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Keeping Focused in the “Background”

24/12/2012

Keeping Focused in the “Background”

The key to finding intimacy with God in the midst of each of our activities is to go through our day with an awareness of what it all means. With focus and a conscious attention to our desires, we can maintain an alive “background,” even while rushing somewhere, opening packages, eating dinner or avoiding a conflict.

For example, while going to a family dinner or while preparing a meal - even though there might be music on or other conversation happening around me - I can take brief moments to “collect” who I am and why I'm here and what I desire for this moment in this day. In a few simple deep breaths, I can say, “O Lord, as you came into our world to share our lives, please come into this day and give us peace. Please bless me, my family and friends at this meal with a little more love. I hand over to you my anxieties and fears, as I ask you for your own peace.”

source from onlineministries.creighton.edu

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21st December 2012, Friday - the end of the Mayan Calendar

21/12/2012

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December 21, 2012
The end of the Mayan Calendar

Today is "The Day" or the end of "The Days" as some may attempt to convince you. The media has taken the end of the Mayan Calendar fact and hyped it into the "end of the world" day. The propaganda has barraged everyone who watches TV. Even people who are devout, practicing Catholics are worried about today.

As I got up this morning a thought entered my mind that made me realize the stupidity of the media blitz. If today is the end of the world, then Jesus would be a liar. Jesus said "But as for that day and hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, no one but the Father alone." (Matthew 24:36)

We know that God is all Truth, He cannot lie.

If today becomes the end of the world, then Jesus would be made a liar, would not be the Messiah and all of Christendom would be a farse. This morning it really hit me that the end of the Mayan calendar hype is requiring all believers to choose in their hearts what is the Truth.

If today you feel scared, apprehensive because of the end of the Mayan calendar, I would encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with trust in Jesus; to be who he proclaims to be. To give you the wisdom to discern the truth from sensational hype.

image from wishididntknowthat.tumblr.com

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It's the principle of the matter!

3/12/2012

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Principle or Mercy?

"It's the principle of the matter!"

Have you used this phrase to justify your actions or heard someone say it to justify theirs?

I personally was faced with a situation in which from the principle of the matter I was justified in acting a certain way. Those looking from the outside would equate these actions with being cold, business like and impersonal, but justified. I didn't like how it made me feel. Thankfully, sometimes our God communicates to us through our internal senses; our conscience.

I was talking with a friend about it. I remember having conversations about having to give way to keep the peace in the house because it was family. Now the person I was having an issue wasn’t blood family but if one lives our faith, everyone, especially a baptized catholic is a member of the family. I should treat a neighbour or even a stranger as I would treat my family. Now this was a challenge.

It was at this time that something clicked in my mind; our life doesn't work by living on principles. I remembered the prodigal son parable and thought about how the prodigal father acted. The father, when asked by his youngest son for his inheritance could have responded by saying "No, you aren't getting any of my fortune until I die". Everyone would have understood and agreed with his actions. His son would have gone away from his father angry.

By giving his inheritance to his son prematurely, some maybe would have said that the father was spoiling his son.

Are we put in this world to be the bearer of the rod or the bearer of mercy?

Emotions carry us away. They boil up and start to direct our actions and how we live our lives. Mercy requires a special grace from God. To relinquish our rights, our "principles" and "give way" is difficult. We can't do it alone.

But think also of our father Abraham and how he dealt with his brother Lot. "Let there be no quarrel, I beseech thee, between me and thee" Genesis 13:1:8. In Romans 14:19 it is written "let us be always seeking the ways which lead to peace".

So it was now that I realized that allowing my actions to be driven by principle is not what God asks of us but rather we are encouraged to acquiesce, to trust in God's providence and walk the path we would not choose for ourselves.

Abraham's path led him to the Promised Land and the prodigal father was alive to see his youngest son become enlightened, return to his senses and welcome him with open arms back into his home.

Remember, in principle, Jesus did not have to die. Jesus died on the cross out of mercy he had for us.

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Keeping Focused in the “Background”

21st December 2012, Friday - the end of the Mayan Calendar

It's the principle of the matter!

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