A Daily Dose of God

Today’s parable tells us that God pursues us, and God’s mercy & thinking are beyond anything we can imagine.  Think about the Gospel Parables of the Prodigal Son, the Woman at the Well, the Sower, the Rich Young Man just to name a few, God’s actions confound us.  The bottom line in today’s Scripture Readings is God’s Grace is a gift, not a reward.  God gives that Grace to whom He wants, for His purposes.

 

Leave your notion of fairness to the umpires and referees at our athletic competitions and leave your economic and management theories to that realm of thinking.  Isaiah tells us, God’s ways and thoughts are not ours.  God gives us Grace so we can be the best person we can be.  St. Francis de Sales said, “Be who you are and be that well, to serve the Master Craftsman whose handiwork we are.”

 

 

Listen to this prayer: “God of all good things transform our hearts into vessels of gratitude, that we may find joy in your blessings to everyone.  Do not let jealously or envy, anger or resentment, be a wedge between us and others, but let their success and happiness help us realize your countless blessings to us ….” 

[Table Talk, Cycle A, 25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, p.193] 

 

 

 

 

Today’s parable was used by Jesus as He was headed toward Jerusalem. 

So, it gives us an eschatological perspective, a look at the final judgement, the end of history.  Jesus wants the Apostles and us to adjust our thinking to the thinking of THE Kingdom, to adopt God’s Kingdom view, rather than our personal worldview.

 

We get closer to understanding the parable of the landowner when we realize “the daily wage” is not money but heaven.  In the previous chapter of Matthew’s Gospel [19], Peter asks Jesus what’s in it for us, how will we be rewarded?  Jesus answers if you are the first or the last to love me, the reward is heaven.

 

 

 Maybe this story can aid us in understanding the parable.  “Timothy Thompson’s play based on this parable depicts two brothers vying for work. John is strong and capable; Philip is just as willing but has lost a hand in an accident.

 

When the landowner comes, John is taken in the first wave of workers, and as he labors in the field, he looks up the lane for some sign of Philip.  Other workers are brought to the field, but Philip is not among them.  John is grateful to have the work but feels empty knowing that Philip is just as needful as he.

 

 

 Finally, the last group of workers arrive, and Philip is among them.  John is relieved to know that Philip will get to work at least one hour.  But, as the drama unfolds, and those who came last get paid a full days' wages, John rejoices, knowing that Philip - his brother - will have the money necessary to feed his family.

 

When it comes his turn to stand before the landowner and receive his pay, instead of complaining as the others, John throws out his hand & says with tears in his eyes, "Thank you, my lord, for what you've done for us today!" 

[Philip W. McLarty, The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Sermons.Com 9/20/2020]

 

A powerful insight into God’s way of thinking.  Often we are tempted “… to measure life by what we imagine we deserve.  But in truth, God is always giving us far more than we deserve, even in calling us to labor in his Kingdom!” 

[The Magnificat, 9/20/2020, p.292]

 

 

 

 

 

For a few moments, in silence, reflect on heaven, on gratitude, and on God’s love for you.

 

May God Be Praised!

 

Continue to pray, Hear my cry!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.”  You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….”

[Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

 

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]

 

 

 

 

 

Today we take a few minutes to reflect on insights from three Teresa saints:

 

St. Teresa of Avila said, "Perhaps we do not know what love is, nor does this greatly surprise me. Love does not consist in great sweetness of devotion, but in a fervent determination to strive to please God in all things, in avoiding, as far as possible, all that would offend Him, and in praying for the increase of the glory and honor of His Son and for the growth of the Catholic Church."  [An excerpt from Interior Castle, p.54-55]

 

St. Teresa of Calcutta shared this insight, "The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."

 

St. Therese of Lisieux wrote, “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”   [Story of a Soul]

 

 

The Teresa’s trusted in the Lord and His promises.  Trust is fundamental to loving God, loving others and loving ourselves.  “Linda Taylor was putting her three [little children] to bed.  Suddenly Peggy who had just begun kindergarten, said “Mommy, if the world came to an end, right now …”

 

Linda gulped and said a quick prayer for guidance; “Yes, dear,” she said, “go on.”  Peggy said, “Would I have to take my library book back, or would it be okay to leave it at home?”  Peggy’s innocent question invites us to reflect on how ready we are to meet our maker right now?  (Action, Cycle C, Sunday, Ordinary Time, p.300) 

 

We should prepare for the end of the world, and/or the end of our life, by the way we live our life each day, start today!

 

May God Be Praised!

 

 

 

 

Pray!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.” You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….”

[Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

 

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]

 

 

 

 

A Daily Dose of God

There’s Always a Load Limit 

Dr. John Anderson tells about a cartoon that appeared in the NEW YORKER magazine. Approaching a small bridge plainly marked, "Load Limit 8 tons" was a truck, also marked on its side, "8 tons." When the 8-ton truck was about in the middle of the bridge with the 8-ton limit, a bluebird lighted on the top girder. At that point the bridge gave way and crashed with the truck into the river below, to the obvious surprise of the bluebird. 

 

 The bridge was built as indicated for 8 tons; the truck weighed exactly that. The bridge could hold up under its load limit, but not under 8 tons and one bluebird.

 

 

 

Of course, this story is wonderfully ridiculous. Most bridges could stand up under their load limit and several thousand bluebirds extra. But, to be sure, all bridges have a breaking point somewhere "that point at which the bluebird would be just much too much. But, friends, it really isn't the bluebird that breaks it down. It is the fact that 8 tons are already present.

We all have bluebird troubles, don't we? We are all burdened by the facts of our lives which load us to the point of "load limit." We let little things get the best of us, little bluebirds of nothingness, tiny bluebirds of no importance, but just the thing to bring us down. Every person has a limit and we would do well to watch for the warning signs of one bluebird too many. There is always a load limit.

[Arthur E. Dean Windhorn, Sermons.com]

 

We need to focus on carrying the load that Jesus wants us to carry and if we do that the bluebirds that enter our life will not push us to our “load limit”.   

The advice of St. Francis de Sales can help us, as will, the advice of Blessed Louis Brission, "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them, every day begin the task anew."  “O Jesus, teach us how to make our soul be silent so that You may speak to us.”

[Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS]

 

Remember to spend some time, in silence, listening to God.  Jesus tells us to take His yoke, His yoke is easy.

 

May God Be Praised!

 

Continue to pray, Hear my cry!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.” You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….” [Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]

 

 

 

 

 

A Daily Dose of God

Today I thought I might share a little humor with you, the story is called “God Has Five Aces.”

“In her wonderful collection of poetry called, The Awful Rowing Toward

God, Anne Sexton examines her life like someone in a canoe rowing against the stream of life, encountering hazards along the way, and finally docking at the island of God's home.

The concluding poem in the book is called "The Rowing Endeth." In it she sees herself called by God's great laughter to join him for a game of poker. When the cards are dealt, she is surprised and thrilled. She has a royal straight flush. She will trounce God and win for herself whatever prizes God has brought to the table.  In great excitement she slaps down her cards, claiming her winnings. Nothing can beat this hand!

 

 

But God only laughs, a great, rolling, joyful exuberance that energizeseverything around. In rich good humor, with no malice at all, God throws down his cards. Five aces! That's impossible! But there it is. 

 

 

 

And when Anne loses to God, she knows that really she wins. For God is not stingy with his wealth or his earnings. There are never any losers when they sit at

table with God. God's laughter is always without malice or oneupmanship.

The Gospel parable about the generous landowner reminds us that god’s ways are not our ways, but they should be and that is why we are here on earth.

In spite of our good fortunes or savvy playing skills or sheer hard work, we never really win at the game of life when we play it by our own rules. But if God is bending them in the direction of grace, something wonderful always happens.”

[Wayne Brouwer, Political Religion, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.]

As we continue to pray for an end to the pandemic, see below, take a moment to laugh and remember what St. Juliana of Norwich said, “All will be well ….”

May God Be Praised!

We pray, Hear my cry!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.”  You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….”

[Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

 

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]

 

 

 

 

 

A Daily Dose of God

Remembering the tragedy and the triumph of 9/11 may each of us ponder excerpts from Pope Benedict’s Prayer at Ground Zero (04/20/08).

 

 

 

“O God of love, compassion, & healing …. We ask you in your goodness

to give eternal light & peace
to all who died here—
the heroic first-responders:

our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, & Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men & women who were victims of this tragedy….

 

God of understanding,
Overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
We seek your light & guidance
…. Strengthen us in hope,

… give us the wisdom & courage
To work tirelessly for a world
Where true peace & love reign
Among nations & in the hearts of all.”

(“Forgiveness Has Implications in This Life, the Next”, Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB)

 

 

 

Today reflect on what George Herbert wrote, “He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.”

 

May God Be Praised!

 

 

Continue to pray, Hear my cry!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.”  You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….”

[Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

 

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]

 

 

A Daily Dose of God

Forgiveness does not occur easily or quickly.  When Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, He wasn’t calling us to get hit again – He was calling us to find a way to re-claim our dignity.  Jesus wants us to hold onto our dignity as people crated by God, while we forgive our transgressors.

The parables of the unforgiving servant and the brother of the Prodigal son are “… a warning about the consequences of letting our hearts become hardened; allowing revenge & anger direct our actions & our attitudes!  Forgiveness begins with empathy: it means overcoming our own anger & outrage at the injustice waged against us & focusing our concern, instead, on the person who wronged us & ruptured our relationship with him/her.”

 

It means possessing the humility to face the hurt we have inflicted on others as a result of our insensitivity & selfishness.  But only in forgiving & seeking forgiveness are we able to realize the possibility of bringing healing & new life to a pained & grieving situation.

 

Forgiveness is the currency of heaven.  It doesn't bring reconciliation immediately…. it begins the healing.  Christ calls us to create within our families & communities an environment in which forgiveness is joyfully offered & humbly but confidently sought.  (Connections 09/11/11)  

 

Consider whether or not your eternal destiny hinders on your willingness to forgive while you are on earth?  To offer mercy?  These are not easy questions, but they are worthy of our reflection and consideration. 

 

Maybe this note found on a child in Ravensbruck Concentration Camp can help us in our reflection.  An unknown woman in the Ravensbruck concentration camp wrote this little prayer and pinned it to the dead body of a little girl there. I’d like to share her prayer.

“Oh, Lord,” she wrote, “remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the sufferings they have inflicted on us.  Remember rather the fruits we have bought, thanks to this suffering: our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity; the greatness of heart that has grown out of all of this.  And when they come to judgment, let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness.”

 

Today reflecting on FORGIVENESS offered and accepted is worthy of our time.

 

May God Be Praised!

 

Continue to pray, Hear my cry!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.”  You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….”

[Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

 

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]

 

 

 

 

 

A Daily Dose of God

Today we celebrate The Exaltation of the Holy Cross by using part of Morning Prayer [from September 7, 2020]   The Holy CROSS reminds us of God’s great love for us.  It is “…the ultimate expression of God’s love for the world.” (TSS 09-14-08)  St. Theodorus (the Estudite) said, “With the cross we are freed … [to] clutch on to the strength of salvation.”  St. Leo the Great put it this way, “… the sign of the cross makes Kings (& Queens) of all those reborn in Christ.”  (The Magnificat, 09-2008, pgs. 184-185)  St. Francis deSales wrote, “In life we seek God.  In death we meet God.  In eternity we possess God.”

Let the Cross remind you [and me] that suffering is temporary & death is not the end – let’s live in the knowledge that Jesus will make all things holy [and right] in his heavenly kingdom.

And so we pray: Ant. 2 Come, let us climb the mountain of the Lord.

Canticle: Isaiah 2:2-5

The mountain of the Lord’s dwelling towers above every mountain

All peoples shall come and worship in your presence (Revelation 15:4).

In days to come,

the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest mountain

and raised above the hills.

All nations shall stream toward it;

many peoples shall come and say:

“Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may instruct us in his ways,

and we may walk in his paths.”

For from Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

and impose terms on many peoples.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks;

one nation shall not raise the sword against another,

nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come,

let us walk in the light of the Lord!

All peoples shall come and worship in your presence (Revelation 15:4).

Take a few minutes today and ponder what the cross of Jesus Christ means to you.

    May God Be Praised!

Continue to pray, Hear my cry!  “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.”  You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession.  In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….”

[Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]

Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders.  End this coronavirus scourge.  Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day.  Amen.  [Dcn. George Kelly]