We are rowing on the raft of life.
Jesus is the cox who directs our voyage.
Only he can see the way ahead.
God's Spirit gives us the breath in our lungs
and the strength in our arms.
The Father's love is the ocean on which we float
and the horizon to which we are steered.
Sunday, 31 March 2019
About the choosing of a king - Saul or David
Honestly, you will never find a better 'good read', than the four books of the Old Testament, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.
Believe me, all human life is there!
The story of the choosing of a King starts at 1 Samuel, chapter 8.
(The reasons Samuel gives, v 10-22, for not having a king are hilarious, and as true today as they were then!)
First of all, the people chose Saul!
He was tall and handsome and looked like a King.
Bad choice!!
Then, God pointed them to David.
He was small, the youngest of his family,
definitely the least obvious choice!
Small boy, heart of a King!!
Believe me, all human life is there!
The story of the choosing of a King starts at 1 Samuel, chapter 8.
(The reasons Samuel gives, v 10-22, for not having a king are hilarious, and as true today as they were then!)
First of all, the people chose Saul!
He was tall and handsome and looked like a King.
Bad choice!!
Then, God pointed them to David.
He was small, the youngest of his family,
definitely the least obvious choice!
Small boy, heart of a King!!
He was a hero in so many ways -
and weak, in his failings and failures,
in so many other ways.
And yet, he was the beloved king -
because of his love, his humanity
and, ultimately, his humility.
God knew that the people expected a Saul
and not a David.
Life and history, as it pans out in those books,
showed whose choice was right!
and weak, in his failings and failures,
in so many other ways.
And yet, he was the beloved king -
because of his love, his humanity
and, ultimately, his humility.
God knew that the people expected a Saul
and not a David.
Life and history, as it pans out in those books,
showed whose choice was right!
About choosing Jesus
Jesus had to be born into a humble life
so that people could choose him for who he was
not what he had.
PS
I always feel that this must be something of a problem for, say, very rich, very beautiful or very important people. Do people 'want them' for who they are or what they possess?
I have to admit that this has not been an issue for me!
The people who have put up with me for the long, and even the short,
in some cases, haul must actually like me or they would never have stayed the course!!
so that people could choose him for who he was
not what he had.
PS
I always feel that this must be something of a problem for, say, very rich, very beautiful or very important people. Do people 'want them' for who they are or what they possess?
I have to admit that this has not been an issue for me!
The people who have put up with me for the long, and even the short,
in some cases, haul must actually like me or they would never have stayed the course!!
Monday, 4 March 2019
Some sad images
There is a baby dying of starvation.
Are there no hands reaching out?
An old lady is dying of loneliness.
Are there no neighbours stepping in?
Are there no hands reaching out?
An old lady is dying of loneliness.
Are there no neighbours stepping in?
About sitting in prayer
When I am sitting in prayer, I try to remember that I have
You, Father surrounding me,
you, Jesus beside me,
and you, Holy Spirit within me.
You, Father surrounding me,
you, Jesus beside me,
and you, Holy Spirit within me.
Sunday, 10 February 2019
About 'Our Father' - the most amazing phrase in the whole of the Bible
This, for me, is those two words spoken by Jesus in answer to the request from his closest followers to teach them how to pray. They are the simplest of words, known throughout the world as the start of the Lord's Prayer or the 'Our Father.'
It is so easy for us to take them for granted but when you really think about them there is so much there to ponder.
First of all, there is the simple word 'Our'. Somehow we know that Jesus is not simply referring to the particular group of people who were with him at that particular moment. We just know that it is for all people, throughout all time and in every place and not just for those brief thirty-three years of his life spent in the Palestine of his time.
As to the keyword 'Father,' it is implicit in the prayer that Jesus is addressing God, his Father in heaven, the God who is our Maker who created and holds the universe in existence. So for Jesus to combine all of us with him in relationship to his and, therefore, our Father too is truly amazing.
How comforting, consoling and strengthening is that. No matter what are our failings and failures, our despair and grief, our poor attempts to do better, God the Father is the Father of Jesus and OUR FATHER too. We are all linked to Jesus as his adopted brothers and sisters in the family of God forever.
As to the keyword 'Father,' it is implicit in the prayer that Jesus is addressing God, his Father in heaven, the God who is our Maker who created and holds the universe in existence. So for Jesus to combine all of us with him in relationship to his and, therefore, our Father too is truly amazing.
How comforting, consoling and strengthening is that. No matter what are our failings and failures, our despair and grief, our poor attempts to do better, God the Father is the Father of Jesus and OUR FATHER too. We are all linked to Jesus as his adopted brothers and sisters in the family of God forever.
Wednesday, 6 February 2019
About being a 'finger nails' Catholic
There were times in my life, particularly when I was a student, when I was quite happy to call myself a 'finger-nails' Catholic', just about 'hanging on in there'.
I would 'religiously' find a church and go to Mass every Sunday, as I have all my life, barring times of illness or, in recent years, whilst on touring holidays.
This has always been from choice and never from the fear of 'going to hell' when I die. However, the one thing I can say with certainty is that I have never wanted to let go.
It is my safety net, my salvation. It holds me together.
Also, I do love it!
I would 'religiously' find a church and go to Mass every Sunday, as I have all my life, barring times of illness or, in recent years, whilst on touring holidays.
This has always been from choice and never from the fear of 'going to hell' when I die. However, the one thing I can say with certainty is that I have never wanted to let go.
It is my safety net, my salvation. It holds me together.
Also, I do love it!
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