It is one of our self-protective, survival instincts deeply imbedded within us to avoid dying, to avoid surrendering control, to avoid even taking risks.  It takes grace and practice to become free from these instincts, to let go of the fear of losing ourselves, in order to get more relaxed at “letting go and letting God” show us how to live in a way that thinks of the needs of others first, that seeks the common good and justice itself, no matter the personal cost.

Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 1:10-17

Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21+23

M atthew 10:34-42 and 11:1 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (35) For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; (36) and a man's foes will be those of his own household. (37) He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; (38) and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (39) He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. (40) "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. (41) He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. (42) And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." (Matthew 11:1) And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Meditation by Andy Alexander, S.J.

Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;

cease doing evil; learn to do good.

Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,

hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.  – Is. 1

If you find your life, you will lose it,

but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it. – Mt. 10

I saiah makes it so abundantly clear, as Amos did several weeks ago, that great external expressions of devotion don’t impress God.  It isn’t what faith is about.  What matters in our relationship with God is that we act justly, that we actively seek to make things right.  He gives two concrete examples that are almost icons of this kind of faith:  “Hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.”

Similarly, Jesus explains that being a follower of his is not about finding a place of easy, comfortable tranquility – an isolated home among family and friends who love us.  He warns us that to embrace the Lord and his way will inevitably place us in some conflict with people around us – even loved ones.  The central message is that if we try to save ourselves – if self-protection and self-care dominate our lives – we will lose ourselves, we will become caught up in ourselves and become caricatures of ourselves.  But, the mystery when we call “good news” is that the way to find ourselves, that is, to come to become fully ourselves, is to lose our life – to let go, to surrender, to place our trust in God.

We’ve heard this many times. I don’t imagine there are many of us – except for a few very free people – who can say, “That’s what I want and that is how I live.” In fact, it is one of our self-protective, survival instincts deeply imbedded within us to avoid dying, to avoid surrendering control, to avoid even taking risks. It takes grace and practice to become free from these instincts, to let go of the fear of losing ourselves, in order to get more relaxed at “letting go and letting God” show us how to live in a way that thinks of the needs of others first, that seeks the common good and justice itself, no matter the personal cost.  It is only with great grace and much practice that we can learn to spontaneously live heroic lives of self-sacrifice and generosity, freely and joyfully – lives with Jesus and like Jesus.

Readings like today’s, plant the seeds for great desires and deeper prayer: 

Lord Jesus, as you lay out this way to greater life before me, you stir my heart to desire greater freedom and greater love. Please give me what I need to live this way, to love this way. Calm my fears, heal the deep hurts and old wounds. Grant that I might grow in your grace and have the ongoing desire to practice loving more freely today.

Supplementary Reading

Make Time

We are, therefore, Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us -  2 Corinthians 5:20, (NIV)

I t's interesting that many of the miracles Jesus performed weren't planned or scheduled. Oftentimes, they happened when He was interrupted.

Walking down the street, a blind man hollered out, "Jesus! Have mercy! Come over and heal me!" Jesus didn't say, "Don't you know I'm the Son of God? I'm important. I've got a lot to do." No, Jesus stopped what He was doing, went out of His way, and healed the man. Jesus was willing to be inconvenienced to help other people in need.

We have to remember that as believers, we are the hands and feet of Jesus in the earth. We are His ambassadors. We may have a lot on our "to do" lists, but we have to be willing to make time for the people God has placed in our lives. That means not only your friends and family, but people you encounter on a daily basis. Today, keep your heart and mind open because God wants to do something in and through you when you choose to make time for Him.

Heavenly Father, today I commit myself wholeheartedly to Your service. Thank You for choosing me and equipping me to be a blessing to the people around me. Use me for Your glory as I set my love and attention on You today. In Jesus Name. Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

For archive of previous Daily Meditation postings, please visit http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

EL SHADDAI Radio Program:  http://www.eradioportal.com/index.php?p=2&aid=1&sid=50&tid=1

GOD BLESS US ALL!

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