The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The "voice crying in the desert" did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth. But why? What possesses a man that he would give up his very life?
This great religious reformer was sent by God to prepare the people for the Messiah. His vocation was one of selfless giving. The only power that he claimed was the Spirit of Yahweh. "I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11). Scripture tells us that many people followed John looking to him for hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power. John never allowed himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own glory. He knew his calling was one of preparation.
When the time came, he led his disciples to Jesus: "The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God.' The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus" (John 1:35-37). It is John the Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John's life and death were a giving over of self for God and other people. His simple style of life was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. His heart was centered on God and the call that he heard from the Spirit of God speaking to his heart. Confident of God's grace, he had the courage to speak words of condemnation or repentance, of salvation.
Each of us has a calling to which we must listen. No one will ever repeat the mission of John, and yet all of us are called to that very mission. It is the role of the Christian to witness to Jesus. Whatever our position in this world, we are called to be disciples of Christ. By our words and deeds others should realize that we live in the joy of knowing that Jesus is Lord. We do not have to depend upon our own limited resources, but can draw strength from the vastness of Christ's saving grace.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Showing posts with label Saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saints. Show all posts
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
St. Bartholomew
In the New Testament, Bartholomew is mentioned only in the lists of the apostles. Some scholars identify him with Nathanael, a man of Cana in Galilee who was summoned to Jesus by Philip. Jesus paid him a great compliment: "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him" (John 1:47b). When Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, Jesus said, "I saw you under the fig tree" (John 1:48b). Whatever amazing revelation this involved, it brought Nathanael to exclaim, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel" (John 1:49b). But Jesus countered with, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this" (John 1:50b).
Nathanael did see greater things. He was one of those to whom Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection (see John 21:1-14). They had been fishing all night without success. In the morning, they saw someone standing on the shore though no one knew it was Jesus. He told them to cast their net again, and they made so great a catch that they could not haul the net in. Then John cried out to Peter, "It is the Lord."
When they brought the boat to shore, they found a fire burning, with some fish laid on it and some bread. Jesus asked them to bring some of the fish they had caught, and invited them to come and eat their meal. John relates that although they knew it was Jesus, none of the apostles presumed to inquire who he was. This, John notes, was the third time Jesus appeared to the apostles.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Nathanael did see greater things. He was one of those to whom Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection (see John 21:1-14). They had been fishing all night without success. In the morning, they saw someone standing on the shore though no one knew it was Jesus. He told them to cast their net again, and they made so great a catch that they could not haul the net in. Then John cried out to Peter, "It is the Lord."
When they brought the boat to shore, they found a fire burning, with some fish laid on it and some bread. Jesus asked them to bring some of the fish they had caught, and invited them to come and eat their meal. John relates that although they knew it was Jesus, none of the apostles presumed to inquire who he was. This, John notes, was the third time Jesus appeared to the apostles.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Guardian Angel
Question:
How is it that we avoid so many close calls in life? I can't even count the number of near miss collisions that I see just driving home on the freeway. How do we keep it together? How do we keep it from falling apart? Today's post might bring to light some answers...
Saint Joesemaria Escriva, founded Opus Dei in Madrid, Spain on October 2, 1928 (which is the Feast of the Guardian Angels). Although he wrote and spoke about many great things as it relates to our daily relationship with God, the focus for today's post is on a true story involving an Angel. Saint Joesemaria Escriva was convinced that God had placed an Angel beside each and every human being to help that person along the road of life.
Here is a true story:
One day during a very intense time of anti-clerical persecution in Madrid, Spain, an assassin made his way toward Monsignor Escriva (intending to kill him) as he walked down the street. As the would be assassin got closer, a very large man (who seemingly came out of no where) instantly placed himself between the assassin and Monsignor Escriva and drove the would be assassin away.
It all happened within the course of a few seconds and was over as quickly as it started. Swiftly, the large man turned, came over to Monsignor Escriva, and whispered into his ear... "Mangy donkey, mangy donkey."
It was the exact phrase that Joesemaria Escriva would recite while praying privately to God and his Guardian Angel. You see, in private, Joesemaria Escriva would pray something along the lines of..."Lord, I am nothing more than a mangy donkey, help me to do your will and glorify your name for I am nothing without you." The expression "mangy donkey" was only confessed in prayer and no human had ever known that he expressed this. Immediately, peace and joy filled his heard as he recognized this intervention was his Guardian Angel.
Answer:
The Lord watches over His children and has charged His angels to guard us every moment of the day. God loves us more than we can ever comprehend and He has a specific plan for each of us. In the case of Saint Joesemaria Escriva, this point proves that God alone has the final say in every matter on earth and in Heaven. When the devil deceived the heart of the would be assassin, the Lord vetoed the final act. Saint Joesemaria Escriva had much more of God's work to do on this earth and it was not his time.
Even the Saints humble themselves in front of the Lord. If they do this, then certainly we should try to emulate that as well. Mangy donkey, mangy donkey...
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:10-12 (NIV)
10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:10 (NIV)
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
How is it that we avoid so many close calls in life? I can't even count the number of near miss collisions that I see just driving home on the freeway. How do we keep it together? How do we keep it from falling apart? Today's post might bring to light some answers...
Saint Joesemaria Escriva, founded Opus Dei in Madrid, Spain on October 2, 1928 (which is the Feast of the Guardian Angels). Although he wrote and spoke about many great things as it relates to our daily relationship with God, the focus for today's post is on a true story involving an Angel. Saint Joesemaria Escriva was convinced that God had placed an Angel beside each and every human being to help that person along the road of life.
Here is a true story:
One day during a very intense time of anti-clerical persecution in Madrid, Spain, an assassin made his way toward Monsignor Escriva (intending to kill him) as he walked down the street. As the would be assassin got closer, a very large man (who seemingly came out of no where) instantly placed himself between the assassin and Monsignor Escriva and drove the would be assassin away.
It all happened within the course of a few seconds and was over as quickly as it started. Swiftly, the large man turned, came over to Monsignor Escriva, and whispered into his ear... "Mangy donkey, mangy donkey."
It was the exact phrase that Joesemaria Escriva would recite while praying privately to God and his Guardian Angel. You see, in private, Joesemaria Escriva would pray something along the lines of..."Lord, I am nothing more than a mangy donkey, help me to do your will and glorify your name for I am nothing without you." The expression "mangy donkey" was only confessed in prayer and no human had ever known that he expressed this. Immediately, peace and joy filled his heard as he recognized this intervention was his Guardian Angel.
- - -
Answer:
The Lord watches over His children and has charged His angels to guard us every moment of the day. God loves us more than we can ever comprehend and He has a specific plan for each of us. In the case of Saint Joesemaria Escriva, this point proves that God alone has the final say in every matter on earth and in Heaven. When the devil deceived the heart of the would be assassin, the Lord vetoed the final act. Saint Joesemaria Escriva had much more of God's work to do on this earth and it was not his time.
Even the Saints humble themselves in front of the Lord. If they do this, then certainly we should try to emulate that as well. Mangy donkey, mangy donkey...
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:10-12 (NIV)
10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:10 (NIV)
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
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