Reflection for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Can you just stop about Him?
No!

“…they shall know that a prophet has been among them.”

Mark Bocinsky writes to teens and discusses Holy Boldness. He says: Being bold is more than acting without thinking. Being bold is much more than being close-minded, pretending to be tough, and never backing down.

I want to be bold, but I want to live in holy boldness (Acts 4:13). The Apostles, after being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit were bold with the leaders, elders, and scribes as they preached the Gospel even when being told to shut up. “Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, [the leaders, elders and scribes] recognized them as companions of JESUS” There was something different about them. They didn’t seem like exceptional people, but the leaders knew, through their boldness, that they were companions of Jesus. Do people see how we are living and speaking and acting and know that we must be followers of Christ?

Now, so often in the past I have tried to imitate this boldness and fallen flat on my face. You see, in the past I have translated boldness as acting without thinking, and that certainly isn’t boldness: that’s stupidity. If our boldness isn’t united with love, then we’re just being rebels. We must have a reason for our boldness. If we are striving for holy boldness, than we must be united with Christ. The way to holiness is to remain in Him.

Being bold is taking that next step in speaking the truth. Holy boldness, combined with love while being rooted in Christ, will change the world.

Today we hear of Ezekiel’s calling, to go and be a prophet. We see Jesus scorned by the townsfolk He knew since childhood. They couldn’t recognize Him as prophet and Messiah.
Like Ezekiel, we are called to be bold prophets, to speak of God and His way to all we meet. In doing that we provide them with the opportunity to know Jesus. Like Jesus, we must go out and speak the way of life, the Gospel, boldly knowing that some will not accept us.

The key to holy boldness is to be faithful to Jesus’ way. Go out relying on His promises. Be bold and filled with love. In our love we show Jesus’ way and open the door to people’s understanding and acceptance of Him. If told to shut up, respond with the love of Jesus, because that’s the best and boldest way to be His prophets and change the world. Doing all this, they will know a prophet has come.

Reflection for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isn’t life a pain?
Not if you rise up and live!

“Little girl, I say to you, arise!”

Janell King writes about her experience in Malaysia:

At home, I have a painting of a little girl with her arms spread open, her head thrown back, and a smile on her face. On it are the words from the scripture above. I received this painting at a crucial point in my life. It seemed like the weight of the world was pressing me down, determined to crush me. Relatives had passed away, community was tough, school was overwhelming, and I couldn’t seem to connect with God. I felt somewhat dead. When I first saw this painting, I didn’t just read the words…it felt like God was speaking them straight into my spirit like the roar of a lion. I felt something in me awaken.

The last day in Malaysia, I was doing laundry when our contact Janet came out to talk to me. I had received some prophetic words the night before during prayer, and God had given her some more clarity for the things spoken. As she spoke, I was glued to what she was saying. I don’t know if you have ever had those moments where you feel like a complete stranger is peering in to you… reading your story… but it was one of those times. I couldn’t soak in what she was saying fast enough. In the middle of Janet’s conversation, she looked me straight in the eyes, pointed to me, and said “Rise Up!”

Those words continue to echo deep inside of me. I’ve been overwhelmed with all God is doing on the race. So much growth for such a short time. So much challenge in such a short time. Yet, despite the struggles, it’s time to arise and mature and act on my faith. I’ve been praying and praying that God would teach me the path of righteousness. It finally clicked that I know the way! He gave me the Word! He has given me the instructions. He has given me Holy Spirit! It’s time for my own heart to come alive. It’s time to lead others into the kingdom! To the little girl inside of me, longing for more, Rise up!

Jesus didn’t just heal from maladies. He raises us up so that we may live. Our call today is to trust in the Lord who created us for life and for good – to be light. Let us place our trust in Him and rise up, not in drudgery, but filled with life. Let us rise from our slumber because Jesus’ light shines on us. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. We have life and light that will last forever! The author of life will raise us up one day, but we shouldn’t wait. Rise up today and live. Smile. When people ask why, tell them the reason for your joy – Jesus.

Reflection for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Can we make it across?
You bet!!!

“‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’”

Today, a new member of the Body of Christ starts the journey that will teach and guide her throughout her life. This entry into the life of faith, this start on the journey, will give her all the tools she needs to make it across.

Jesus had just finished addressing the crowds and needed to head out. He, and the apostles needed to leave the crowd behind. They decide to cross over.

The disciples, who knew the sea, are panic-stricken when a huge storm hits their boat. They aren’t holding it together at all. They can’t maintain control in front of the fierce storm. They’re loosing it.

What a wonderful Gospel for us on this day. What a wonderful set of readings. Each one points to the journey Callie Elizabeth begins today with Jesus at her side.

In baptism we cross over. We move from one side to the other like Jesus and the disciples were doing on that boat. We move from life defined as a beginning and an end to life defined as a beginning with no end. Our life is grounded in the promise of everlasting happiness regardless of the storms that beset us.

In baptism we are separated from the crowd. We are differentiated from the ordinary and are set apart for the extraordinary. We are made witnesses, not to the desires of the crowd, or the whim of the moment, but to way of Jesus.

Of course we will face our storms in life. There will be bumpy times, sad times, struggles. But we are made strong by the reason of our baptism. We are given something so essential, the strength that comes to us by grace, by our inclusion in the life of Jesus. We are given the full support of the entire body of Christ. In turn, we offer our strength to them.

In the storm we are given the choice to lose it or be saved. There is no cool, safe ledge on which to perch as spectators. There are no bleachers from which to enjoy the lightning and thunder, the waves and breakers of the storm.

In the baptism we have all entered, into which Callie Elizabeth enters today, we are made witnesses, prophets, and the people of God. We have to sail through life and its storms. Baptism makes us not just sailors, but sailors and saints.

Because of baptism, because of our inclusion in the body of Christ, because we choose to live this life, we will make it across. You bet!!!