You may try to think of what to eat, but maybe you're not sure what will hit the spot. Spiritual hunger works the same way. You may feel a restlessness or unsettledness, but you can't quite figure out what will satisfy it. You may try to fill that need with other things—food, addictions, people—but only God can fill that hunger.

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Hosea 14:2-10

Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9; 12-13, 14+17

M atthew 10:16-23 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (17) Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, (18) and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. (19) When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; (20) for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (21) Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; (22) and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (23) When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

Meditation by Mike Cheney

H ow can I be so stupid? I find that I say this to myself much too often. I am fortunate in having a loving and forgiving God. He does not punish us as our failures might warrant. I am well aware of my weaknesses and sins. I feel guilt for many of the things that I have done as well as many of the things that I should have done. It is clear that I could have done better. The passage from Hosea presents a model for rehabilitation of the sinner rather than punishment for failures. This is a loving God who takes us back even when we may not deserve it.

The psalm shows love and praise flowing from the Lord’s forgiveness. It is a response not only to a “cleansing” but also to the liberation brought about by the Spirit. The Gospel carries the theme of the strength of the Spirit guiding us in moments of challenge.

In my own life I have little problem in gratefully and joyously accepting God’s forgiveness. (I am a Catholic who still has a real appreciation of the sacrament of Reconciliation.) I welcome the empowerment that the Spirit provides. Still I perceive myself as weak in the trust in the Lord that all three passages seem to request. I was disturbed by this when I started this reflection. In the meantime I was granted a bit of comfort.

I attended Sunday mass in a chapel dedicated to St. Peter. It was interesting to see how Peter was portrayed. On the side there was a statute in which he was holding the keys. However in the central location above the altar there was a painting that showed Christ walking on the water in a storm; it also showed Peter sinking. I was comforted in realizing that I was in good company in my weakness. The Gospel gives a charge to the apostles. I think of weaknesses for the apostles. The Gospel asks quite a bit, but it reminds me that even those of us whose faith does not let us walk on water have the support of the Spirit.

Today I pray in thanksgiving for God’s forgiveness. I pray for assistance in the challenges of this world.

Heavenly Father, You free us from the weights that we carry due to our mistaken actions (as well as the opportunities for good that we have missed). Thank you for your liberating forgiveness. You are the source of love and grace. Allow us to experience the strength and trust that the Spirit brings.

Supplementary Reading

Get Your Fill

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled - Matthew 5:6

In the natural, what do you do when you're hungry and just not sure what will satisfy you? You may try to think of what to eat, but maybe you're not sure what will hit the spot.

Spiritual hunger works the same way. You may feel a restlessness or unsettledness, but you can't quite figure out what will satisfy it. You may try to fill that need with other things—food, addictions, people—but only God can fill that hunger.

Today's verse tells us what will fill that hunger in our soul—righteousness. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is God's way of doing things, you will be spiritually satisfied. But just like you have to take time to eat in the natural, you have to take time to "eat" or partake of God's righteousness.

Take time every day and devote it to the Lord with prayer, worship and the study of His Word. Stay in fellowship with other believers by attending church regularly. As you focus your hunger on God's righteousness, you will be filled and live satisfied in Him all the days of your life.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise to fill my hunger. I open my heart to You and ask that You draw me by Your Spirit. Teach me to walk in Your ways of righteousness that I may honor and serve You all the days of my life. I bless Your name 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.