‘ Reflections ’ Posts

Paths…

I just read that Rev Billy Graham has passed away at the age of 99… These photos were taken in 2010. I had dragged my family out on an excursion to photograph the abandoned Bethlehem Steel Factory. While walking around, we found one of Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional books. Someone, whom I will never know, had chosen to purposely leave this book sitting open to the environment on an abandoned road leading to an abandoned factory. The rock which was placed on the book made it clear – this was a purpose driven action… actions cause re-actions… I saw the book, photographed it, looked up the passages within to learn what it was, and am now sharing those photographs as the authors’ death has brought them again to my mind… The paths we choose and the actions we take not only form who we are but also the world around us…

Reflection: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the words of the Our Father we pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”

As Christians we are called, or as Paul speaks in Romans “predestined,” to work for good.

We are called to try to walk in the light which Jesus showed by his life.

We are called to be “conformed” to the image of God’s son.

To do so, one tries to seek divine wisdom. As God’s children, it is our heart’s natural desire. Solomon, in realizing that wisdom is something not easily grasped, asks God for the wisdom to “distinguish right from wrong” and “an understanding heart to judge [God’s people whom he has been called as King to server over].” This pleases God greatly for it is what God wishes all of us to ask for in our lives. Not for our own health and goodwill or that of our friends. Not for riches. Not for God to smite those whom we feel are against us. But for understanding – to ask for HIS kingdom to come – as HE wills.

God calls us to ask him for the wisdom to know that our way as humans is not God’s way. For God, though he walked among humans in the form of Christ, is not human. Though he speaks to the hearts of men through the Holy Spirit – man can only grasp at a microscopic speck of God’s infinite being, knowledge and love. We can only imagine his kingdom. In Matthew, Christ himself attempts to explain the worth of God’s kingdom to our simple human minds. He speaks to the human vanity of treasure and says that the Kingdom of Heaven is something beyond worth to which we should give all that we are.

God sent his son to teach us. To provide us with an example of the path he wishes us to follow – an impossible ideal to which we are called to conform. Each in our own way called to work for good. Called to ask for God’s wisdom which is sent through the Holy Spirit. Called to allow God’s glory to shine through us. Called to sincerely pray – “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
29/30 June 2017
1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12
Rom 8:28-30
Mt 13:44-52

Communal Harmony

Shortly after I posted the message below I read this wonderful article on the Dalai Lama’s site:

Seminar on ‘Communal Harmony – Foundation of World Peace’

“We all want to live a happy life, so we have to learn to live together in trust and mutual respect. We do have differences of race, nationality, religious faith and so on, but these differences are secondary in comparison to our equality in being human. When I heard scientists say they had evidence that basic human nature is compassionate, I thought, ‘There’s real hope.’

“Helping others brings deep satisfaction. No matter how powerful we may seem to be, our survival depends on the community. Clearly the community is crucial to individual happiness, so if we make others happy, we too derive benefit. We need to take action. However, if we act out of self-centredness, it will be difficult to be transparent, to earn others’ trust and friendship. By learning to be more warm-hearted we can create a more compassionate world.

– His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet