water plants this week

 

july 4 2006

Am 3:1-8; 4:11-12 Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you, over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt: You alone have I favored, more than all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your crimes. Do two walk together unless they have agreed? Does a lion roar in the forest hen it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den unless it has seized something? Is a bird brought to earth by a snare when there is no lure for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground it out catching anything? If the trumpet sounds in a city will the people not be frightened? If evil befalls a city, has not the LORD caused it? Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. The lion roars—who will not be afraid! The Lord GOD speaks—who will not prophesy! I brought upon you such upheaval as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah: you were like a brand plucked from the fire; Yet you returned not to me, says the LORD. So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel! and since I will deal thus with you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

Ps 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8R. (9a) Lead me in your justice, Lord.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;no evil man remains with you;the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
You hate all evildoers; you destroy all who speak falsehood; The bloodthirsty and the deceitful the LORD abhors.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
But I, because of your abundant mercy, will enter your house; I will worship at your holy temple in fear of you, O LORD.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.

2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15
Brothers and sisters:
As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also. For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their needs, so that their abundance may also supply your needs,that there may be equality.
As it is written: Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.

Mt 8:23-27 As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying,“Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

The first reading is God speaking to the people of Israel who have not returned to God after having been saved from "the fire" and chosen from amongst all of the people as God's chosen ones. They have not returned to God and God warns them to prepare to meet their God. Also that there are consequences for breaking God's laws.

The second reading is advising me to give to others that by being poor I will never have less. Jesus is our teacher and model in this. By having more I will not have more but less becaue I have failed to share. By sharing there is a great gaining of blessings and a wealth of shared love. By hoarding and greed there is a closing off from others and loss of opportunities for communion with others and shared love and life.

The gospel story is repeated from about two weeks ago. Jesus is in the boat on the sea and in the midst of a great storm is awakened by the disciples who plead with him for protection. He speaks and the winds and seas are calmed instantly. The disciples are in awe of Jesus. They had believed but this experience has surprised them.

I suppose that if they had great faith in Jesus then they would have known that he was divine and able to perform these signs. When we are with people and live with them many times it is easy to forget their gifts and abilities and when a situation arises and they use a gift, there is a surprised reaction. There are miracles and wonders of God living with me in those who are in my home. I pray today to have the vision to see their gifts and the love to nurture and cherish them. So many times it is the situation as in the reading for this coming sunday, that a prophet is not appreciated in their own country. I need to remember to give love and encouragement to those around me the most often and not become dulled to their gifts and needs.

A colleague last week said that one criticism takes something in the order of 16 positive comments to counterbalance so the person criticized can get back to being in a good state. It is a large difference. It means more positive acts that I need to do more often with those I encounter. An occasional good act or smile or comment clearly is not enough for the support that others need. There is much written on the aspect that in order to have good health people need support from those in their lives. How we should give each other support on a daily basis is not an aspect that has been widely written about. We have written about the problems more than the solutions it seems. I like the button that says if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. I pray today to be an active part of the solution.