Plan

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Plan

  God's   Salvation

Commit   Commandments   Love

Whole Heart Mind Soul

Shema

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Mark 12:29 to 31

Jesus said, "The first great commandment is: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone. You shall love God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.'

The second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' These are the greatest commandments."

Reflection

How important is it for you to have a plan for your life? Most of us like to set goals for our year, our month, and our week. After we set those goals, we try to come up with a plan to accomplish them.

Many businesses work that way. If you are running a car dealership, you want to sell a certain number of units during the month. Each of the salespersons is tasked with a goal for the month.

What is God's plan for us? Jesus shares it with us as He responds to a question about which of the commandments are the greatest. Jesus knows the Jewish tradition very well and quotes the famous Shema from the sixth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy. Jesus would have started His day and ended His day with this prayer.

The plan that Jesus gives us is a simple one but a very powerful one. We are called to love God with all our strength. This is the way to our salvation. 

When we commit to this plan, the Love of God can fill us. With the power of that Love within us, we can then love our neighbor as Jesus urges us.

For this plan to work, we have to commit our "whole" self as Jesus says. We can't give a half-hearted effort. We have to be dedicated to the plan.

Jesus leads us to the Shema and to God's Love.

There is no better plan! 

1. What is your plan for life?

2. What are some of the goals you have set to accomplish your plan?

3. What is God's plan for us?

4. How can you make God's plan work in your life?

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

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

Vision

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Vision

Spiritual   Blindness

Calling   Begging   Receiving

I Want To See

Faith

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Mark 10:50 to 52

Bartimaeus put aside his cloak, jumped up, and came right to Jesus. 

Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?"

The blind man replied and said, "Master, I want to see."

Jesus told him, "Go on your way, your faith has saved you."

Right away he got his sight back and followed Jesus.

Reflection

Have you ever thought how important your vision is? Most of us just take it for granted until there is a problem, and we have to get help.

However, in addition to our physical vision we also need a spiritual vision to guide us as we form our values. As easily as we can fall and trip with faulty vision, if our values are confused, we can be led astray. Just think of all the people who follow leaders and wind up in a cult because they are not clear on what they stand for.

That spiritual blindness can lead us to search for things that we think will make us happy but ultimately fail to satisfy. I can remember a conversation that I had with a man in his early thirties who was wondering why he wasn't happy even though he had a new car, a wonderful home, and a beautiful boat. He had accomplished much and thought that he was following the American Dream.

We all need to stop and reflect on what is truly important in our lives. For Bartimaeus it was the realization that he should follow Jesus. He followed the call that Jesus had placed in his heart.

He was not afraid to beg for help from Jesus. When he cried out, Jesus received his plea and responded to it. 

He wanted to see.

His faith in Jesus led him to see.

His cry for help is our cry today. We need the wisdom and vision of Jesus to guide us as well.

Will we ask for it as Bartimaeus did?

1. Do you take your vision for granted?

2. How important is spiritual vision for you?

3. What are your most important values?

4. How does your belief in Jesus guide you?

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

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

Suffering Servant

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Suffering Servant

Mission   Deliverance

Justice   Salvation   Mercy

He Came To Serve

Ransom

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Mark 10:43 to 45

Whoever wishes to be first among you must be your servant.

The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Reflection

The prophet Isaiah tells us about a suffering servant who will take on the guilt of many. This suffering servant will bring redemption to the people. It is amazing when we read this part of Isaiah (Chapters 49 to 55) how it leads us to what Jesus has done even though it was written hundreds of years earlier.

The mission of the servant is to deliver the people from darkness and evil. We can all get caught up in doing the wrong things. It is easy for us to put our own needs first. We can forget about those who are struggling.

I was talking recently with a man who was sharing about a rare illness that his daughters were facing. He said during our conversation that he was aware that many others were facing much more difficult and challenging conditions.

I was impressed with his ability to put his own difficulties aside and to concentrate on the needs of others.

The servant comes to bring justice. We are all aware of the inequities in our world. We are so upset to see the many wars that are being fought, and we realize that a lack of true justice is often the cause. 

The suffering servant reminds us that each of us has an important role to play in working for justice. Many times, it might seem that our efforts are not bearing fruit. The pace of needed change seems far too slow for us. We can get frustrated.

Part of the suffering of the servant can be the lack of response from others. If we are working for justice, however, we stay committed to doing our best in reaching out and advocating for what is right.

The suffering servant comes to bring salvation. It is the good news that we are loved, and God will be with us and assist us as we try to reach out for others.

 

 God is merciful and knows that there will be times when we think more of ourselves than of others. A good example of this is found in the earlier verses from the Gospel of Mark quoted above.

James and John come to Jesus and ask for special places in the kingdom. Showing great patience and kindness, Jesus points out that this is not the path of the servant.

We are called to think less about ourselves and our own power and position. We are called to serve as Jesus did.

Through His loving service, which involved much suffering, Jesus ransomed us from our selfishness and lack of caring for others. Jesus showed us a different path, the path of the suffering servant. 

Jesus invites us to walk that path with Him each day of our lives and assures us that we will never walk it alone. He will always be with us and lead others to help us as well.

1. How do you try to avoid putting your own needs first?

2. What are some of the ways you work to bring more justice into our world?

3. How do you overcome the frustrations that we all face in trying to bring more justice to those in need?

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

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

  

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)