In today's first reading, James 3: 13-18, St. James asks us whether we are wise and understanding and then says to us: "...[S]how your] works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom." There is no way to do this if "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition" dominate our hearts. How do we know whether these motivations have entered our hearts? Their presence reveals itself when we give in to boasting and abandon truth. In James words: [D]o not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of this kind does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice." And we see the effects of jealousy and selfish ambition every night when we listen to the nightly news. Our country has stooped, I believe, to a new low where selfish ambition is applauded and rewarded, where earthly wisdom darkens our minds and hearts and will. Yes, there is a aura of the demonic clouding, I believe, the U.S. Every kind of disorder and...foul practice" are the order of the day, it seems.
But what about you and I personally? Because we live in this kind of climate does not exempt us from taking James words seriously! You and I as Christians are called to be wise and understanding, to live "a good live in the humility that comes from wisdom, divine wisdom that is, not earthly wisdom. When you and I act from divine wisdom, we are relying upon the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength to make right choices, to follow, in the words of today's the responsorial psalm, Psalm 19, "the law of the Lord." Only God's laws and decrees are "trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple,...rejoicing the heart,...enlightening the eye....The ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just." With the psalmist, we pray: "Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
Showing posts with label Enlightenment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Enlightenment. Show all posts
Monday, February 24, 2020
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Our Guardian Angels
Today we celebrate the feast of our Guardian angels. God has given every human person a guardian angel, a messenger from heaven. As a child, I was taught the following prayer: Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
When I think of my guardian angel, I think of the many times I hear the words: "Watch out." "Do this!" Don't do that." "Good job!" "Try harder." "You can do it!" I also think of the times that I was saved from death, as happened one night out on a dessert road with no lights anywhere around. I car was following me (I had two other passengers in my car). Frustrated that the car being me left its brights on, I let it pass me. A short ways up the road, coming over a small hill, was a car in our lane. We were traveling about 60 miles an hour. There was no way for the driver in front of me to get out of the way. They hit head-on and two women in the car were killed outright. My guardian angel and those of my passengers, I believed, were at work that night!
Other people have told me similar stories of "miracles" that occurred as the result, they believed, of their Guardian Angel protecting them.
Lord, thank you for giving each of us a Guardian Angel. May we be more aware of your generosity and that of our Guardian angels, who are at our sides "to light, to guard, to rule and guide.
When I think of my guardian angel, I think of the many times I hear the words: "Watch out." "Do this!" Don't do that." "Good job!" "Try harder." "You can do it!" I also think of the times that I was saved from death, as happened one night out on a dessert road with no lights anywhere around. I car was following me (I had two other passengers in my car). Frustrated that the car being me left its brights on, I let it pass me. A short ways up the road, coming over a small hill, was a car in our lane. We were traveling about 60 miles an hour. There was no way for the driver in front of me to get out of the way. They hit head-on and two women in the car were killed outright. My guardian angel and those of my passengers, I believed, were at work that night!
Other people have told me similar stories of "miracles" that occurred as the result, they believed, of their Guardian Angel protecting them.
Lord, thank you for giving each of us a Guardian Angel. May we be more aware of your generosity and that of our Guardian angels, who are at our sides "to light, to guard, to rule and guide.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
An Enlightened Heart
In today's first reading, Ephesians 1: 15-23, St. Paul prays that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened," Paul prays, "that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe...."
What a prayer! Again, I encourage you to insert your name in that passage, so that it reads, and I paraphrase: "Dorothy Ann (insert your name), God the Father gives you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of Him." What gifts: wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of God Himself! Knowing God, believing in God, surrendering to God, loving God with our whole mind, our whole heart and our whole will is all we ask of You, O God. That is enough for us! But Paul adds: "May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened." The eyes of our hearts are our inner eyes. Maywe see and know God within the very core of our existence. And why does Paul ask that the eyes of our hearts be enlightened? So that we may know "the hope that belongs to [our] call "to praise his glory," ( See Ephesians 1: 11-14) here on earth and in eternity when we possess the inheritance of our redemption. Paul also wants us to be enlightened regarding the "riches of glory in [our] inheritance among the holy ones. and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe." The wealth and the greatness Paul alludes to is beyond our imagination and reduces anything on this earth to rubbish, as Paul also exclaims in his preaching.
Jesus, have mercy on us, when we think and act otherwise!
What a prayer! Again, I encourage you to insert your name in that passage, so that it reads, and I paraphrase: "Dorothy Ann (insert your name), God the Father gives you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of Him." What gifts: wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of God Himself! Knowing God, believing in God, surrendering to God, loving God with our whole mind, our whole heart and our whole will is all we ask of You, O God. That is enough for us! But Paul adds: "May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened." The eyes of our hearts are our inner eyes. Maywe see and know God within the very core of our existence. And why does Paul ask that the eyes of our hearts be enlightened? So that we may know "the hope that belongs to [our] call "to praise his glory," ( See Ephesians 1: 11-14) here on earth and in eternity when we possess the inheritance of our redemption. Paul also wants us to be enlightened regarding the "riches of glory in [our] inheritance among the holy ones. and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe." The wealth and the greatness Paul alludes to is beyond our imagination and reduces anything on this earth to rubbish, as Paul also exclaims in his preaching.
Jesus, have mercy on us, when we think and act otherwise!
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