Daily Meditation - Tuesday 3JunE 2008 - DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS

[BarbaraTherese]

St. Charles Lwanga & Companions

Mass Readings and Meditation

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Meditation

Mark 12:13-17

In his famous book How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie offers the following advice on building relationships: “Become genuinely interested in other people.”

• The Pharisees and Herodians in this passage seemed to have this advice down pat.
• They talked to Jesus with great respect,
• and they appeared to be very interested in his opinion about paying taxes.
  But their flattery didn’t ring true.
• Jesus knew they were just waiting for him to slip up so they could arrest him.
• They looked friendly,
• but it was just an act.
• As Jesus’ followers, we don’t want to make the same mistake.

• God calls us to be sincere, honest, and open in our relationships—
• even with those we find difficult.
• We can show them as much charity and respect as possible,
• but we should never be fake!

If the Spirit tells you that you need to bring up a problem with someone, try your best to do it sincerely and with humility. You’ll find that your efforts at honesty will actually free you to love that person even more—and it will also help him or her to respect you all the more.

• No matter how sincere we may be, however,
• we may still find it challenging to deal with some people.
• That’s where prayer comes in.
• Instead of complaining and gossiping—as Jesus’ opponents would have done—
• we can take our frustration to the Lord.
  If we count on him for help with so many other things, we can surely trust him with our difficult relationships! He wants to shine his light into every situation we face.
• Is there someone who’s causing you a lot of tension?
• Try interceding, and see what happens.
• As your heart becomes united with Jesus in prayer,
• you may find just the words you need to say the next time you encounter that person.
• Or you may find the wisdom to keep silent.
  Ask Jesus to let you see him or her through his eyes, and he will help you to love them.
• Release this person to God’s care,
• and let his peace fill your heart.
• He has won the victory for us, not just over death but over all the broken places in our lives.
  “Lord, we have all been wounded in our relationships.
  Please take those wounds to the cross with you and heal them in each of us.
  Make us whole again in your love!”

 

[bwhite06517]

Being Ready to go HOME!!!

Several places in scripture talk about about the ‘end-times’. Some people do speculation on when this will be, even though Jesus said:

“Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)

BUT … we still need to be ready. From today’s first reading, we have:

Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Whenever that day comes, we are to be ‘without spot or blemish’!!! But how can that be? By growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ!!!

We are to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. We are to imitate Him. We need to grow in Grace - and we get that Grace through the Sacraments. How can I get rid of my spots and blemishes? By making Confession a regular part of my life!!!

Heavenly Father, we want to be ready to be with you forever - whenever that day comes. We want to be without spot or blemish. Help us to remain strong and steadfast in our faith, to grow in Grace and come closer to God in all that we think, say or do.