Simon Peter

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Simon Peter

Three Time Denier

Tend   Feed   Follow

Do You Love Me?

Yes, Lord

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 21:17

Jesus said to Peter a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was upset that Jesus had asked him this a third time.

He said to Jesus, "You know everything; you know how much I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep."

Reflection

Do you love Jesus?

In some ways this was a very difficult question for Peter (and for all of us) to answer. After all, Peter had denied Jesus three times when he had the opportunity to let others know that he was a follower of Jesus.

We also, of course, have many opportunities to say that we follow Jesus each day. How many of us take advantage of these and actually proclaim our love for Jesus by caring for others, especially those on the margins of society---the "untouchables" of today.

We can tend to the needs of others by feeding the hungry and welcoming those fleeing from danger. Are we too busy protecting our own interests and worried about ourselves to reach out to those whose presence makes us uncomfortable? Are we too afraid that we won't have enough to buy a bigger home or a better car?

Jesus tells Peter to literally feed others. We are all aware and try our best to share our food when we encounter someone who needs a good meal. Feeding, however, can take on many dimensions. 

Pope Francis reminded us that when we encounter someone on the street who could be homeless or lonely, we should look them in the eyes and speak with them. Of course, we are all very busy and it is a challenge to give someone that amount of time. We don't like to have our schedule interrupted. However, if we love Jesus, maybe that is the feeding that is needed for that person at that moment.

So many people are just ignored. They might be feeling unloved and unimportant. Isn't Jesus telling us that each person in His flock is important? Shouldn't each person be fed? We never know if our stopping to acknowledge an individual might be a turning point for that person.

Jesus called Peter and calls us to follow Him. We know this will not always be easy. It could bring us into situations that might make us afraid and uncomfortable. We certainly have to be wise and careful. The thought we have to ponder concerns our ability to do a little more to follow Jesus.

Thinking about that and praying over it can lead us to be more aware of some ways we can "follow". We know that Jesus will lead us and guide us in this regard if we are open and take time to discern.

As situations present themselves, we will have the opportunity that Peter had to say "Yes, Lord!". If we fail sometimes (as Peter did), Jesus will not give up on us. He healed Peter of his three-fold denial by asking him three times if he loved Him. 

We know that when we do stumble, hesitate, give in to our fears, Jesus understands. He asks us if we love Him, because He doesn't want anything to separate us from His Love.

Do you love Him?

1. Why is "Do you love Jesus?" a difficult question in some respects?

2. How do you try to follow Jesus each day?

3. How can our fears stop us from feeding others?

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

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

Solomon's Portico

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Solomon's Portico

Apostles   Peter's   Shadow

Signs   Wonders   Miracles

They Were All Cured

Believers

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Acts of the Apostles 5:15

As the apostles met in Solomon's portico, many of the people carried the sick into the streets.

They would put them on mats so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on them and they would be cured.

Reflection

How powerful is your shadow?

In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles we encounter an amazing shadow---a shadow that heals many who are sick. The people believed in that shadow because they had seen up close healings that Jesus had done through Peter. 

This ability to heal and make people whole again motivated these early followers to bring the sick near to Peter. They had been gathering at Solomon's portico in the temple area and had observed the path that Peter was taking. 

I can just imagine the scene as the people brought all the sick to Jerusalem and lined them up on the side of the street. You can feel the joy as the people got better.

This incident invites us to have that same faith that these earlier followers had. We can bring those who are in need of healing to Jesus through our prayers and by our caring acts of love in visiting the sick and the wounded.

There are many levels of healing that are needed today. We can think of those who are lonely and have no one to visit them. There are many who are homeless and seem to be forgotten in our society. People are fleeing persecution and death threats in their home country and need to find security and safety.

Are we ready to get our mats and to bring those who feel isolated to that healing shadow of Peter? 

Peter was able to heal because he was one with Jesus. He had experienced the forgiveness of Jesus and the power of the resurrection. He truly believed that Jesus could overcome all the obstacles of fear and doubt that many of us place in front of us. 

When we become believers, the powerful shadows of faith and love will heal our wounds and strengthen us to bring our mats to others in need.

Enjoy those shadows!

1. Have you experienced the power of healing in your life?

2. What are some of the healings that we need today in our society?

3. How important is belief as we seek to bring our sisters and brothers for healing?

4. What do you experience as you reflect on Kathy's photo of Pope Francis?

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

Name

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Name

He   Saves

Emulate   Self-Emptying   Servanthood

Jesus Christ Is Lord

Bended Knee

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Philippians 2: 9 to 11

Because Jesus was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, God has exalted Him and given Him a NAME that is above every other name.

At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Reflection

Have you ever thought about why your parents gave you the name that they chose for you?

I was named John after my father and grandfather and passed that name on to our oldest son. I always felt a deep connection with both of them. 

I learned later that my name means God is gracious. I have always felt the strong influence of God's grace in my life---truly Amazing Grace! It is also the name of two of my favorite people from the Bible, John the Baptist and John the Apostle.

The name Jesus is special to all of us who believe that He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became man for us. The name Jesus means The Lord Saves.

Jesus became man to offer us the gift (the grace) of salvation. Jesus wants us to live with Him forever and to experience eternal happiness.

Jesus shows us the path to happiness through the life He lived. We are called to emulate His example of humility and faithfulness to the call that God gave Him.

Jesus did this through His self-emptying. He did not come trying to accumulate wealth and power for Himself. He came instead to serve the poor and the outcasts of His day. He did not care that He was ridiculed and mocked for doing this. He knew that this was the right thing to do. We have to serve those who are most in need.

Because of whom He was and what He did, we proclaim that Jesus is Lord. Many object to this term because of its patriarchal overtones (as in Lord of the manor). Many lords in former times exploited women and those in the underclass. 

Jesus is Lord in an entirely different way. He has come to serve others, to wash their feet. He does not want to suppress or stymie us but to shower us with His Love in every way possible.

Our knee is bended at the name of Jesus out of respect and acknowledgement of what Jesus has done for all of us. 

I always picture Jesus approaching me as I am on bended knee and lifting me up into his arms and telling me how much He loves me and how much He will always be with me.

His name heals and helps.

He comes to lift us up!

1. What is the history behind the name you were given?

2. How do you feel when you hear the name of Jesus?

3. What do you think when you hear the term, Lord? 

4. How do you picture the servanthood of Jesus?

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

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

Moses

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Moses

Burning   Bush

Stand   Holy   Ground

What Is His Name

I Am

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Exodus 3:13

"But," said Moses to God," when I speak to the Israelites and say to them 'The God of your fathers has told me to come to you,' if they ask me, 'What is His name?' what should I say to them?"

Reflection

Have you ever taken some time to reflect on your name? It is often very revealing when we discover how we got our name. Sometimes it can come from a parent, grandparent, or someone else on our family tree. A famous person who meant a lot to our parents can be the inspiration for our name. We could be named after a special saint who has some wonderful characteristics.

In our scripture passage from Exodus, Moses has an amazing encounter. He is tending the sheep of his father-in-law and is amazed at seeing a bush that is on fire but not consumed by that fire. 

Naturally he thinks this is rather odd but that's only the beginning! As he comes close to this burning bush to check it out, he hears a voice calling out to him.

He quickly realizes that this is no hallucination or ordinary voice. It is the voice of God.

God tells him that the ground on which Moses is standing is holy ground. I can just imagine Moses shaking at this point.

He was probably wondering why God would want to talk with him. He didn't have to wait long to get his answer. God had a mission for Moses.

The mission was a very challenging one: to lead the Israelites out of Egypt where they were enslaved and into a special land, a land that would be overflowing with milk and honey. 

In many ways Moses was probably the most unlikely one for God to choose for this mission. He had killed an Egyptian officer and had to flee or face death himself. However, God (as always) knows whom to pick.

Moses wants to avoid this request in any way he can. He poses several questions to God so that he can walk away from this very challenging task.

Moses asks for God's name. The answer he gets is "I AM". It is the sacred name that a devout Jewish person will never say. It is too special to be repeated. There are several alternatives that are used instead, such as Adonai (the Lord). 

The name reveals that God is always present to us. God was present with Moses in leading the people out of Egypt and helping him deal with the difficulties he encountered in calming the people as they struggled in the desert. 

It also reassures us today. God will be with us. 

Yes, there will be hard times. We will face many obstacles and difficult situations.

God lets us know, as God let Moses know, that we are never alone. 

It's in the Name!

1. Is there a story behind your name?

2. How would you react if you heard a voice coming from a burning bush?

3. Why was Moses so reluctant to accept the mission that God wanted to give him?

4. Have you ever been reluctant to accept a call that God was giving you?

5. Do you feel that God is always present with you?

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

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

Test

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Test

Own   Sins

Selfrighteous   Judge   Condemn

Put Your Rock Down

Mercy

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 8:5 and 6

The scribes and the Pharisees spoke to Jesus when He was in the Temple area, "In the law of Moses women who are caught in the act of adultery like this woman should be stoned to death. What do you say?"

They said this to test Him.

Reflection

When we hear the word test, it can generate some anxiety. Am I prepared for this test? Did I study the right material? What will happen if I fail?

The scribes and the Pharisees in our reading from John want to trap Jesus. If Jesus approves of the stoning of this woman who has been caught in adultery, He could be in trouble with the Roman authorities because they alone had the power to execute someone. If He went against the law from Moses, He would be in trouble with the religious authorities. It was a no-win situation for Jesus.

Jesus moves everyone in a different direction. He gets them to reflect on their own sins and failings. How can anyone pick up a stone to throw at someone when each of us is guilty of being selfish or hurtful to others? None of us is perfect.

It can be easy to be self-righteous. We can too easily look down on others and feel superior. "I would never do that." Yet we conveniently overlook all the other things we have done that are wrong, silly, or stupid. 

It's easy to judge the actions of others and forget all the mistakes we have made. We judge others many times even before we know all the circumstances surrounding their actions. We can condemn others before we have all the facts.

How many times have we heard something on the news about a crime and swiftly rushed to a judgment? A few months later an item is buried several pages back that talks about the charges being dropped because the account given by the witness was false. We don't even hear about the exoneration. In our mind the person is still guilty!

Jesus gets the people to put their rocks down and to leave this woman alone. He shows us that there is another path we can take, the road of reconciliation and forgiveness. 

We can refrain from judging and offer mercy in place of condemnation. Our test becomes an evaluation of our ability to become more understanding and less blind to our own failings.

Jesus passed the test He was given with His insight into the human condition. 

Are you prepared to pass the tests you face every day to be less judgmental and more merciful?

1. What do you feel when you hear the word test?

2. How do you try to avoid being self-righteous?

3. Why is it so easy to judge someone before we have all the facts?

4. How was Jesus able to pass the test that He was given?

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

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

Creation

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Creation

Anew   Christlike

Entrusting   Proclaiming   Transforming

The Message of Reconciliation

Righteousness

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Second Corinthians 5: 17 to 19

If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.

All that is old has passed away.

The new has come.

This comes to us from God.

We have been reconciled to God through Christ and given the ministry of reconciliation.

Our sins will not be counted against us.

We have been given the message of reconciliation.

Reflection

Have you ever thought of yourself as a new creation?

Most of us think of our original creation and give thanks for the gift of life from our parents. Life is precious and we try to make the most out of this amazing gift we have been given.

In our reading from Second Corinthians Paul is pointing us in a different direction. Because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we have been given a new gift of life, a new creation. Jesus has come to fill us with grace. He invites us to proclaim a new message.

It is the message of reconciliation. God comes to us offering forgiveness so that we can put our old ways behind us and start anew. 

So many times, we are crippled by our past. We talk about people who are stuck at a certain point in life and who have never moved forward. A painful memory, a frightening encounter, or a family tragedy can paralyze us.

Jesus comes to us in these situations with a message: I want to embrace you with My Grace and fill you with new life. I don't want to see you burdened by your past. I have come to reconcile you to God and to lead you in a new direction. 

This process of reconciliation leads to our transformation. We gradually realize that the past cannot limit us. Jesus wants to heal those old wounds and pour new life into us.

As beautiful and awesome as our original creation was for us, our new creation in Jesus is even more filling. It is a grace that will always be with us and that will help us bring the message of reconciliation to everyone. 

We will feel the righteousness of God deep within. It is a new beginning. 

Creation time is here and now!

1. What do you feel as you ponder your creation?

2. How is Jesus offering you personally a new creation?

3. Why is forgiveness so important for starting anew and healing the wounds of the past?

4. Are you ready for a new beginning with Jesus?

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

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

Planted

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Planted

Fig   Tree

Fruitless   Exhausted   Barren

Cultivate It And Fertilize

Reborn

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 13: 8b to 9

'Leave this fig tree for a year.

I will cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it.

It could bear fruit in the future even though it has not borne fruit for three years.

If it does not bear any fruit in the future, then you can cut it down.'

Reflection

Are you a patient person?

How long would you wait for your fig tree to bear fruit?

This can be a very difficult call for us. We don't want to waste a lot of energy and effort on a fig tree, a project, a relationship, or a cause that doesn't seem to be fruitful. Most of us like and are used to instant results.

Jesus is pointing out in this parable from Luke that patience can be a good thing. Our first step is the planting. We have to plant our tree with much care.

We need that same care in all of our relationships. Some friendships do not last because we have not planted well, we have not been honest, or we have not communicated clearly.

The fig tree can produce some delicious fruit. We can all reflect on some wonderful friendships we have experienced that have brought us much joy. Careful planting in both cases is the important first step.

When our tree or our relationships are fruitless, we have decisions to make. We know that there is a problem. We can feel exhausted and barren. As we examine the soil around our fig tree, we look at the quality of the soil.

If the tree has been planted deep enough and if it has been properly watered, we can look at other issues. We can cultivate it and fertilize it and see if this makes a difference.

This is important in our relationships as well. We have to spend time with our friends and fertilize our time together with good listening.

My personal experience with fig trees bears that out. In my first year there was very little growth. Then gradually the fig tree blossomed, and I was able to plant others from the roots of the first one and even give some away.

Now my first fig tree is huge, and I've had to trim it back or else it would take up my whole front yard. It was as if the tree was reborn after that first disappointing year.

During that first year, several people advised me to get rid of the fig tree. They thought it would never grow. A recipe of cultivation with fertilizer and a dose of patience paid off. The number of figs I get each year are amazing. I am able to give many away to others.

Our relationships with people and God are very much like this. We have to make sure our roots are planted deeply. We have to wait patiently for our friendships to develop. We have to take time to cultivate and fertilize.

It is important to be persistent because those relationships can be reborn with enough patience and effort. How many times have we all been surprised when we meet someone after twenty years and discover new aspects of personality, character, and insight that we didn't notice? Our patience in sticking with the relationship can pay off and bear much fruit. 

Enjoy your daily planting!

1. Do you feel that you are a patient person?

2. Do you like to see instant results?

3. Why have some of your friendships fallen apart?

4. How can your relationships with God and your friends be reborn?

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

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