Scripture for today, the 7th Sunday of the Easter Season: Acts of the Apostles 7: 55-60; Revelation 22: 12-20; John 17: 20-2 can be read at www.usccb.org/nab
What's Your Vision?
As personal experience, observing others, or continued learning may have taught, a vision or goal is very important. Having a vision or a goal can, consciously or unconsciously, affect our priorities, and, in turn, affect the ways we use our time, talent and treasure.
Although we may never be called upon to give our lives as a witness to Jesus as Stephen was called to do ( Acts of the Apostles), the way we envision and think about life touches ordinary, everyday choices as well as significant, life-changing ones.
As we may also know from experience, personal visions and goals call for periodic clarification and renewal. God’s Word today reminds us of the significance of one’s personal vision; this Word also challenges us to see how our visions and goals are touched by those of Jesus (John).
To think about: What influences my personal vision and goals?
What influences my family’s and my children’s visions and goals?
How do I define “success” and “achievement”?
Do I view people and circumstances in my life as Jesus views them?
How do I view people I consider my enemy?
Where do I need awareness of God’s presence to grow in my life?
To do: Take a few minutes each day (one or two minutes a few times a day can make a difference) to reflect on your blessings and gifts from God. Thank God for these blessings!
See the good that someone is doing and affirm those good words or actions.
Change your vision of consumerism by giving money to an organization that helps those in need instead of buying something you really don’t need. Let this be one way to show that your vision includes all people in the family of God.
Grow in living Stephen’s (Acts of the Apostles) and Jesus’ attitude of forgiveness: if there’s someone you’ve been unable to forgive, ask God to help you begin to want to forgive that person.
To pray: Picture Jesus blessing you as he says "May the love with which God has loved me be in you"(John) or “We are many parts, we are all one body” as a reminder of our connection to each other through God's Spirit.
Next week: Pentecost: God’s Spirit brings the church to life! Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-11; 1Corinthians 12: 3-13; John 20; 19-23
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
"Help for the Journey":Reflection for May 9, 2010, 6th Sunday of the Easter Season
"Help Along the Way": Reflection for the 6th Sunday of the Easter Season
Today's Scripture: Acts of the Apostles 15:22-29; Revelation 21: 10-14; John 14: 23-29 can be read at www.usccb.org/nab
Sometimes “where two or three are gathered”, difficulties, misunderstandings and disagreements can occur. Resolving these conflicts requires time, effort and willingness on the part of those involved. Sometimes a situation even calls for outside help.
God’s Word today reminds us that we have “outside help” available for our everyday lives; God’s Spirit is always with us (John).
And an awareness that even the early Christian community needed to work through dissensions (Acts) can help us as we face difficulties in our own lives.
As we let God’s Spirit teach us, our own way of dealing with life’s uncertainties and interactions can change. We can see life’s occurrences in a new light (Revelation).
Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, we can think of the many ways that our own mothers, as well as the people in our lives who have been like mothers to us, have put God’s Word into action in their own lives and have helped us realize our own giftedness and abilities as we walk our own life journey.
To think about: Where do I turn when I experience difficulties, misunderstandings and disagreements?
Do I usually expect “the other person” to change and agree with me?
Do I usually need to have things my way?
Have I ever tried a new way of approaching a relationship or interaction?
Have I ever asked God’s Spirit to teach me?
Who are my models for the way that I live my life and interact with others?
What am I teaching by the way I live?
Who has been a significant teacher in my life?
To do: Do one thing differently in the way you think, talk, or interact with one person or in one situation this week.
Ask God’s Holy Spirit to teach you a new way to do this- a way that will help bring true peace. Thank someone who has touched your life in some way, someone who has taught you an important “life lesson”.
Contact someone who has made a differnece in your life, especially someone who helped you see your own giftedness.
To pray: Visualize the situation or relationship that needs God’s Spirit as you pray, “Holy Spirit, you are welcome in this place.”
Next week: Either (depending on your diocese) the 7th Sunday of the Easter Season: Acts 7:55-60; Revelation 22: 12-20; John 17: 20 - 26 or Celebration of the Ascension: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1: 17 -23; Luke 24: 46-53
Today's Scripture: Acts of the Apostles 15:22-29; Revelation 21: 10-14; John 14: 23-29 can be read at www.usccb.org/nab
Sometimes “where two or three are gathered”, difficulties, misunderstandings and disagreements can occur. Resolving these conflicts requires time, effort and willingness on the part of those involved. Sometimes a situation even calls for outside help.
God’s Word today reminds us that we have “outside help” available for our everyday lives; God’s Spirit is always with us (John).
And an awareness that even the early Christian community needed to work through dissensions (Acts) can help us as we face difficulties in our own lives.
As we let God’s Spirit teach us, our own way of dealing with life’s uncertainties and interactions can change. We can see life’s occurrences in a new light (Revelation).
Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, we can think of the many ways that our own mothers, as well as the people in our lives who have been like mothers to us, have put God’s Word into action in their own lives and have helped us realize our own giftedness and abilities as we walk our own life journey.
To think about: Where do I turn when I experience difficulties, misunderstandings and disagreements?
Do I usually expect “the other person” to change and agree with me?
Do I usually need to have things my way?
Have I ever tried a new way of approaching a relationship or interaction?
Have I ever asked God’s Spirit to teach me?
Who are my models for the way that I live my life and interact with others?
What am I teaching by the way I live?
Who has been a significant teacher in my life?
To do: Do one thing differently in the way you think, talk, or interact with one person or in one situation this week.
Ask God’s Holy Spirit to teach you a new way to do this- a way that will help bring true peace. Thank someone who has touched your life in some way, someone who has taught you an important “life lesson”.
Contact someone who has made a differnece in your life, especially someone who helped you see your own giftedness.
To pray: Visualize the situation or relationship that needs God’s Spirit as you pray, “Holy Spirit, you are welcome in this place.”
Next week: Either (depending on your diocese) the 7th Sunday of the Easter Season: Acts 7:55-60; Revelation 22: 12-20; John 17: 20 - 26 or Celebration of the Ascension: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1: 17 -23; Luke 24: 46-53
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)