesus. Nothing we can do, no plans we can make, can ever allow us to have more than what Jesus has gain for us through His ministry, life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus in the Gospel reassures His disciples that those who are doing good things in His name are one with us, even though may not be in our regular company or profess the exact same ideas.
The readings are challenging us to see where our values are. Sometimes we make grandiose plans of what we are going to do or how we are going to attain certain goals we have, even positive and wholesome goals. Yet if we haven’t tried to see how they fit into GOD’s plan, we may be only tooting our own horns rather than giving GOD the glory and the praise that is due. We should always be praying and consulting with GOD (and seeking spiritual guidance from
other people who are traveling with the Lord Jesus). If we seek to do the will of GOD and are open to the divine guidance that GOD gives us, things will turn out better than we could ever imagine. For it will be us working with and for GOD, not we who are trying to make GOD work with and for us.
In the passage from St. Mark’s Gospel, the disciples did not fully realize this. They wanted to limit GOD’s power. They expected GOD to only work as they envisioned. They were upset when other individuals were casting out demons in the name of Jesus. How often we are like the disciples. We have our concept of how GOD should act – the way we want GOD to act. As members of a church community, we think anyone who doesn’t do things the way we do, is missing the boat. We forget Whose boat it is – it isn’t our boat. We are only fellow voyagers in GOD’s boat. And GOD has many boats in his flotilla. Some are sail boats which are blown by the wind (Ruah?). Others are speed boats that have a lot of power. Others are row boats that take human efforts to travel along the course. What we are being asked to do is help get everyone safely across the water to the safe harbor. As we journey along, some of our fellow shipmates may get tossed out of our boat by storming waters. We should be grateful if another passing vessel stops and picks them up and brings them along. We should also be willing to do what we can for those whom we see floating in the waters, after they have gone overboard from their crafts. What is important is that we are seeking to do the will of GOD and working to be sure that everyone arrives safely at the heavenly harbor.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, all powerful and yet gentle. Through Your GOoDness, You desire that we do Your will. So often we are caught up with our own agenda and think it is Yours. We may be doing positive and even holy things, but if we are not seeking Your will, we may be missing the boat. Sometimes we think that since we have traveled a while along the right course that we can take over the controls of the ship rather than let Your Son be the Captain of the ship. We need to ask for Your forgiveness for the times we have set sail without Your blessing or tried to maneuver the vessel our way, instead of Your way. We ask that we may be guided by Your Son and Your Holy Spirit. Fill us with wisdom and right counsel and the edification from those who are on the right course already so that we can arrive safely at the harbor where You will provide safe moorings. Let us give You all the glory and praise for providing the source of power that will propel us to that safe harbor. May we rejoice with all who are working toward this same destination, even though they may get there in other vessels and by other means than ours. And may we always pray “if You, O LORD, will it.” We make this prayer, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, for He is our Guide and our Savior, our Master-Teacher, and our Brother, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: The Anchor Holds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGQMxtG2U9E
In Spite of the Storm by Patty Green: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Eo_inzmtQ
Video of the Day: Saint Rita of Cascia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wHHDcPh7qU
© rjk, 12-14-22
Saint Rita of Cascia: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-rita-of-cascia/
Readings: James 4: 13-17; Psalm 49: 2-3, 6-7, 8-10, 11; Mark 9: 38-40
The readings today are short, but powerful (Isn’t the Word of GOD always powerful?). We are reminded, once again, where our focus should be: our relationship with the Lord Jesus and doing the will of GOD.
In our First Reading, St. James reminds his audience (including us) that we should not make plans of how we will make all sorts of money and gain possessions. He calls this attitude a form of arrogance and warns us that we do not know what will happen tomorrow, much less a year or two from now. Our plans should always include “If the Lord wills it. . .”
The Responsorial Psalm echoes these thoughts with the words “in no way can mortals redeem themselves or pay their own ransom to GOD. Too high is the price to redeem one’s life.” The price of our redemption was paid once, for all, by Jesus. Nothing we can do, no plans we can make, can ever allow us to have more than what Jesus has gain for us through His ministry, life, death, and resurrection.
Jesus in the Gospel reassures His disciples that those who are doing good things in His name are one with us, even though may not be in our regular company or profess the exact same ideas.
The readings are challenging us to see where our values are. Sometimes we make grandiose plans of what we are going to do or how we are going to attain certain goals we have, even positive and wholesome goals. Yet if we haven’t tried to see how they fit into GOD’s plan, we may be only tooting our own horns rather than giving GOD the glory and the praise that is due. We should always be praying and consulting with GOD (and seeking spiritual guidance from
other people who are traveling with the Lord Jesus). If we seek to do the will of GOD and are open to the divine guidance that GOD gives us, things will turn out better than we could ever imagine. For it will be us working with and for GOD, not we who are trying to make GOD work with and for us.
In the passage from St. Mark’s Gospel, the disciples did not fully realize this. They wanted to limit GOD’s power. They expected GOD to only work as they envisioned. They were upset when other individuals were casting out demons in the name of Jesus. How often we are like the disciples. We have our concept of how GOD should act – the way we want GOD to act. As members of a church community, we think anyone who doesn’t do things the way we do, is missing the boat. We forget Whose boat it is – it isn’t our boat. We are only fellow voyagers in GOD’s boat. And GOD has many boats in his flotilla. Some are sail boats which are blown by the wind (Ruah?). Others are speed boats that have a lot of power. Others are row boats that take human efforts to travel along the course. What we are being asked to do is help get everyone safely across the water to the safe harbor. As we journey along, some of our fellow shipmates may get tossed out of our boat by storming waters. We should be grateful if another passing vessel stops and picks them up and brings them along. We should also be willing to do what we can for those whom we see floating in the waters, after they have gone overboard from their crafts. What is important is that we are seeking to do the will of GOD and working to be sure that everyone arrives safely at the heavenly harbor.
- The personal question/action for today: What is my attitude toward people who do not fit into my concept of how one should respond to GOD’s call, but who are seeking the Lord Jesus through a different path than I choose? Do I sometimes try to control how GOD should act in my life rather than try to see how I can conform to GOD’s will? Do I always present my prayer with proviso that “if it be according to GOD’s plan”? What can I do to help others arrive safely at GOD’s harbor, even though they do not cross the stormy waters by the same means as I do?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, all powerful and yet gentle. Through Your GOoDness, You desire that we do Your will. So often we are caught up with our own agenda and think it is Yours. We may be doing positive and even holy things, but if we are not seeking Your will, we may be missing the boat. Sometimes we think that since we have traveled a while along the right course that we can take over the controls of the ship rather than let Your Son be the Captain of the ship. We need to ask for Your forgiveness for the times we have set sail without Your blessing or tried to maneuver the vessel our way, instead of Your way. We ask that we may be guided by Your Son and Your Holy Spirit. Fill us with wisdom and right counsel and the edification from those who are on the right course already so that we can arrive safely at the harbor where You will provide safe moorings. Let us give You all the glory and praise for providing the source of power that will propel us to that safe harbor. May we rejoice with all who are working toward this same destination, even though they may get there in other vessels and by other means than ours. And may we always pray “if You, O LORD, will it.” We make this prayer, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, for He is our Guide and our Savior, our Master-Teacher, and our Brother, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: The Anchor Holds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGQMxtG2U9E
In Spite of the Storm by Patty Green: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Eo_inzmtQ
Video of the Day: Saint Rita of Cascia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wHHDcPh7qU
© rjk, 12-14-22