Today, choose to bless your future. Choose to declare what God says. As you align your words with His Word, you're setting your future up for success. You're preparing your way for victory, and you will fulfill the destiny He has planned for you!

Monday in the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c

Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14

M atthew 17:22-27 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, (23) and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed. (24) When they came to Caper'na-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the tax?" (25) He said, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?" (26) And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. (27) However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."

Meditation by Maryanne Rouse

T oday is the Feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, to her family, Edith Stein. Stein was born in 1891 to a German orthodox Jewish family. In her teen years, she left her Jewish roots and professed to be an atheist. Some time after that, the study of philosophy and the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila are credited with her conversion to Roman Catholicism.

In 1933 as Hitler was coming to power, she joined the Carmelites and made final vows in 1938. In order to protect her from the Nazis who were arresting all Jews, even converts like herself, she was sent to Holland where Jewish Christians were somewhat protected until the bishops spoke out against the persecution of the Jews. To retaliate, the Nazis arrested all Jewish-Christians including St. Teresa and her sister Rosa. She was sent to Auschwitz in 1942 and died in the gas chambers there. In 1999, she was named co-patron of Europe along with Bridget of Sweden and Catherine of Siena.

What an adventurous faith life! From Orthodox Jew to atheist to Roman-Catholic nun to martyr’s death to patron of Europe! There is much to admire in someone who continues to search for her truth no matter where it took her—even to death in a gas chamber. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is again exploring with His disciples their responsibility to the State. Rather than risk a run-in with civil authorities until His time for that final encounter had arrived, Jesus sent Peter off to fish for the tax that was due and indeed Peter found twice what was owed in the mouth of the first fish that was caught. In fact, Jesus avoided negative encounters with civil authorities, even to the end when Pilate said the famous words: “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.” And then, Pilate buckled under to the pressure of the religious authorities who most feared the message of Jesus and handed Him over to be scourged and ultimately crucified.

St. Teresa Benedicta and Pilate stand in stark contrast to one another. She stood with the truth as she came to know it; he refused to use the authority he had and succumbed to the political pressure that resulted in the horrid death of Jesus. 

Truth in our lives: Are we running to it or away from it? Are we settling for sound bytes when living in truth demands becoming more informed despite the complexity of the issues of today? The upcoming election presents a call to prepare ourselves responsibly for casting informed votes based on reading, reflecting, prayer, and reasoned input wrapped with the values that propelled Jesus and His daughter, St. Benedicta of the Cross.

There’s still time.  Let’s get to it!

Supplementary Reading

Blessing Your Future

And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! -  James 3:10  

Do you know you have the power to bless or curse your future? Your words have tremendous power. If you go around saying things like "I don't have what it takes. I'm so clumsy; I can't get anything right. I'm so undisciplined. I'll probably never lose this weight," you just cursed your future. No, we've got to be extremely careful about what we allow to come out of our mouths. Realize your words are setting the direction for your life. Let me ask you today, which direction are you going? Are you declaring good things? Are you blessing your life, speaking words of faith over your future? Or, are you going around saying negative things like "Nothing good ever happens to me. I'll probably never get out of debt. I'll never break this addiction?"

Today, choose to bless your future. Choose to declare what God says. As you align your words with His Word, you're setting your future up for success. You're preparing your way for victory, and you will fulfill the destiny He has planned for you!

Father God, I choose to speak blessing over my future. I choose to speak life over my future. Thank You for equipping me with everything I need to fulfill the destiny You have prepared for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

For past gospel meditations, you may visit the following:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=216458741502#!/home.php?sk=mynotes

http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com