Unless stated otherwise, meditations are provided and written by St. Mary's Faith Formation Director Cary Brown.
Wednesday, July 28
Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."
Matthew 13:44-46
As a Christian, you’ve found the treasure, the pearl of great price.
You’ve caught a glimpse of the tremendous love God has for you. That glimpse may come through the love of another or a spiritual experience during prayer or worship.
You catch a reminder glimpse of that love, of that treasure, every time you glance at a cross. (By the way, are you aware of how many times you see a cross? Church steeples, hanging on a wall, jewelry, in nature, books, etc. Those crosses not intentionally made to be that are the coolest!)
Now that you know where the treasure, the pearl of great price is, what are you willing to do to buy that treasure?
What are you willing to give up in your life to have that treasure? Are you willing to give up some of the time you sit in front of the TV to spend time with God? Are you willing to let go of playing games on the computer to spend time with God? What price are you willing to pay for your treasure?
Wednesday, July 21
The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin.
The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.”
But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.
Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, To root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
Jeremiah 1:1,4-10
Boy, isn’t this so us???!!!
God gives us the awesome gift of his love, of being created by him, of being called by him to be His – but when it comes to us DOING something about it (like sharing that gift with others) we immediately start backpedaling! But, God, I’m too young – But, God, I’m too shy – But, God, I’m too old – But, God, I don’t know how to do that – But, God, I’m too afraid!!! Etc. etc. etc.
Then God very gently tells us to get over ourselves and not to worry. He gives us the words we need, the courage we need – he tells us he is with us always. What more could we ask for? What greater power is there? What greater wisdom is there? What greater love is there?
God touches our mouths also, telling us “See, I place my words in your mouth!” What better words could we have?
We – I – need to remember that God knew me before he formed me in the womb, that I was created in that awesome love that we can’t even begin to comprehend. And then I need to “get over myself” and let him be in charge.
Tuesday, July 20
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Matthew 12:46-50
At first reading, this sounds almost like a slap in the face for Mary and the rest of Jesus’ relatives with her. But actually it is a huge compliment.
Being the physical mother of Jesus is a very important role but Jesus recognizes her for something even more important – doing the will of God. That’s where her true greatness is – in her saying YES to God. She has a very real spiritual relationship with him also – she listens and follows.
So where do I fit in? Can I be counted among his mother and relatives? Would Jesus recognize me for doing the will of God? Would Jesus recognize me for constantly saying YES to God? Would Jesus recognize me for my relationship with him?
Am I even asking to speak with him?
Monday, July 19
Hear what the LORD says:
Arise, present your plea before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice!
Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD, pay attention, O foundations of the earth!
For the LORD has a plea against his people, and he enters into trial with Israel.
O my people, what have I done to you,
or how have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery I released you; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow before God most high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:1-4,5-8
Can you hear God pleading for your attention? Can you hear him reminding you of all he has done for you? Can you hear him wondering why you are so busy with so many other things when he gave you life, and all that you have?
Like Micah, do you find yourself wanting to respond - but not sure how? What do I give God? 'burnt offerings'? 'my first-born'?
God tells us exactly what pleases him: "Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God."
How do we 'walk humbly with God'? How do you walk with your best friend? They have your full attention. You share your life with them - the good, the tough, the funny, the sad, the nitty-gritty - all of it. You ask their advice and you listen. You just like being with them - even in companionable silence. That person knows you WANT to spend time with them, be with them.
Walk humbly with your God.
Friday, July 16
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:1-8
It’s so easy to get hung up on the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law.
The letter of the law says “Don’t work on the Sabbath.” Picking grain was work so the disciples were breaking the law. The spirit of the law says something like: “Don’t work so you have time for God”. They had Jesus himself with them and were taking time for him – and in the process got hungry! Picking a few grains and eating them on the spot was not work in this situation.
The letter of the law says “Go to church on Sunday”. How often are we caught up in the letter of that law – we go to church, we sit through it thinking of everything else but what is happening and go home unchanged and unaffected by what we saw and heard. The spirit of the law says something like: “Come to church to worship Me, to thank Me and praise Me and ask me for what you need. I am God and nothing else can give you what I can and do.” Hearing Scripture, hearing it broken open in the sermon, singing together and praying together should affect us – should touch our hearts so we come out of that building carrying God with us into our everyday lives.
The letter of the law says “Do not kill.” The spirit of the law says something like: “Do not hurt anyone in any way if at all possible – love them instead.” When we look at the spirit of this law, we need to be kind and compassionate to everyone we meet – offering to help, doing the loving thing, speaking kindly instead of gossiping or degrading or ignoring, building up one another instead of tearing them down or undermining them or keeping them in our control.
Where in your life are you following the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law?
Thursday, July 15
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
What are your burdens?
Life gives us some humdingers sometimes! We are affected by the choices of others and those choices can create burdens for us. A man or woman chooses to drive drunk and we are affected by an accident. God didn’t do that. A man or woman chooses to act violently and we are affected. God didn’t do that. People in our society have chosen to put chemicals into our air, our soil, our food and we are affected by cancer and other illnesses. God didn’t do that.
God loves us and does not send us things to harm us. Being love, he can’t do that. Instead he gives us today’s Scripture to reassure us that he is with us in the midst of all situations to help us. He offers us rest.
God goes on to tell us that HIS yoke is easy and HIS burden light. Not so the yokes and the burdens of the world – they get really heavy. But God, in his great love for us, promises to be there for us in the midst of those burdens also.
All we have to do is come to him.
Right now he whispers in your heart to you “Come to me – I’m right here”.
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