It was a delight to put my Thoughts together, because I like people to read my writing and I like the aphoristic mode of communication for purposes of humor and insight. Some of my favorite authors (including Hans Urs von Balthasar) have penned pithily, to good effect. I try to think and talk that way when the Spirit moves me and when I'm drinking enough coffee.
Since many of my readers don't get the Reading Eagle, and now that my month is over, I decided to air my Daily Thoughts, one whole month at a pop--here goes!
+ + + + +
“He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me
always; everything I have is yours.’” (Luke 15:31) –Chrysostom said of St.
Paul, “Above all, he knew himself to be loved by God”; what else is there,
really?
“Better…if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea than…to cause one of these little ones to sin.”
(Luke 17:2) –People are paying attention to you. If that’s scary, good.
“Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents
sinned; it is so that the works of God might be visible through him.’” (John
9:3) –Ask not what God has done to you; ask what God can do through you.
“When Jesus saw [Mary] weeping and the Jews who
had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled.” (John
11:33) –Allow yourself to become appropriately affected by the people you
encounter in life.
“Peter said to [Jesus], ‘You will never wash my
feet.’” (John 13:8) –Don’t be embarrassed when you need forgiveness or
assistance. Everyone benefits from it.
“Peter began to say to [Jesus], ‘We have given
up everything and followed you.’” (Mark 10:28) –In moments of self-pity, we
might think so; but there’s always more, and God will wait for it.
“Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first
the blade, then ear, then the full grain in the ear.” (Mark 4:28) –We can’t
fully know, and therefore control, God’s action in others or ourselves.
“Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace
with one another.” (Mark 9:50b) –You can learn and grow from interesting,
stimulating conversation.
"Then it goes and brings
back seven other spirits…and the last condition of that person is worse than
the first.” (Matthew 12:45) –Regular spiritual housecleaning prevents the
infestation of devilish habits, and demonic inhabitation.
"At the resurrection they
neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven.”
(Matthew 22:30) –Even our most nourishing earthly relationships abide in the
context of our primary relationship with God.
"Can any of you by worrying
add a single moment to your life-span?” (Matthew 6:27) –“No, but that never
stopped me before!” Time is short.
“’See, he said, ‘now that
this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.’”
(Isaiah 6:7) –Make a point of eating something healthy today, and consider its
salutary effects on your soul.
“You have preserved my life
from the pit of destruction, when you cast behind your back all my sins.” (Isaiah
38:17) –Consider the power of forgiveness in your own life, and pay it forward whenever
possible.
“Through his suffering, my
servant shall justify many.” (Isaiah 53:11) –Put your hardships to good use by
connecting, even spiritually, with someone else in distress.
“Put not your trust in the
deceitful words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord!’” (Jeremiah 7:4) –Authentic
believers don’t rely solely on external manifestations of their devotion.
"Then the virgins shall make
merry and dance, and young men and old as well” (Jeremiah 31:13) –Remind your
face that occupation with God is well worth your time and effort.
“You have become for me a
treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide!” (Jeremiah 15:18) –From my
perspective, God can seem rather unreliable; what adjustments must I make
today?
“If you warn the wicked
man…and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you
shall save yourself.” (Ezekiel 33:9) –There is value to fraternal correction,
but don’t ignore your own errors.
“I will…[take] from your
bodies your stony hearts and [give] you natural hearts.” (Ezekiel 36:26) –Empathy
is one of God’s greatest blessings and man’s greatest needs.
“You shall have honest
scales, an honest ephah, and an honest liquid measure.” (Ezekiel 45:10) –Your
time and resources are not your own, so use them well.
“I will lead her into the
desert and speak to her heart.” (Hosea 2:16) –God often reaches us best when we
seem at our worst.
"We shall say no more, ‘Our
god,’ to the work of our hands” (Hosea 14:4) –What idol(s) ought you set aside
in favor of your first, true Love?
“My people perish for want
of knowledge!” (Hosea 4:6) –Spend time with informative books, periodicals, websites…and
people.
“What shall I do with this
people? A little more and they will stone me!” (Exodus 17:5) –Don’t be afraid
to share your exasperation with God.
“The task is too heavy for
you; you cannot do it alone.” (Exodus 18:18) –Lending a hand, or an ear, lifts
a burden from another’s back.
“Remove the sandals from
your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5) –Treat
the people you see today as sacred, not as means to an end.
“Let those who seek you, God
of Israel, not be disgraced through me.” (Psalm 69:7) –Positively put: may my
life give honor to God and hope to people!
“Is it in vain that I have
kept my heart clean?” (Psalm 73:13). –Only if your obedience is motivated by
human respect. God’s respect is most necessary, and most reliable.
“I gave them over to their
hardness of heart” (Psalm 81:13). –Some say to God, ‘Your will be done,’ while
God says to others, ‘Have it your way.’
“Those who follow the way of
integrity, they alone can enter my service.” (Psalm 101:6) –Being the same
person with everyone makes us fit for God’s employ.
+ + + + +
Since I'm not living in Berks County anymore, I probably won't, and shouldn't, be asked to submit another month. But there's always the social media. No promises or deadlines (and they can be helpful!), but stay tuned for more Daily Thoughts!
