Category Archives: Spirituality

Ask and Receive

Luke11-1-13

Luke 11:1-13

“Lord, teach us to pray…”

Ask and receive are two parts that make a whole. When I ask God to show me the next right thing to do, I receive God’s guidance—often pointing me to the simple tasks of everyday life. When I ask God to be with me in times of stress or sorrow, I receive God’s comforting presence—often through the compassion and kindness of friends, family, or strangers. When I ask God to make me more like the Lord, I receive God’s grace—often through opportunities to practice gratitude, forgiveness, and patience.

When I ask God to teach me to pray, I receive the longing to spend quiet time with God, getting to know the Lord more intimately. I receive the courage to take those quiet moments to be renewed in the Lord’s love. And I receive the joy of being in the presence of the One who loves me and who is teaching me to love more perfectly.

Martha and Mary

Johannes_(Jan)_Vermeer_-_Christ_in_the_House_of_Martha_and_Mary_-_Google_Art_Project

Luke 10:38-42
Johannes (Jan) Vermeer – Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 1654
Google Art Project
Wikimedia Commons

I tend to be like Martha –  keeping busy, doing the laundry, making a meal, getting the groceries, rushing to work, paying the bills, checking my email… and welcoming friends and even strangers who need a listening ear.

On the other hand, I tend to be like Mary – taking time to ponder the things of God. I love to sit on my step and look at the trees and feel the Holy Spirit wind. I love to walk on the beach and feel the rhythm of the ocean and watch the sea gulls soaring. I love to talk to friends and hear their stories and insights about life. I love having time to do nothing in particular except be.

Jesus is right: Mary has chosen the better part. But he didn’t say that Martha’s part isn’t good or necessary. I think he is giving me a gentle reminder about balance. If I am a spiritual being in human form, then I need to consciously place my spirit in the presence of God every day.

Compassionate awareness

samaritano02

The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37

When I notice your pain, your grief, your struggle—compassion moves me to reach out, to comfort, to console. I have been where you are. I have experienced rejection, abandonment, abuse, and loss.

It starts with the awareness. If I am not aware of my own pain, I will never notice yours. If I am not aware of my own suffering, I will walk by and leave you on your own. If I am not aware of my own humanity, I will tend to overlook yours. If I am not aware of the Truth of my place as a beloved child of God, I will never welcome you as an equally beloved child of God.

Open my eyes and heart to love my neighbor as myself.

Bringing peace

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[Jesus] said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Luke 10:2a

[Jesus said to them,] “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!'” Luke 10:5

Do I bring peace with me wherever I go, whatever place I enter? Do I smile, say please and thank you, hold the door for others? Do I make eye contact and greet everyone I meet? Do I stop to help someone in need, listen to someone’s story, comfort someone who is suffering? Do I remember to be grateful for running water, plentiful food, access to education, and all the other gifts that fill my daily life?

How can I bring a bit of the Lord’s peace with me today?

No excuses

plow

Luke 9:51-62

And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:61-62

Once I have made the decision to put my life and will into God’s care, I begin to live in the present, open to God’s loving presence and guidance. Although I can learn from the past, I no longer wallow in regrets for what might have been. I put my hand in God’s and allow myself to be led to love and forgiveness of myself and my neighbor, to discernment of my gifts and talents and how to use them in God’s service, to wholeness and healing.

Every day Easter

Every day I am made a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Every day I can set my intention to carry out the work of love, compassion, and forgiveness.

Every day I can reflect my likeness to God in goodness, generosity, and kindness.

Every day I can run to bring the Good News of God’s presence to others with my words, attitude, and actions.

Every day is the re-birth of innocence and holiness with endless possibilities for me to embody these qualities.

 

Stones

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Rembrandt, Jesus und Ehebrecherin
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Reproduced in the March 2013 edition of Give Us This Day

Who did I stone this week? Did I hurl negative words? Put-downs? Blame? Scorn? Did I put on an attitude of superiority? Did I cause injury by my indifference to others’ needs?

Who stoned me this week? Was I wounded by someone’s actions or words? Did I cast stones at myself for not being perfect? Did I damage my self-esteem by comparing myself negatively with others? Who did I turn to in my shame and pain?

God loves us unconditionally and asks us to do the same for ourselves and each other. Just for today let me be intentional about building up the kingdom of God by building up all those I encounter – including myself –  with kind words, generous actions, and responsible behavior.

Spiritual starvation

Hijo_prodigo 2013-02-24 (06.28.07-575 p.m.)

Prodigal Son and Compassionate Father
http://www.cruzblanca.org/hermanoleon/

In what ways am I starving today? Am I too busy to feed myself with alone time? Am I too self-centered to feed myself with the awareness of others’ needs? Am I too complacent to feed myself with new ideas? Am I too afraid to feed myself with friendship and loving companionship?

When I am starving, who will feed me?