To browse more spiritual readings, please go to: http://www.webprayze.com

"Pay attention to what I am telling you."  We may not always understand why life is unfolding in certain ways. But we are asked to "pay attention" to what God has taught us in our youth and as we experience life.  When we "pay attention" to what God has taught us and "pay attention" to what others are saying or doing we are advised to bring these life experiences to God.  In our prayer, our reflection, our discernment, God will give us insight, understanding, the ability to forgive, or move in a new direction, if we are not afraid to ask God to give us what we need and then to "pay attention" to what happens next.

Saturday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8

Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14+17

L uke 9:43b-45 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he did, he said to his disciples, (44) "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men." (45) But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Meditation

'R ejoice, O young man, while you are young", sounds like a line from a contemporary song or advise from an older person who may be regretting losing one's youth!  It is in our youth, that many of us begin our formation as Christians.  We learn, in our youth, about the goodness of God, His creation, Her desire to protect and to be with us in our lives. "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come."  What a simple message for all of us to be reminded of.

The First Reading then speaks to our human aging process, "And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them."   While we mature, from the days of our youth, we are given more choices, more opportunities to witness life and learn from decisions and choices we and others have made.

Adulthood brings temptations, and maybe even opportunities to turn away from our God.  It might appear easier to be stingy rather than generous, quiet rather than to speak out against injustice, lazy rather than attend church. We can look around and see people who are not honest, who cheat, who are rude and resentful, who are fearful . . . "and the strong men are bent" people who have "bent away" from  a former relationship with God seem to have lost their hope for eternal life, or even for a brighter tomorrow.  We are reminded to celebrate and embrace our lives on earth knowing and rejoycing in "the life breath returning to God, who gave it."

"In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge", might also be stated "In every uncertain situation, O Lord, you have traveled with us and given us insight."  From sorrow can come hope and wisdom, from joy can come appreciation and recognition of gifts given to be shared.

The Gospel ends today's reading by Jesus telling us, "Pay attention to what I am telling you."  We may not always understand why life is unfolding in certain ways. But we are asked to "pay attention" to what God has taught us in our youth and as we experience life.  When we "pay attention" to what God has taught us and "pay attention" to what others are saying or doing we are advised to bring these life experiences to God.  In our prayer, our reflection, our discernment, God will give us insight, understanding, the ability to forgive, or move in a new direction, if we are not afraid to ask God to give us what we need and then to "pay attention" to what happens next.

Supplementary Reading

Christ Has Set You FREE!

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I WILL to do, that I do NOT practice; but what I hate, THAT I do." -Romans 7:15 "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. – Romans 8:1-2

I 've always loved the outdoors. In the summertime when I was a kid, my eyes would pop open in the morning and I could hardly wait to get outside. I explored every corner of our small neighborhood. Collecting live bees in a jelly jar as they buzzed around the clover blossoms in the lawn was great fun and one of our very favorite things to do. We'd get hundreds in our jars by the end of the day. We'd look at those bees in wonder, up close, studying them, as they flew, moved, and buzzed just inches away from the noses on our faces. We were impervious to their stingers as long as they remained in the jars.

One sunny morning I came upon a big, dead bumblebee. Wow...this was a chance to get up close to one of those things that you didn't see every day...and if you did, you steered clear of it. Bumblebees, for some reason, seemed just a bit too threatening. I sat at our picnic table in the backyard as I scrutinized the dead bumblebee lying on its back. I noticed its semi-transparent, caramel-colored wings were glistening in the early light. Then, I did something I'll never forget- I gently touched the tip of my finger to the pointed end of the bumblebee's large abdomen. OUCH! I was stung! It hurt. It hurt a lot. Apparently the stinger had moved from the bee to me with the bee itself not having to be alive to push or eject the barb.

Why had I intentionally touched an area that I knew had potential to harm me? I distinctly remember thinking while I moved in for the touch, "I wonder...is this going to hurt? Hmm . . . OUCH!"

That's the question we need to ask: Why do we intentionally enter into relationships or situations where we know there's potential to harm our emotional and/or spiritual wellbeing? Other than to say, "It must be human nature," I don't have the answer, other than to say that one has to experience darkness to truly appreciate and recognize "The Light." I know that the Bible tells us that we humans are flawed in many ways - and there are PLENTY of circumstances every day that remind me of my own flawed human nature. However, the Bible's central intention of God's message to you and to me is NOT of our flawed nature, but of our redemptive grace through Jesus Christ. Yes, Christ has made us free!

Lord God, sometimes I feel as if I'm being swallowed up in all the things I do wrong. I'm hard and judgmental of myself...and others sometimes reinforce those dark and negative feelings I sometimes have about myself. Lord, help me to remember that Your grace has freed me. Give me the courage and the strength to claim this freedom to feel and see the warmth of Your redemptive light. Thank You, Lord. I love You. 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 or to browse spiritual readings, 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

http://www.webprayze.com