Daily Meditation - Saturday 7June 2008 - WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD

[BarbaraTherese]

Saturdays traditionally
dedicated
to
Our Lady

Mass Readings and Meditation

Readings

Meditation

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Meditation

2 Timothy 4:1-8

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

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• No one can challenge these words of Paul’s. He had indeed “competed well” and “finished the race.”
• Just think of his numerous missionary journeys,
• his tireless labor in spreading the gospel,\ and the careful way he built the church.
• Paul definitely earned a crown of righteousness.
  But is that crown reserved only for those who endure hardships and travel thousands of miles to preach Christ crucified?

Today’s Gospel gives us another view.

• This poor widow gave all her money—
• two small coins—to the Temple treasury.
• She probably never preached a word of the gospel or traveled more than a few miles from her home.
• Yet like Paul, she gave generously out of a heroic devotion to God.
• Who can say that her crown wasn’t just as splendid as Paul’s? Who knows?

***Perhaps her love was ***
even greater than the apostles’!

• Scripture tells us that God does not reward us as much for our actions as for what’s behind them.
• There’s nothing we can offer him that he doesn’t already have (Psalm 50:11-12). here
• We can literally give away everything and even become a martyr for the faith,
• but none of these things will make us holy on their own (1 Corinthians 13:3). here
• Only by uniting our works, our hearts, and our minds to the love of Christ can we be transformed.
  God isn’t looking for superstars! It doesn’t matter whether you’re the most energetic person in your parish or whether you are shy and retiring and can’t even imagine preaching the gospel.
• What matters is your relationship with him.
• St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the patroness of the missions, never left her convent,
• yet she is now a beloved and revered doctor of the church.
• Like her, all we need to do is focus on God’s will for us:

** “To do the right and to love goodness,**
** and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).**

“Jesus, I want to live for you.
Help me to see you even in the most ordinary circumstances
of my day,
and to unite everything I do to your heart.
Lord, I love you—help me to love you more!”

 

[bwhite06517]

Be steadfast
Today’s first reading (2 Timothy 4:1-8) has this excerpt:

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.

Does this happen today? Are people not listening to the truth and are diverted to myths?

In the Old Testament, frequently, the people would start out following God - and then be diverted away (and God would raise up a prophet). In this age, it seems to be the same. We have what people call “New Age” religions, we have twists and turns with other philosophys. People read (and trust) their horrorscopes (intended misspelling). Celebrities tout new books, new philosophys.

Some stop proclaiming the difficult aspects of Christianity. Sound doctrines and sound teaching sometimes get watered down. Sometimes it seems like the Ten Commandments have become the “Ten Suggestions”!!!

BUT … God is the same!!! Hebrews 13:8 notes:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hallelujah!!!

Heavenly Father help us to remain steadfast in our love for you and in our trust in you!!!