Daily Meditation - Thursday 6th. December - Living in Faith.........all Posters and Posts very welcome!

[BarbaraTherese]

If anyone would like to Post sharing their thoughts on this meditation and the Readings for today, or perhaps ask questions etc. , please go ahead and do so and very very welcome…all posters and posts are very welcome indeed…

Meditation
Matthew 7:21,24-27

“Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

What is the will of the Father in heaven for you? Is he calling you to a deeper faith—to humbly believe in his mercy and love even in the midst of a trial? It is true that this kind of faith involves listening to God, but it also involves listening to those whom God has sent to help you. …for full text go to
wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=12&day=06&year=2007&x=6&y=4…

Reading 1
Is 26:1-6

On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:

“A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.”

Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel
Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

 

[ncjohn]

Gospel
Mt 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

How often I’ve seen people try to use this passage, along with the passage about the narrow gate, to try to exclude people and show essentially that if someone fails in keeping the commandments they are going to hell.

In contrast I find this to be the affirmative statement of Jesus telling us that those who truly call on him in faith will enter the Kingdom. Rather than being about what we DON’T do, it’s about what we DO do…in faith!

When we discover the truth of the all loving and merciful God, we cannot help but act like the ardent lover, doing everything we can think of to please the beloved. We will go out of our way to find the things that God desires, and we will be attentive to those He puts in our path to fulfill His plan. We will indeed be desirous of building our lives on the rock of His love.

For whatever reason, others will miss that soft and gentle whisper in their ears. They may just not yet be ready; they may just not be listening closely enough; or their hearts may just be hardened by pride or sin. They may for cultural reasons, or even out of some inner sense of need, be calling “Lord, Lord” but are not hearing the answer and thus not responding to the love being offered.

Another passage describes such people as complaining “did we not prophesy in your name and eat at your table?” But like so many in our pews, they were at the banquet but oblivious to the host, proclaiming their vision of God to others but not truly being present to God. Calling “Lord, Lord” but doing so out of habit, or maybe out of fear–a kind of “fire insurance”.

Unfortunately, it often seems as if trying to explain the experience of falling into God’s arms to someone who hasn’t experienced it is almost sure to get one the kind of look usually reserved for those claiming to have seen UFO’s or to “hear voices”. And to be fair, explaining something that is really beyond words or description is probably best not attempted. Instead, I know I was drawn by the peace exuded by some who had had such an experience and who didn’t need to say a word. Now if I can just learn that just because I have words I don’t necessarily have to use them.

Peace to you Barb,

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Thank you very much for the contribution, John

NC John:

How often I’ve seen people try to use this passage, along with the passage about the narrow gate, to try to exclude people and show essentially that if someone fails in keeping the commandments they are going to hell.

In contrast I find this to be the affirmative statement of Jesus telling us that those who truly call on him in faith will enter the Kingdom. Rather than being about what we DON’T do, it’s about what we DO do…in faith!

I think it is also about not passing judgement. If not all who say “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Lord’s Kingdom than perhaps it follows that those who don’t just might enter His Kingdom. “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold”. Many of Jesus’s parables centre on a person who was regarded in His day as lost to God, pointing out that in fact they were beloved by God. Perhpas this still applies today!!!

When we discover the truth of the all loving and merciful God, we cannot help but act like the ardent lover, doing everything we can think of to please the beloved. We will go out of our way to find the things that God desires, and we will be attentive to those He puts in our path to fulfill His plan. We will indeed be desirous of building our lives on the rock of His love.

Very true! Thomas Merton speaks of what he calls an “Easter experience” in which there is a transition from following The Lord because it is our duty and out of a sort of servile fear knowing we must do our duty and also avoid sin…to following The Lord with great joy and out of love. We can still fail, stumble and sin…but our immediate reaction to our own weakness is to cast ourselves into the Arms of Mercy as beggars.

For whatever reason, others will miss that soft and gentle whisper in their ears. They may just not yet be ready; they may just not be listening closely enough; or their hearts may just be hardened by pride or sin. They may for cultural reasons, or even out of some inner sense of need, be calling “Lord, Lord” but are not hearing the answer and thus not responding to the love being offered.

All sorts of possibilities, huh, John! And at times I may wander into one…or into another. This is the backwards and then forwards steps, the ups and downs on the spritiaul journey.

Another passage describes such people as complaining “did we not prophesy in your name and eat at your table?” But like so many in our pews, they were at the banquet but oblivious to the host, proclaiming their vision of God to others but not truly being present to God. Calling “Lord, Lord” but doing so out of habit, or maybe out of fear–a kind of “fire insurance”.

Sometimes, I must admit, I wonder if what is being spoken about in the homily, is really firing people to a Love of God…to a truly spiritual way of living. It does seem to me at times that these sorts of homilies are left to retreats and those who can afford and have the time to go on such retreats. It does seem to me that homilies from the pulpit have one agenda…and retreats another and never the twain shall meet, when both are of vital importance to growth.

Unfortunately, it often seems as if trying to explain the experience of falling into God’s arms to someone who hasn’t experienced it is almost sure to get one the kind of look usually reserved for those claiming to have seen UFO’s or to “hear voices”. And to be fair, explaining something that is really beyond words or description is probably best not attempted. Instead, I know I was drawn by the peace exuded by some who had had such an experience and who didn’t need to say a word. Now if I can just learn that just because I have words I don’t necessarily have to use them.

The Lord has blessed you, John - and richly.

Peace to you too, my brother…and thanks again for the contribution…Barb

 

[Joysong]

ncjohn:

Unfortunately, it often seems as if trying to explain the experience of falling into God’s arms to someone who hasn’t experienced it is almost sure to get one the kind of look usually reserved for those claiming to have seen UFO’s or to “hear voices”.

How true!

And to be fair, explaining something that is really beyond words or description is probably best not attempted. Instead, I know I was drawn by the peace exuded by some who had had such an experience and who didn’t need to say a word. Now if I can just learn that just because I have words I don’t necessarily have to use them.

Your sharing, always so helpful, reminded me of my own conversion. It happened in church simply observing the faces of people coming back from Holy Communion. It broke my heart that I couldn’t receive Jesus, and that pain literally moved me to turn my life around.

Carole