phototaken june 2005butterfliesemerging

 

july 14 2006

Hos 14:2-10 Thus says the LORD:Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words,and return to the LORD; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. Assyria will not save us,nor shall we have horses to mount;We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’to the work of our hands;for in you the orphan finds compassion.” I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.“I am like a verdant cypress tree”—because of me you bear fruit! Let him who is wise understand these things;let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk,but sinners stumble in them.

Ps 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (17b) My mouth will declare your praise.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.Thoroughly wash me from my guiltand of my sin cleanse me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart,and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
A clean heart create for me, O God,and a steadfast spirit renew within me.Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,and a willing spirit sustain in me.O Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.

Mt 10:16-23 Jesus said to his Apostles:“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over,do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Jesus is sending the Apostles "like sheep in the midst of wolves." To be a disciple and messenger of Jesus means to also be a target a type of prey for the part of the world that is predator wolves. The Apostles are to not worry when arrested for spreading the Word but to let the Spirit speak. The will and ways of God will speak for them and protect them.

You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. To be Christian is to be persecuted for following Christ also. Speaking the truth and stand up to injustices brings out a reaction from those who would much rather persecute a brother or sister than listen and change.

To evangelize and spread the Word is a part of the call to discipleship. The call to be Christian brings with it the grace of the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit there is the strength, courage and wisdome to follow the will of God through any persecution, trial or hardship with steadfast faith and a loving heart. It is miracle, mystery and blessing. A meekness of nature with unselfish giving love and at the same time the courage of a lion in the face of adversity. A part of being Christian means being willing to accept the role of sheep amidst wolves and live that with love and openness to where God's will is in the daily choices.

I have a great confidence that the Lord is there for me each day of the journey. Each step in a new land, each trial, each new town brings challenges and opportunities to live life fully in the Spirit of Christ. To prefer all things to Christ. The way of love and life is light and strength all else is dust.

When confronted with evil, hate, trial I remember to shake the dust off of my sandals before going to the next town. This is a way of cleansing my heart and remaining lovingly present to others and not carrying the trials of the last town into a new town. I pray that the Word of God and God's will may be fully present to me this day and that in my acts of this day I may be truly Christian. I pray for the courage of conviction to speak the truth in God without counting the cost but with faith that God will give me whatever I need.