Two-Edged Sword

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Two-Edged Sword

Powerful   Sharp

Believe   Trust   Hope

Living Word of God

Penetrate

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is living and powerful.

 It is even sharper than a two-edged sword.

It penetrates between the soul and the spirit.

It penetrates between the joints and marrow.

It is able to comprehend reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Reflection

Have you ever had the experience of reading a passage from the Bible, and you are amazed at how it hits home?

The author of Hebrews compares the Word of God to a two-edged sword that penetrates deeply. It strikes a chord within us.

This can lead to some very powerful experiences for us. It can draw us closer to God and give us guidance to make the right decisions in our lives.

The passage that strikes us can be so sharp that it leads us to take another look at something that we had previously decided. All of a sudden that new insight opens our eyes to a different way of looking at that decision.

The classic example is Saint Francis. When he read the passage from Matthew 6:21 ("For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."), he decided to dedicate his life completely to God. He looked at his life in a different way.

The Word of God can lead us to believe in a deeper way. All of a sudden as we are reflecting on a certain passage, our beliefs come alive, and we understand our faith in a new way.

I remember reading about the Transfiguration of Jesus and realizing the glory and the power of Jesus. I understood the connection between the teachings of Jesus and Moses and Elijah.

When the Word of God comes alive in that way, your trust in God grows. You see how consistent God has been in reaching out to us and in establishing the covenant with us. We can hope in the fulfillment of God's promises and begin to realize how deeply we are loved.

The Word of God is then living because it has become part of our life. It is not words in a book. It penetrates our heart, and we realize those words make sense and help us to reach out to others.

That two-edged sword can penetrate deeply and transform us with the power and consolation of God's Word.

 Allow it to touch you and enlighten you.

1. What do you experience when you read the Bible?

2. Has a Bible passage ever helped you make a decision?

3. Does the Bible give you a better understanding of your faith?

4. What do you see as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

 

Childlike

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Childlike

Innocent   Trust

Accept   Believe   Enter

Kingdom of God

Faith

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Mark 10:14 and 15

Jesus said, "Let the children come to me.

Do not stop them.

The Kingdom of God belongs to them.

Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child does will not enter it."

Reflection

What does it really mean to be childlike? A child is innocent. A child has trust in those who guide them---parents, teachers, coaches. They listen to those who want to protect them and show them the right way to do things.

Children are accepting when they know we are worthy of trust. I think of the times we have watched our grandchildren. They know us and know that we want only good things for them. They accept us as part of their lives.

Children will believe us when we tell them to be careful as they are crossing the street. They know that we want them to be safe. They believe us because we have helped them in the past and we are reliable.

Children can enter into the world of faith. They are seeking a deeper connection with the Creator. They are open to all God wants to share with them.

God invites them into the Kingdom. The children are open to enter into the Kingdom because they have experienced the Love of God through the love and care of those adults whom they have trusted and have shown themselves to be reliable and helpful.

They come to faith because of the positive experiences they have had in their lives. They have experienced real love, and they have learned that their faith has been rewarded. It has led them to good experiences.

That childlike faith can be lost when we have  had disappointments and betrayals. When our trust has been misplaced, we need to be able to discern the path to rebuild it so we can once again enter the Kingdom.

The stairs in Kathy's photo reminds me of our son, John. When he was younger, he would climb down the stairs to listen to the television and try to extend his bedtime. Eventually he realized that it was good to get the sleep he needed, and he wasn't really missing much. He trusted us.

When we place our trust in Jesus and become childlike in our acceptance of God's promise, we can enter into the Kingdom of God where we can experience the Love that God wants to share with us.

With that Love, we can climb the stairs to encounter our sisters and brothers and to share that Love with them. Jesus is inviting us to come to Him so that we can experience His Love for us. When we are childlike in our trust and acceptance, we can say yes to that invitation.

1. What does it mean to be childlike?

2. Why are children so open to the gift of faith?

3. How do you respond when your childlike trust has been betrayed?

4. How have you accepted the invitation from Jesus to put your trust in Him? 

5. What do you see as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Precepts

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

                                                             Precepts

God's Instructions

Virtue   Morality   Spirituality

Give the Heart Joy

Bestowed

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:  Psalm 19:8 and 9

The law of God is perfect.

It breathes new life into our souls.

The precepts of God are trustworthy.

They give wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are true.

They bring joy to our hearts.

Reflection

Have you ever thought how important precepts, commandments, and laws are? They help us to know how we should act towards others, and they help to promote a safe society. Without precepts our world could degenerate into chaos very easily.

We are blessed to have instructions from God. We find these in the scriptures. The most famous of these is the Ten Commandments. 

The purpose of these instructions is to lead us to act with virtue. If we are trying to decide the right path to follow, we can choose the path of virtue. 

For example, a certain situation might call us to act with courage. Others might be choosing a path that is easier, and we might be tempted to go along. They might be talking negatively about someone and ruining their reputation. In following the virtue of courage, we can change the conversation and try to move everyone in a different direction.

This always involves a risk. Some people might get upset with us because they get a certain satisfaction in putting someone down. We are called to follow a different path.

We want to develop a moral sense and to try to do what is right and just. This moral sensitivity leads us to a spirituality that binds us closer to God in our everyday lives and choices. We want to follow God more completely.

Following God and the precepts we have been given, fill our hearts with true joy. We know that what we are doing is lead by the Wisdom of God. Our joy overflows because we feel the presence of God in what we are trying to do. 

God has bestowed these precepts on us to help us to love more deeply. We are called to establish a kingdom of justice by treating our sisters and brothers with respect and fairness.

Our challenge is to take the precepts that we have been given by God and to live them every day so as to lift others up and build a more just society.

1. How important are precepts in your life?

2. How do you try to choose the path of virtue?

3. Has following the precepts of God led you to a deeper sense of joy in your life?

4. What do you feel as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Embrace

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Embrace

Sacred   Acceptance

Cultivate   Humility   Service

Lord Uphold My Life

Love

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Mark 9:35 to 37

Jesus sat down and called the Twelve Apostles and said to them: "If you wish to be first, you should take the last place and be of service to everyone else."

Jesus then took a child and placed the child with them. He embraced the child and said: "If you receive even one child in My name, you are receiving Me. When you receive Me, you are receiving the One who sent me."

Psalm 54: 6b

The Lord upholds my life.

Reflection

The embrace of Jesus. How amazing is that! How good will that feel!

Jesus shows the Apostles what that embrace really means when He embraces the child. This is what Jesus has come for. This is what Jesus wants to give to each one of us. Jesus shows the Apostles that to follow Him it will not be about position, status, or power. The key ingredient is to serve others just as Jesus does.

You might look at this episode and say that Jesus should not be wasting His time with children. For Jesus that is just the point. When you embrace someone with love, it is never a waste of time.

Put yourself in the sandals of that young child. Would you ever forget that embrace?

Jesus points out that when you also embrace a child in the way Jesus did, you will be receiving Him. Jesus is telling us that He will come to us and He will lead us to the Father. 

This shows us how deeply He loves us. He wants to come to us. He wants to lead us to the Father. 

When we are not concerned about our position, we are simply free to help others and to embrace them. We know that it is not about us. It's always about what we can give to someone else.

We know that we can be of service because, as the psalmist tells us, the Lord upholds us. We will not be abandoned to be of service and to embrace others by ourselves. The Lord will guide us. 

Enjoy that embrace!

1. Have you ever felt the embrace of Jesus?

2. Why is power and position such a temptation for us?

3. If we focus on reaching out to children in our ministries, are we just wasting our time?

4. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Ephphatha

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Ephphatha

Be   Opened

Choose    Fear   Not

Lord Sets Captives Free

Justice

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Mark 7:33 to 35

Jesus took the deaf man who had a speech impediment off by himself and apart from the crowd. Jesus put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue.

Jesus looked up to heaven and cried out. He then said to the man "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!").

The man's ears opened immediately, and his speech impediment disappeared. He spoke clearly.

James 2:5

Pay attention my dear friends. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God prepares for those who love the Holy One?

Isaiah 35:4

The Lord says: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God.

Psalm 146:6 and 7

The God of Jacob always keeps faith and secures justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets captives free.

Reflection

In our reading from Mark, Jesus performs an amazing miracle. He heals a man who is deaf and who has a speech impediment in an unusual way. He is very physical in this healing. He uses his fingers and some spittle and a loud groan to accomplish this wonder. You get the impression that this was not easy for Jesus. 

Jesus then says, "Ephphatha". He prays that this man's ears will be opened. As we see this miracle take place, we reflect on our own need to be open to the message that Jesus wants to share with us. Jesus has come as a healer. We can bring our needs to Him if we also are open to trusting in what He can accomplish in our lives.

James reminds us that openness (Ephphatha) is not connected to our bank account. God chooses us and we are called to respond. It is never based on how much money we have. It is all about our faith and our trust in God. 

God has chosen us to be part of the Kingdom of God. If we love God, we are heirs of the great feast that God is preparing. 

What are the obstacles that we face to truly loving God? Isaiah points out that it is our fear that can cripple us. We can feel that we are not worthy of God's Love. We can feel alone. We need to be strong and to trust that God will always be with us to help us overcome those moments of fear and doubt which come to everyone.

The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 146 that when we are captive to those fears which will come, the Lord will set us free. God knows that we need the healing that the man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking asked from Jesus. 

Jesus wants us to be opened to the grace that He wants to give us. God wants to bring justice to those who are oppressed. The Lord hears the cry of those who are hungry and in need and works through us to help others, to lift them up, to heal them. 

We have to be open (Ephphatha) to the power of God working through all of us. The seemingly little acts of love we do for others each day will bring hope, kindness, and justice to our sisters and brothers.

Are you open?

1. Are you open to the message that Jesus wants to share with you?

2. How important is money in responding to God's choice of us?

3. What are some of the obstacles that you face to accepting God's Love?

4. What fears have held you captive?

5. How can we bring justice to the oppressed today?

6. What do you see as you meditate on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Become

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Become

Word   Truth

Change   Transform   Convert

Be Doers of the Word

Begin

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:    James 1:17-18, 21b, 22

Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. 

God desired to give us new life by the word of truth.

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and saves you.

We become the first fruits of God's creation.

Be doers of the word and not just hearers. This way you will not delude yourself.

Reflection

What do you want to become?

The reading from James answers that question. We can become the first fruits of God's creation. Imagine that! 

The first fruits are always special. There is always excitement and anticipation. The farmer cultivates those fruits with care and patiently watches them grow. When they have ripened, everyone on the farm looks forward to tasting them.

In the eyes of God, we are those first fruits. God delights in us and is excited to see us change and grow.

God's word calls us into being. It is a word of truth, and it overcome all the lies and deceptions that can surround us.  We can easily follow the wrong advice and the wrong leader. God's word calls us back to focus on what is truly important and valuable.

We reject the shadows and the confusion and decide to follow the light. We become changed and transformed by the example and teachings of Jesus. A conversion happens within us. We have found peace.

We realize that it is not enough to just listen to the teachings of Jesus. We are called to fully embrace them and to put them into action as we become doers of the word.

That moment of realization becomes in us a new beginning. We know that God, the Mother and Father of Light, will always lead us as we try to work for justice and peace. 

We are called to become true disciples and to reach out to the most vulnerable and neglected in our midst. The first fruits are tasty indeed!

1. How do you feel when you realize that you are becoming the first fruits of God's creation?

2. What are some of the lies and deceptions with which you have had to contend?

3. Have you ever experienced a personal conversion in your life?

4. What does it mean for you to be a "doer of the word"?

5. How have you become a true disciple of Jesus?

6. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Peter

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Peter

Witness   Believer

Words   Spirit   Life

To Whom Shall We Go

Serve

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Joshua 24: 18

Joshua said, "We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God."

John 6:66 to 69

After Jesus spoke, many of the disciples left Jesus and returned home. Jesus then asked the Twelve, "Will you also leave Me?"

Simon Peter answered Him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

Reflection

In our reading from The Gospel of John, Peter is put in a difficult situation. Most of the followers of Jesus have left Him and returned home. After Jesus had fed five thousand men with just five barley loaves and two fish, many of His followers wanted to make Him a king.

Then Jesus told them that He would give them something much greater than the bread and the fish. He would give them His own body and blood. He wanted to feed them and nourish them always. The food He would give them would lead them to eternal life.

Many of the disciples could not accept this teaching. They left Jesus. 

Jesus was wondering if the Twelve whom He had chosen would also abandon Him. In some ways this must have been the low point of His ministry. He was trying to give Himself to His followers in a special way and He was utterly rejected.

Peter responded with an act of faith. He had been a witness to all that Jesus had said and done. He had seen the miracles of Jesus up close. He had witnessed His compassion and kindness to those in need. He had heard Jesus explain the Hebrew Scriptures so lucidly. He had listened to the teachings of Jesus about the Kingdom of God. 

All of those experiences had made Peter a believer. The words of Jesus had touched him. He felt the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus.

Peter knew that there was no one else he had ever encountered or heard about who was like Jesus. All of the teachers that Peter had met in his life could not compare in the knowledge and authority that had come forth from Jesus. There was no one else that Peter wanted to follow.

Peter made the decision to serve the Lord just as Joshua had done many years before. He recognized how special Jesus was.

We are faced with that same question that Peter answered. 

Will we leave Jesus?

Whom will we serve?

1. Why do you think so many of the followers of Jesus left Him after He spoke about giving them His Body and Blood?

2. How do you think Jesus felt after so many followers left Him?

3. Why does Peter say that he will follow Jesus?

4. Will you follow Jesus as Peter did?

5. What do you feel as you meditate on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)