Meditation is an ideal way to pray. Using God's word (Lectio Divina) allows me to hear, listen and reflect on what the Lord wants to say to me - to one of his disciples - just like He did two thousand years ago.
The best time to reflect is at the beginning of the day and for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
Prior to going to sleep, read the Mass readings for the next day and then, in the morning, reflect on the Meditation offered on this website.
I hope these daily meditations allow you to know, love and imitate the Lord in a more meaningful way.
God bless you!


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Mt 6:1-18 You’re Gonna Like The Way You Look

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples:  “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.”
I find it amazing how people change over time.  It appears as though some bad people, a long time ago, performed good deeds so that others could see them and reward them.  Now, it seems as though some good people perform bad deeds so that others can see them and reward them. 
According to Christ, they are all hypocrites, for what they do in public does not correspond to their inner heart.
Are you a hypocrite?
Take care.  One of the biggest challenges we all face in our lives is to be authentic, to be true.  God is not at all interested in making an impression.  Can you tell?  He lived in a poor, unimpressive village.  He came from a poor and unimpressive family.  He traveled around a poor and unimpressive nation.  By the looks of it, Christ should have gone down in history as being unimpressive and irrelevant.
But looks can be deceiving, and that’s why he was so critical of the Pharisees and scribes.  They looked great.  They seemed so perfect.  They appeared to be so holy.
I’m not holy.  I’m not perfect.  I’m not great.  That is a good start.  But it isn’t enough for the Lord.  He wants us to be holy, to be perfect and to be great as our heavenly Father is.  The Lord doesn’t want us to be “true to ourselves.”  He wants us to be “true to our Creator.”
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.  If St. Paul had been true to himself, he would have never changed himself.  The secret to his success was not that he wanted to be a better “he”, but that he wanted to be a better “Him.”  “It is no longer I who live in me, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, consider this:  whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2Cor 9:6-11).
Face yourself.  Embrace reality.  Embrace God.
It’s okay for us to be poor and to look rich.  It’s okay for us to make big sacrifices and still have a smile on our face.  It’s okay.  In fact, it’s better than okay.  It’s great!  It’s holy and perfect.  God loves a cheerful giver, and a cheerful giver tells the world that they are happy in their giving!
Let’s do it.  Let’s try it.  Let’s see what happens next.  You’re gonna like the way you look.  I guarantee it.

9 comments:

  1. You’re gonna like the way you look. I guarantee it.- Ha ....Ha! this came from that suit commercial - very cute ....prefect for your Meditation :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. "It is one thing to say "I am a saint" and another to say "I want to become a saint." You can tell everyone that you want to become a saint without fear of pride because, after all, holiness is nothing else but divine love and the love of God is a sacred, absolute and essential duty ordered to everyone and required from all. Where is pride when protesting to observe a principal and elementary duty? Humility consists in being persuaded that one does not have this love to an eminent degree or even sufficiently, but humility does not prevent one from aspiring to it." St. Padre Pio

    Katie Giangiulio

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greetings Katie!!

      wow!!!
      I love your quote here by St. Padre Pio :)

      God Bless you Katie

      Delete
  3. And the guy in the suit commercial was fired today. Father Alfonse with a little comedic tie-in. Well played, Father!

    BTW, Pope Francis looks SO good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. having a sense of humor - is a beautiful thing in a person :)

      God bless you - Anonymous

      OH~ ;) BTW : the Pope Francis has a gorgeous smile , he is very photogenic :)

      wasn't the guy in suit commercial the founder or the CEO .....or something like that ........I could be wrong..................ha ha !!

      Delete
  4. Hi Father Alfonse!!
    I am reading your meditation from Kenya. I actually stumbled upon this blog a few weeks ago and I love it!- It really helps me to pray. This meditation is no exception, and I guarantee you, I have no idea what commercial it is that Cristina is talking about, but I agree with her: the catch phrase DOES sound good :-). I'll share the site with my friends.

    Kananu Imathiu

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Father Alphonse!

    I am reading your blog from Kenya, and I assure you that I have no idea what suit commercial Cristina and "Anon" are talking about ;-). However, I agree with Cristina, the catch phrase sounds great. Your meditations really help me to pray. I stumbled on to them recently and I really like them. I'll share the site with my friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Kananu in Christ,

      Thank you so much. Please send all my best wishes to your friends in Kenya. It warms my heart to know that this blog can reach so many people. God bless you!!!

      Delete
    2. Father Alfonse,

      How awesome that you can reach people so far away.

      Psalm 48:10 - "Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with
      righteousness."

      Delete

Updated: Comments that are judged to be defamatory, abusive or in bad taste are not acceptable and contributors who consistently fall below certain criteria will be permanently blacklisted. Comments must be concise and to the point.Comments are no longer accepted for posts older than 7 days.