Camphor tree at the monastery lake walk

 

I will shake the dust from my feet and go to preach the Word of God in another place

Acts 13:44-52 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.” The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against themand went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia.Sing to the LORD a new song,for he has done wondrous deeds;His right hand has won victory for him,his holy arm.R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD has made his salvation known:in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulnesstoward the house of Israel.R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia.All the ends of the earth have seenthe salvation by our God.Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;break into song; sing praise.R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R. Alleluia.

Reading II
1 Jn 3:1-2
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.

Gospel Jn 14:7-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a timeand you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,and will do greater ones than these,because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

The first reading speaks to me especially this morning. The disciples spoke the Word and they were violently abused. They followed the teaching of Christ and simply shook the dust off of their feet and went to the next place to spread the Good News. I have a love of the life in Christ over all other things. It makes sense to be filled with compassion and giving. If anyone does not want to receive that Word of the Lord there is a peaceful loving response and yet at the same time the effort is not wasted. The disciples do not stay and continue with a group that has rejected them. They do not disagree or argue. They continue on the journey and path that Jesus had taught them. They followed the instruction that Christ very specifically gave them when they were sent out to preach the Good Word. The message was if there was a rejection of this light and life the disciples were to shake the dust off their feet and move to the next place to share the Good News.

I believe that God has called me to evangelize and spread the way of Jesus, of light and love and the eternal way. I feel blessed to be able to live a life consecrated to God. I know that my life has been filled with joy and gifts and the way of the cross and Christ is at the center of my life. Where I am on this earth to preach the Word of God and what worldly goods I possess are little compared to the rewards of being a child of God. I have every faith and trust that when I follow the words of Jesus and shake the dust off of my feet that Christ is within me and at my side and around me and all that is my future is in Christ. That is all that I require in my life. I have found that when I follow the will of God first all else falls into place.

I have come to know that there are struggles in life. I do not see myself as different from anyone else in that we all have our crosses or struggles and perhaps how some of us differ is in how we carry them. I have embraced whatever burdens that have been given me and found that I have grown and been given more gifts. I rejoice in the moment of this day, the bright sun, my good health, the delicious breakfast that I just had, the safe and comfortable room where I am sitting writing this. I have been given many gifts and for me the greatest joy is being able at this time in my life to flower and share those gifts with others and in my actions to share the love of Christ that is the center of my being and my fullest joy and purpose.

In the gospel reading, Jesus has said to simply ask God for whatever is needed. My prayers have been throughout the day and continue to be an ongoing way of life in prayer that is filled with an internal sense of the presence of God in all that I am and all that I hear and see. I believe that any thought or feeling or action that I may have that is not loving is not of God. I pray to see and greet the God in all and rejoice when my prayers are answered daily. I ask the Lord today for the continued gift of this belief and light that has been a blessing that I have the highest gratitude for and hold as my richest treasure in this life's journey. Thanks be to God for this day and all of the blessings that have come with it.