Daily Meditation - Wednesday 21May 2008 - THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING THE TRUTH & LIVING THE TRUTH WE CAN GRASP

[BarbaraTherese]

READINGS

MEDITATION

Mark 9:38-40

This time it’s John’s turn to display
the disciples’ general dullness of mind
in contrast to Jesus’ precise spiritual insight.

The special relationship that Jesus had with his chosen apostles prompted John to suppose that the Lord wanted this outsider’s efforts stopped.

And again Jesus had to correct the twelve’s inept grasp of the situation.

• “Do not prevent him.
• There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.
• For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39-40).

The disciples were suspicious of this exorcist because he did not go through them to access Jesus.

• He did not acknowledge their special status as Jesus’ closest men.
• Yet this stranger’s efforts to cast out demons in the name of Jesus were successful,
• while similar previous attempts by the twelve were not (Mark 9:18).
  Understanding that only faith in him
  can overcome the powers of darkness,
  Jesus permitted this extra-apostolic ministry.
• And he patiently told his disciples that any power they had came through him and not them.
• And it was not limited to them alone.

As Catholics, we believe that the fullness of truth resides in our church.

But at the same time,
we also believe that Jesus is not limited today

• any more than he was limited when he walked the earth. Wherever there is true faith in his name,
• he comes in power to work wonders.
• *In fact, it is likely that there are many non-Catholic believers *
• who are more faithful than most Catholics—
• and through whom Jesus works just as powerfully, if not more so.
  There is a big difference between “having” the fullness of truth and “living” whatever truth
  we have grasped!
• When all believers come together as one,
• just as the Father and Son are one,
• then Jesus’ deepest intentions will be fulfilled.

Until then he is at work in his broken body, spreading the gospel through whatever means is at his disposal.

• When all people of faith join in proclaiming the good news,
• the kingdom of darkness diminishes
• and God’s kingdom advances.
• May we all embrace Jesus’ words: “Whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40)!
  “Lord Jesus, who are we to deny the bond
  we share with other believers in your name?
  Come, Lord, and make us all one in faith and truth!”

 

[bwhite06517]

MY PLANS OR GOD’S PLANS?

From our first reading today, James 4:13-17, we have:

Beloved:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”– you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, “If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.” But now you are boasting in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.

James says we are a ‘puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears’. Have you ever walked through a very old graveyard - seen the names and dates on the tombstones. They were born, lived and died. And … we too have been born - and are living - and some day will die (and maybe a hundred / two-hundred / three-hundred years from now, somebody will walk though that graveyard looking at our tombs).

Even today, there will be tragic accidents - people with young families will be killed in automobile crashes, cancer will take the lives of other young adults. Life on earth (even though I do like living - and enjoy this life) - will eventualy end for me and for all. In whatever plans I make, I need to include God - because ultimately, I want to be with him for eternity!!!

 

[BarbaraTherese]

…well said:thumbsup: …“in life we are in death”. The moment we are conceived, we begin to die. Death in fact gives meaning to life…imagine being on this earth living life as you now know it without end, forever and ever. As a tree grows, for example, it changes…and growth means change, something has changed - death for us then is merely a change indicating growth and to a different way of existing. We are in eternity now.
Death gives meaning to life from another angle too…we are journeying towards Heaven and Heaven the human imagination cannot even begin to conceive as to its precise content in unimaginable joy. Alleluia! Amen!
To ponder one’s death and the fact of death, to discuss it, is not at all morbid. The only thing I can be absolutely sure about in my future is that I am destined to die…reality.

1 Corinthians Chapter 2
9 But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.

Well said, BW!!..Blessings and my regards…Barb