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, November 14, 2012

Luke 17: 11-19 Show It!

Luke 17: 11-19  Show It!


As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.  As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.  They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!”

Why were these ten lepers healed?  What can we learn from them?

Ten lepers met him.  Have you met with the Lord today?  Have you greeted him with a morning hymn of praise and gratitude?  Simply put, have you prayed today?  Have you taken a few moments out of your busy schedule to worship our Lord and God?  If not, then do it now.  What’s stopping you?  Who is stopping you?

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. 

Prayer helps us to find God.  His Word is The Way, so reflect on it.  His Will is The Way, so follow it.  His Love is The Way, so imitate it.  As hard as it may seem to make any spiritual progress, it all begins with baby steps. 

I’m still crawling. 

Ten lepers met the Lord because they went searching for Him.   But before they found him, they believed in Him.  Yes, they placed their trust in Him before they actually saw Him!  With every step they took, along the longest journey of their lives, they left behind more doubts, more fears and more excuses, until all that was left of them was their shame and faith, hope and love in Him.  

The road to Christ is never an easy one.  In fact, it is dangerous, for the road is filled with squatters:  that is, doubters, distracters, critics and counterfeits. 

They stood at a distance and raised their voice.  Because they prayed, they were able to differentiate His Way from all the other ways.  Because they prayed, they were already calling out to Him from a distance.  Prayer not only allows us to raise our voices and be heard, even from a distance, but to stand before him, even at a distance.  God may be distant, but He is not far from our reach.  He may be out of our sight, but we are not out of His mind.

Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!  We will never find the Lord if we are continually doubting Him.  But if we place our trust in Him, in His Word, and place our lives in Him, in His Hands, then He will bless all that we do, all that we have, and all that we are.  The ten lepers, with all their suffering, still, by the power of prayer, were able to say:  JESUS, MASTER, HAVE PITY ON US! 

Notice, how there is not a single strand of anger, resentment, bitterness, hate, etc…  Why?  Maybe, they understood:  Every time I try to hurt the Lord, I end up hurting myself, for I was made in His image and likeness.  Likewise, every time I am hurt because of the Lord, I may be imitating Him – His image and His likeness - upon the Cross.

Things change; everything changes.  But the Lord never changes.  This is the secret to success; to my holiness.

Believe it or not, I think I know the Lord better than I know myself.  I know Him better than I know anyone else.  Why?  Because He never changes.  I know that if I believe in Him, He will save me; if I ask for forgiveness, He will forgive me; if I receive Him in the Eucharist, He will dwell in me.  I know this because He never changes this. 

But when it comes to me, I know not who I am or what I am capable of doing.  How many promises have I broken?  How many friends have I turned to enemies?  How many people have I forgotten?  

Are you just like me: unpredictable?   

“Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”   Only one leper returned; only one turned around to give thanks to God.  All of lepers showed great faith, hope and love to be healed, but only one finished it off by giving thanks. 
 
So, did all ten lepers deserve what they got?  Yes…and no.  Yes, because God says that faith works and saves. No, because salvation comes from “the kindness and generous love of God our savior” (Ti 3:1-7).
 
God's love is predictable.  Our gratitude is unpredictable.  So where does gratitude fit into our salvation?  By being the one out of ten that show it.
 
Let's show it.  Let’s be predictable.

1 comment:

  1. I do not believe that God is ever really "distant" from us, but rather through our rebellion and lack of love for Him, we become "distant" from Him. Even when we can't hear HIs voice at times, or when prayer feels stale and dry. He is closer to us in those times, more then when experiencing consolation. Sometimes I feel like one of those lepers. I too am crawling. NO not crawling...more like schoot on my behind! I know that sometimes,all I can do is to ask Jesus to pick me up. Because, I am too tired to even move.

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