The Law of the Prophets Exodus 17:1-7

Reading this passage the first thing that came to my mind was this was just and introduction to the 10 commandments but in reality it is so much more.  The Lord tells us if we really are His followers, if we are truly just, others would admire us and want to join us.

If we really followed the commandments of God and didn't try to live only the letter of the law and then only the barest minimum, we wouldn't need to evangelize.  If we didn't listen to clever people who convince us that God didn't really mean what He said when He said do not kill.  We convince ourselves that racism isn't really stealing or that because we really want to our adultery was okay.  We  even tell ourselves that because we are "saved" we no longer have to worry about sin.

In Matt 5 we read whoever breaks these commandments or teaches other to do so will be called least in heaven

Lord, how often must I forgive my brother? Matt 18:21-35

I imagine that when St. Peter asked our Lord if he had to forgive his brother seven times that he thought he was being generous.  How often do we ask the same question of our Lord?  How often do we ask that question after we ourselves have gossiped or told a lie for the thousandth time?

Forgive, or you won't be forgiven.  Jesus says this over and over.  When we pray the Our Father we tell God, forgive me only as I forgive others.  Do I only forgive those whom it benefits me to forgive, someone I need something from?  Do I forgive only those whom I feel really ask for my forgiveness?  Do I assume that because I am "saved" I no longer need to forgive?  At times I can say yes to all these things.

One of the people I find hardest to forgive is myself.  Certain mistakes I hold against myself and I have to ask the Lord to help me forgive myself just as I need His help to forgive others.  Holding on to grudges doesn't do you any good.  Forgiveness frees you up to love, it gives you space in your heart.  You don't have to keep letting people hurt you but until you forgive them, can you ever actually be free of them?

What will it profit a man

If we try to improve our lives by not feeding the poor, caring for the elderly, or helping those in chains, our efforts will come to nothing.  I am not saying that we won't have bit more change in our pockets for a time, that may happen, I am saying it will do us no good.  Becoming miserly will change who we fundamentally are.  We become someone who worships money, not God.  We may still go to church as often and sing as loud, and read the Bible as much but what we do will be hollow.

Think of the difference between these two worlds, one where everyone is out for themselves versus one where we all love and care for each other.  One is hell on earth and the other the Kingdom of God on earth.  Worshipping money means not depending on God for our life.  We are so poor and so finite we can not see into the next minute, shouldn't we depend on God who is is all knowing and all loving?  Put your life in the hands of God and do not be afraid.  He is there and He will,lead you.  It may not be where you thought you wanted to go but it is where you need to go to end up in heaven your final and best home.

Lazarus Luke 16:19-31

I have often wondered, the rich man obviously recognized Lazarus and knew his name so he knew Lazarus in life.  What did the rich man think of Lazarus when he saw him?  Did he think that Lazarus should get a job or say to himself if Lazarus would just get off drugs or alcohol he would help him?

Jesus doesn't say why Lazarus was poor, he doesn't even say that the rich man was condemned because he didn't help Lazarus, he does say that later Matt 25 :31-46, he says only that the rich man enjoyed the good things in life.  Does merely being wealthy condem The rich man?  I think it is more complicated than that.  Abraham tells the rich man that his brothers have the law and Moses.  So following God is the key and if he had followed God, he would have helped Lazarus.

Servant Leadership Matt 23 1:12

Today's Gospel is one that I hold dear to my heart as a Franciscan.  Being small, one of the minores as Francis called them, is the cornerstone of what he taught.  See, to be small, unimportant, and humble.  Lead as a job and not for your own aggrandizement.  As a leader you are the servant of those you lead, you are in fact then beneath them.

Loving Christ is our goal as Christians and in this world we can only love Him in others.  We serve Christ by serving Him in other people.  How can we serve Him in those other people if we are lording over them?  Live to serve and you can't really go wrong.  Serve and others will follow you.  Love and others will love you.  Do all this in Christ and you will serve Him and teach others to do the same.  Love.

Listen to Him Matt :17 1-9

"This is my son, in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him".  It funny when I read this passage I put myself in Peter's place.  He is running around trying to do the right thing, he wants to build tents.  That is what we so often do, we want to do something, anything for God to "win"Himover or to impress those around us.  We don't listen to Him.

The next thing Jesus says is to "Rise, and do not be afraid".  If we are with Him we should not be afraid to do His will.  We need to do two things, listen and don't be afraid.  We listen by making quiet time to be with the Lord and not talking.  We also listen by being alert at all times to the pro tings God sends us.  It could be a series of events through a day that lets us know that God wants us to do a task for Him.  It can be the stranger you see walking down the street crying who needs your help.  We have to lrelax and listen, don't get so caught up in doing something that we do our own will and. It His.

Rise and do not be afraid.  Rise, I love that.  He will help us rise if we are not afraid to do His will.  We have to be sure it is His will, or we will be building the tents.  If God never asks you to do something outside your comfort zone, you may not be listening.  For can we rise if we stay where we are?

Repent!

Repent is something we think of being yelled at us by some fire and brimstone preacher, but in reality it is a call of mercy and a reminder.  In the readings for Mass today God reminds us that it is never too late to repent and that we all need to repent continuously everyday of our lives.

None of us is so Holy that we can forget repentance.  We all get angry, we all say foolish things, and we all fail in a hundred different ways each day.  God understands this and only asks that we repent of our failings, turn back to Him, and try to not sin in the future.  He is so loving and He truly loves and understands us.

He wants us, he so wants us that no matter what we have done and how we have lived our lives up to this moment He desires us still and wants to give us His mercy, all we have to do is ask for it.  Repent, turn to Him and do our best to sin no more.

He also reminds us that no matter how righteously we have lived us to this moment, if we reject Him he gives us our freedom and allows us to walk away from Him.  If we reject Him, turn away from Him and do evil, we are lost.

Repent, believe in the Gospel on a daily basis and times a minute by minute basis.  He wants us and will welcome you home.