-I doubt that any of us want to hear this said at a eulogy for a deceased loved one: “He(she) died with his(her) potential intact.” We were not put on earth to coast – being too comfortable limits our growth. God is always with us in scary and uncomfortable places. It would be sad to come to the end of our life and reflect on what we could have done with our life if we had taken some risks – risks that could have advanced God’s kingdom on earth. We have to get out of our comfort zones and stretch to grow. It seems that we tend to be at our best when we are a bit anxious, have a healthy fear and depend on God. It is during these times that we can become stronger, wiser and more confident. “My God, I don’t understand scary times but I trust in you.”
-God gives each of us a present called “Today.” What are we going to do with this gift – live purposefully and help others or waste it? Our life is like a mist – here for a moment and then gone. Jesus’ instruction to the world is “Follow Me.”
3 Questions—
What does this mean for me?
What could it mean to be a follower of Jesus?
What should it mean to be a follower of Jesus?
-Jesus came to live among us and stir up the gifts of God within us – to be the best that we can be – to be extraordinary in the routines of our life. We will be judged by God on how we have answered these questions and how we have lived our lives accordingly. Jesus asks us to give to others what is in our hearts. He wants us to oppose the dominance of false gods and support the prominence of God. He wants us to avoid pessimism and cynicism and oppose injustice in the world by living the Beatitudes.
-“The last shall be first and the first last” – the upside down world of Jesus who turns everything around. Think of the Olympics and the person finishing last in a race gets a gold medal! Jesus expands the concept of family to include everyone. We are a community where we belong to one another and to the Father.
– “Our Father.” We share our possessions and are called to serve. The Gospels always call us to go beyond comfort – to reach out to others. We let the Lord into our lives to help us help others. If we read the Gospels and they do not seem like ‘good news’ to us – read them again. Imagine you are reading the Gospels as one who is weak and lowly – then perhaps we can get the Gospel message. May we all find holiness in loving God and our neighbor.
-People are often unhappy because they wish for something they don’t have or wish to be different than they are. Focusing on what is right in your life and not taking your life for granted is helpful. “This is the day the Lord has made.” Rejoice in it. We never come to a place in our lives where we are problem free. Find joy in the simple things of life that surround us. We have sufficient grace from God to deal with the joys or the burdens of this day. Embrace the place where you are with the love of God to sustain us.
-How do we handle this thing called “Worry”? Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair – doing something but going nowhere. Jesus said we should linger in His presence to handle worry and stress. The word “worry” comes from an old English noun, “to strangle”. Indeed, worry strangles our joy, pressures us and prevents us from being peaceful. Worry changes our disposition and frequently makes our handling a situation worse. We all need to come to a place of peace and rest in God – praise God in the midst of our fears and concerns and trust Him. Worship, prayer and praise all draw us close to God. Thank God that He is bigger than all our troubles, entrust our concerns to God with patience and know into the depths of our being that He is there for us and will sustain us with His strength.
-The world was called into existence by God. God is the source and God transcends all that is. God is both the creator and the Lord of Human History. There is an intimate relationship between God and we – His people. Jesus lived a full human life with dignity. He is active in the world and active in the lives of all individuals. God did not want to be a stranger to humanity. He revealed Himself to us so we can know, love and follow Him. He took the initiative to be with us so we could love Him. The more we know God the more intimacy we have with Him. When we pray we talk to God: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” God wants to share His divine life with us – forever.
-Lord, where are you? It seems at times that God may not come to our assistance when we want Him to – but He always comes to us and is always there. Sister Miriam Therese Winter wrote this inspirational song Joy is like the Rain” whose words capture the healing presence of Christ in our lives.
“ I saw raindrops on the window, Joy is like the rain. Laughter runs across my pain, Slips away and comes again, Joy is like the rain. I saw clouds upon a mountain, Joy is like a cloud. Sometimes silver, sometimes gray, always sun not far away. Joy is like a cloud. I saw Christ in wind and thunder, Joy is tried by storm. Christ asleep within my boat, whipped by winds, yet still afloat, Joy is tried by storm. I saw raindrops on the river, Joy is like the rain. Bit by bit the river grows, till all at once it overflows, Joy is like the rain.”
Jesus is Joy!
May Jesus, our Joy, fill all the hearts and minds of the St. James Parish Family