MAKING DIFFICULT CHOICES

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect..

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

Now I invite you to consecrate your time and all that come with this moment….in your own way, in humble, simple, may be even inadequate words………..

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

May my mind be clear and spacious like the sky……

May all negative thoughts drift away like the clouds………

May my mind be filled with comfort, ease, serenity, peace……

May my heart be pure, simple, undivided that I may see you……………

May my heart be confident and trusting that I may be safe in you………….

May my heart be hopeful, optimistic and positive that I may be free in you…………

Keep repeating these words in your heart

Thank you for the day……..

Thank you for stillness……………

Thank you for blessing and grace………

Thank you for just being, for me, God.

Be still…..Relax

Five Minutes

Prayerfully Read and Reflect…..

Our last meditation was on “Choosing God’s Way”. We reflected on the choices that great people like Joshua, Zachaeus, Peter and Paul made and how they challenged their people to make similar choices. This meditation is on the many choices that flow from choosing “God’s Way”.

Choosing “God’s Way” frees us to be what God made us to be and wants us to be. This choice however is very demanding because the freedom that comes from choosing God’s Way is always very demanding. True freedom limits us to choose only that which fits our nature, our character. ..the opposite is absence of or lack of true freedom. True freedom is freedom to be……it is the freedom of the children of God.

Moses challenged his people to take God’s word into their hearts, into their soul, into their daily lives. He asked his people to make the fundamental choice: life or death; blessing or curse. To choose life and blessing means that we must accept and obey the law of God and be guided by his wisdom. We must align our will to the will of God (Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32)

Take a moment and pray….May your will be done!

Paul tried to convince the Christians in Rome that God has justified all people, including the Gentiles in Christ. All are justified by God’s gift of Grace in Jesus and not by any work they have done (Romans 3:21-29). It takes more than obedience to the law to deserve God’s justice. Practice of the law means little, if the inner self does not express real faith.

Be grateful for the gift of God’s Grace in Jesus and learn to live in that Grace!

All are called to the Kingdom of God. However, crying out, “Lord…Lord…” will not give anyone access to the Kingdom (Mathew 7:21, 24-27). Jesus calls for sincerity of purpose. Sincerity of purpose is shown in practice, in the way we live out our purpose.

Fine words are never substitutes for fine deeds. Be sincere in your efforts to live out your faith. There is only one proof of love and that proof is obedience (surrender).

It is not difficult to recite a creed, but to live the Christian life is demanding and challenging and often difficult.

Faith without practice is dead. Love without obedience (surrender) is impossible.

Jesus was once asked whether only a few would be saved (Luke 13:22-30). Behind this question was the belief that only the Jews would be saved and not the gentiles. Jesus responded by telling them that entrance into the kingdom was not automatic…membership in the Jewish community or any faith community did not guarantee entrance into the kingdom. He called them to make difficult choices and make the difficult journey….the door is narrow, he said. He himself was making his way to Jerusalem to face rejection and eventual death.

We are all familiar with expressions like “a narrow escape” , “a tight squeeze” and so on which suggest that we have accomplished something difficult, something that required taking risk, being vulnerable, diligence, vigilance, decisiveness and great precision.

Even as children, some of us had narrow escapes from the bullies in the school, from major accidents on a bike, from major failures in sports, etc. As adults many of us can recall the narrow escapes we had from serious injuries, conflicts with others, major car accidents and so on.

Much more than that, we know how narrow the path forward can be when we face life-altering decisions. We are often confronted with situations where all our options must give way to one choice. No one else can make the decision for us and no one else would suffer the consequences of that decisions. All our choices will come to this narrow “gate” that will define who we are, how we live and even define us into the future. We must walk through the narrow gate and enter the kingdom.

From the beginning of scriptures, we read about great men and women being called to make difficult choices and they in turn called their people to make hard choices. Moses and the prophets and finally Jesus offered people choices between life and death; way of the just and way of the wicked; good and bad; foolishness and wisdom and so on.

Jesus challenges us to make difficult choices, make the difficult journey, walk the path of trials, face testing times, enter through the narrow door………

The way to the kingdom is not easy, but it is just the right way, the way made to fit our needs! We must make difficult choices and be faithful to the choices we make. The choice is ours. Once the choice is made, the question is: is that your final choice? Your final answer to the call?

In the Gospel passage of today (Mathew 21:28-32)we read about a son who said “no” to his father and changed it into an “yes” and another son who said “yes” to his father changed it into a “no”. The final answer made the difference.

Take a moment: think of all the people whose lives once characterized by “no” to God and to God’s goodness and then transformed into a decided “yes”, into a final answer “yes”.

Peter did; Thomas did. Thomas Merton, one of the great mystics of our times moved from “No” to “Yes”. Orphaned at 16, he traveled Europe at 18 maintaining a bohemian lifestyle. A vowed communist at 20, a reporter for New York times at 24 and Trapist monk at 26.

Some of you will remember “Mary Poppins”. As Jane and Michael were being to put to bed, Jane asked Mary, “you will never leave us, will you?” Her brother added, “Will you stay if we promise to be good?” Mary Poppins replied, “That’s a pie-crust promise. Easily made. Easily broken.”

Some of you may remember John Newton’s dramatic conversion during a storm at sea. He was a slave trader. His “yes” to God is memorialized in “Amazing Grace”

Take a moment…….and say, “Yes” to God and Gods’ way!

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

CHOOSING GOD’S WAY

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect..

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

Now I invite you to consecrate your time and all that come with this moment….in your own way, in humble, simple, may be even inadequate words………..

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

May my mind be clear and spacious like the sky……

May all negative thoughts drift away like the clouds………

May my mind be filled with comfort, ease, serenity, peace……

May my heart be pure, simple, undivided that I may see you……………

May my heart be confident and trusting that I may be safe in you………….

May my heart be hopeful, optimistic and positive that I may be free in you…………

Keep repeating these words in your heart

Thank you for the day……..

Thank you for stillness……………

Thank you for blessing and grace………

Thank you for just being, for me, God.

Be still…..Relax

Five Minutes

Prayerfully Read and Reflect

As Joshua and his people continued their journey through the Promised Land, many others, who were not part of the exodus movement, joined them. Joshua called all of them together with those who came out of Egypt and offered them the choice of serving the God of Israel or their former gods. Joshua affirmed, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. Choosing the God of Israel, the God of the covenant meant rejection of all false gods. All present followed the choice Joshua proclaimed, “We will serve the Lord, our God”. (Joshua 24:1-2, 15-17, 18)

Joshua made his choice: “We will serve the Lord”. Now Join Joshua and make your choice!

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

Zacchaeus made his choice: “I will restructure my life.”
Now join Zacchaeus and make your choice!

Some of the listeners of Jesus were shocked at the many things that he taught and did. Many of them walked away in protest. Some of them surrendered in faith and accepted the gift Jesus offered although they did not fully understand what was offered to them as a gift. Jesus challenged his disciples, asked them whether they too were going to walk away. Peter, as always, had great wisdom and he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life”.

(John 6:60-69)

Peter made his choice. Now join Peter and make your choice!

Paul instructed the Ephesians: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…… “Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light “…… Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity… Defer to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:1-21)

Paul challenged the Ephesians to make their choice out of “reverence” for Christ. Now you are challenged to make your own choice!

BE STRONG…….

    BE A MAN/WOMAN……

        STAND YOUR GROUND…….

            STAY FOCUSED ON THE LORD…

BE RENEWED IN SPIRIT……….

AND MAKE YOUR CHOCIE!

I will…

• face what need to be faced, honestly and directly
• deal with what need to be dealt with
• accept what must be accepted
• change what need to be changed
• build what needs building
• drop what must be dropped
• pick up what needs to be picked up
• eliminate what needs to be eliminated
• give what needs to be given
• take what needs to be taken
• share what must be shared, generously
• let go of what must be released
• hold on to what must be held, tightly
• incorporate what must be incorporated
• stop what must be stopped, promptly and permanently

Add your own:

Be still…..Relax

Take a moment…Prayerfully choose one or two things that you want to do to restructure your life, to let it become more fully alive and keep you faithful on your journey of life.

Fr. Gus Tharappel,msfs

TO SEE…TO LOVE…TO FOLLOW.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

Now I invite you to consecrate this day and all that come with this day….in your own way, in humble, simple, may be even inadequate words………..

I pray for you and I pray for all, who, at this moment, are receiving the gift of this fascinating, marvelous, wonderful light! May you be filled with light, God’s light!

Take a moment. Bless your morning. Let your morning Bless you……Take another moment…. Bless your world…… Let your world bless you……

Every day that we wake up is a good day. Every breath that we take is filled with hope for a better day. Every word that we speak is a chance to change what is bad into something good.

Be still…..Relax…….Do not rush.

Day by day……Day by day……

Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray….

To see thee more clearly…..

            To love thee more dearly…..

To follow thee more nearly…….day by day…..

To see thee more clearly……. day by day…..

Jesus said: the pure of heart will see God. Heart refers to the innermost part of our being, the whole interiority of human consciousness and activity.

The pure of heart will see goodness, truth, love, virtue, value – will see all that is of God and from God……will grow into a vision of God, Himself.

Being pure of heart….being single-hearted is a gift we offer to the world around us….it makes us people of hope, positive and optimistic about life and all that life has to offer….

Being pure of heart is like having eyes that do nothing but see and all things are possible for those who can see…….

Being pure of heart is having a heart with direction, expectation and purpose….Being pure of heart is to seek the reign of God first and believing that all else will be given besides……

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may see You more clearly, day by day…..

To love thee more dearly….. day by day…..

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you;

Abide in my love. (Jn. 15:9)

The secret of the life of Jesus was his contact with the Father. Again and again, he withdrew to quiet places to be alone with the father. He knew what it meant to “abide” in the Father’s Love. His disciples must do the same.

To “abide” is to be in close contact; to be in touch; to be intimate; to live an intense, personal relationship.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

He who lives in me and I in him, will produce abundantly,

for apart from me you can do nothing (Jn. 15:5)

That they may all be one, as you Father are in me and I in you;

I pray that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me (Jn. 17:21)

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love never fails.

(I Corinthians 13:4-8)

Love must transcend competition and control…..

Love must reach out in selfless and generous service…..

Love must transcend ill feelings, jealousies, hatred……

Love goes beyond the call of duty…….

Love walks the extra mile……..

Be transformed by God’s love….let that love be visible, be present, be the roots of all that you are…

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may love You more dearly, day by day…..

To follow thee more nearly……. day by day…..

Jesus called his disciples to be with him and to go forth from him to fulfill his

mission. He gave them his message, his power, his lifestyle, his presence and a

community to live in and to serve……

Today, you are called to carry on and complete his mission….

Remember the disciples of Jesus on the mountain with their master being transfigured (Luke 9:28-36). They found a temporary serenity and security on the mountain as they saw him transfigured. But the journey of Jesus was not complete and the disciple’s journey was not complete either. They had to leave this experience, come down the mountain and accept life with all its joys and sorrows, even accept the cross and eventual death and follow their master.

They had to continue their journey into the unknown, uncertain and insecure future. They had to walk in mystery!

The journey of Jesus would take him to the cross and then to unending glory. His disciples must follow and travel a similar path. On their way, Jesus would serve as their map, their route, their guide and eventually their way – and the way, the journey and the end of the journey become one…..

Like their master, the disciples must be prepared to accept the inconveniences, suffering, pain, cross – all of life’s struggles, be strong and stand strong in faith during difficult times…..        

Paul invited the Philippians to be fellow-imitators of Christ (Philippians 3:17 – 4:1). He also encouraged them to be aware of those whose lives were scandalous and not follow them because “our citizenship is in heaven”. Paul was saying to them that they must never forget that they are citizens of heaven and that their conduct must match their citizenship. He instructed them to “stand fast in the Lord”. The meaning of “Stand Fast” as Paul uses is like the soldier “standing fast” in battle with the enemy surging down upon him.

Remember who you are! You are fellow citizens with the saints! Be faithful to your calling!

Be strong! Stand fast in the Lord! Be rooted and growing in the Lord!

All of us carry the treasure of this loving Jesus, dwelling within us and working through us, fragile human beings – earthen vessels. We can not expect to witness perfection. But, we must be willing to stand up and be counted among the saints who struggled, suffered, sacrificed, prayed, loved, served as they tried to follow their master………..

I must be able to proclaim – may be in imperfect words and actions – as best as I can that Jesus has touched my life. Jesus has made a difference in my life.

I must be able to proclaim:    He has touched me and I have grown.

                He hasn’t finished with me yet.

                I wait patiently.

                Be patient with me.

Someday, I will proclaim:    I now no longer live, Christ my Lord lives in me.

Loving God, Give me a pure heart that I may follow You more nearly, day by day…..

O God, I have come into the quietness and stillness of your presence, so that out of this moment, I may take with me a quiet serenity, which will last me through the rough and smooth of this day’s life. Many hours of the day are waiting to be filled a hundred ways with a hundred prayers. But, right now, at this very moment, I am at peace. I walk with you, God. I sit with you, God. I run with you, God. Thank you.

Day by day……Day by day……

Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray…..

To see thee more clearly…..

            To love thee more dearly…..

To follow thee more nearly…….day by day…..

Start by doing what’s necessary,

    then do what’s possible,

        and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

                    (St. Francis of Assisi)

Fr. Gus Tharappe1, msfs