Shema

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Shema

Moses     Jesus

Continuing     Enjoining     Fulfilling

Fidelity To The Covenant

Love

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Deuteronomy 6:2 to 6

Moses spoke to the people and said: "Respect the Lord, your God, and hold fast, in all the days of your lives, all his laws and commands which I enjoin on you, and you will have a long life.

"Hear then, Israel, and be sure to follow them, that you may grow and flourish the more, in keeping with the covenant of the Lord, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.

"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you this day."

Reflection

In this reading from The Book of Deuteronomy Moses is stressing the importance of the law. When we think of the law, we can have different reactions.

Sometimes we can think of the law as too rigid and we need more understanding with regard to individual circumstances. We can also think of the law as important for keeping order in our society.

What Moses is talking about is the law which can lead to a longer life. The purpose of the law is to help us all have a good life.

The law is not to be seen as a burden or an obstacle for us. It is to assist us to thrive.

God has initiated a covenant with us. God has made a promise. God wants to be part of our lives. God wants to be one with us.

What is the promise? God says that we will be given a "land flowing with milk and honey." 

That land comes to us when we take time to really listen to the voice of God. The Hebrew word shema is translated as "hear". If we want to enter that special land, it is important that we take time in prayer to really understand where God is leading us.

Milk and honey come to us when we truly love God. The law is enjoined on us so that we will take the time to let that special Love of God fill us and transform us. 

This calls for much effort on our part. "All" our heart, "all" our soul, and "all" our strength. The "all" is emphasized so that we know this can not be accomplished without much effort on our part.

Thees words have to be part of our "heart". We have to embrace them completely.

We see the wonderful continuity of this message from Moses to Jesus. This is why any form of anti-Semitism makes no sense. The message is clearly to love and never to hate.

Kathy's picture was taken in Washington D. C. at the Franciscan Shrine of the Holy Land. It reminds us of the importance of respecting all of our faith traditions and living the law of Love each day.

As we do that with all our strength, we enter the land flowing with milk and honey!

1. Why is the law so important?

2. What is the promise God makes personally to you?

3. How do you try to hear (shema) the voice of God?

4. What does Kathy's picture say to you?

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

Blindness

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Blindness

Truth     Faith

Shed     Cast-Off     Sin

I Want To See

Master

(picture and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his followers and a big crowd, Bartimaeus, a man who was blind, the son of Timaeus, sat by the side of the road begging. 

On hearing that Jesus of Nazareth was passing on the road, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."

And many in the crowd called out to him and told him to be silent. But he kept saying even more, "Son of David, have mercy on me."

Jesus heard this and said, "Call him."

So they went over to the blind man and said to him, "Be strong; get up, Jesus is calling for you." He immediately shed his cloak, rose up, and came to Jesus.

Jesus said to him in reply, "What is it that you would like me to do for you?"

The blind man said, "Master, I would like to see."

Jesus said to him, "Go on your way; your faith has saved you."

At once he was able to see and followed Jesus on the way.

Reflection

In our reading from Mark we encounter a blind man, Bartimaeus, crying out to Jesus. Naturally all those who are gathered around Jesus want him to be quiet so that the crowd can focus on Jesus.

We have to admire the persistence of Bartimaeus. He keeps on crying out even more!

Jesus recognizes his faith. He hears Bartimaeus call out to Him using the messianic title---Son of David. Jesus knows that this man is embracing the Good News.

One of the amazing aspects of this story is that it is the blind man who recognizes that the Messiah is in our midst. We also notice the immediacy of Bartimaeus's response: he sheds his cloak and goes to Jesus right away. No hesitation at all.

We can reflect on our own response to Jesus. Do we hesitate? Do we make excuses? 

Jesus does not presume to know what Bartimaeus needs. He asks him.

Can we hear the voice of Jesus asking us what we need today? Jesus values us enough, respects us enough, and loves us enough to ask.

Bartimaeus tells Jesus that he wants to see; but in so many ways he already does. Jesus acknowledges this by telling Bartimaeus that his faith leads him. Jesus knows that Bartimaeus truly believes.

It is interesting that Jesus tells him to go on his way but Bartimaeus decides that his way is going to be to follow Jesus. He knows that Jesus is the Master. 

He is blind no more.

In many ways he was never blind!

1. How persistent are you in following Jesus?

2. What would you like to ask of Jesus today?

3. Is Jesus your Master?

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

 

Ransom

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Ransom

Self     Offering

Delivering     Loving     Rescuing

The Plan of Salvation

Redemption

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Mark 10: 42 to 45

Jesus brought the apostles together and said, "You know that those who are known as the rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions make their power over them clear. 

But this will not be the way with you.

Rather whoever wishes to be great among you will serve the others.

Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the helper of all.

For the Son of Man did not come into this world to be waited upon but to serve all and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Reflection

In our passage from Mark we see Jesus bringing the apostles together for a little "chat" after James and John approached Him seeking special places in Heaven----one wanted to be on the right of Jesus and the other on the left. They wanted the best spots!

Jesus senses what is going on here and notices the jealousy among the apostles after this occurs and the resultant anger that could easily destroy the bond that he is trying to create among His apostles.

What is His solution?

He tells them what it really means to be His follower. 

It is not about your position.

It is not about power.

It is not about your title.

It is not about lording it over anyone.

It is about serving others: "to give and not to count the cost" as we pray in the Prayer of St. Francis.

It is about becoming a "ransom". We think of ransom as paying a price so that someone we love will be released from captivity.

Jesus was our ransom. He gave His life for us. He held nothing back.

He was completely innocent but yet He was falsely accused of trying to incite a rebellion and threaten the power of the Romans.

His only "rebellion" was a rebellion of love, a rebellion of service to others.

When we follow Jesus, we are also called to be a ransom for others---to give our lives in loving service, even when that might be misunderstood, belittled, or mocked.

I heard a homily recently that was an eye opener for me. The presider was talking about the Problem of Suffering and said the answer to this age old mystery is simply "you and me".

We are called to alleviate suffering, to heal those whose hearts are broken, to bring justice to our divided world.

It is a challenging call and one that can seem overwhelming but it is a call that we do not share alone. 

We have been ransomed.

We are called to follow Jesus and to ransom others whom we encounter on our daily journey.

Kathy's photo shows how this plan of salvation is reflected all around us if we open our eyes to the Good News of Jesus!

1. How do you feel called to serving others?

2. How do you see Jesus as "ransoming" you?

Render

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Render

Soul     Spirit

Discerning     Reflecting     Receiving

Living Word Of God

Wisdom

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Hebrews 4:12 to 13

Brothers and sisters: The word of God is alive and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to come between even the soul and the spirit, joints and marrow, and also to discern reflections and messages of the heart.

No creature can hide from Him, but everything is open and exposed to the gaze of Him to whom we must render an account.  

Reflection

How powerful is the word of God?

If we think in terms of worldly power, we might answer this by saying that the word of God is merely a collection of books that we put on a shelf for decorative purposes. It has very little power.

There are no armies that it commands, no ships that it can get to sail, and no missiles or drones that it will launch. 

It contains a different kind of power. The word of God can change hearts, lives, and attitudes. It can lead us in new ways.

The word of God can heal the hearts of the wounded and revive the souls of the discouraged. It can motivate us to help those in need and to companion with the depressed and distressed.

A sword can do a lot of damage, inflict much pain. The word of God can alleviate suffering and inspire us to see the potential in each person we meet.

As we read the word of God, we can find much wisdom. A passage or a word can impact us greatly.

A great example is when St. Francis of Assisi read: "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and lose her or his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

He most likely had heard those words before but they never really penetrated deeply. As he reflected on them, he realized that he was not rendering his life to God but he was just interested in the things of this world only.

That verse planted a seed in him. He couldn't stop thinking about it. He realized that all of the things he was doing----the drinking, the gambling, the fighting---were not really satisfying the hungers of his heart.

He began to discern a different way of life. He no longer wanted to just work in his father's business and make money and live a life of comfort.

He received wisdom in his soul and reflected on the word of God. The two-edged sword of God's word penetrated his spirit and he was a different person.

So it is with us. A passage that we have read many times suddenly comes alive for us and turns our heart in a different direction. 

All of a sudden the word of God makes sense to us. We understand it. We appreciate it. We live it.

We can not hide from God. 

The real question is: why would we want to?

Do we hide from those who love us?

We are invited to accept that Love as the flower in Kathy's photo has accepted it. 

We are called to bloom, to be transformed, to be loved by a Love beyond all telling.

When we live in that Love, true Wisdom will always be with us.

1. How powerful is the word of God in your life?

2. How has the word of God helped you in your faith journey?

3. Have you ever been impacted by a passage from scripture as St. Francis was?

4. Have you ever wanted to hide from God?

5. How do you find true Wisdom?

(scripture adapted, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Little-Ones

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Little-Ones

Open     Receptive

Accepting     Receiving     Embracing

Children Come To Me

Jesus

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Mark 10: 13 to 16

People were bringing children to Jesus that He might touch them, but the disciples tried to stop them. 

When Jesus noticed this, He was upset and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God as a child accepts it will not enter in."

Then Jesus embraced them and blessed them.

He placed His hands on them.

Reflection

It is easy to understand the reaction of the disciples in our passage from The Gospel of Mark. They don't want the children to bother Jesus.

He doesn't see the children as a bother at all. It sounds like He enjoys being with them.

I have always found that I learn so much from children. The way they look at the world with fresh eyes. 

Everything is so amazing for them. Those things we take for granted are special for them.

I remember taking a walk with our granddaughter one day. She saw a butterfly and we had to run after it! 

We never caught it. She totally enjoyed the chase!

I just love the image of Jesus embracing the children. It speaks to my soul and tells me that Jesus will always make time for me.

I heard a homily recently in which the priest was expanding the notion of the "little ones". Usually, of course, we just think of children.

He was saying that the "little ones" can refer to any group that is vulnerable. It can be the marginalized, refugees, immigrants, the homeless, addicts, or those facing mental illness.

Sometimes, unfortunately, these are the very people we walk away from. Jesus shows us another way.

Anyone who is ignored or seen as too much trouble for "important" people, Jesus sees in a different light. He says simply, "Come to me."

He embraces all those whom we refuse to embrace. The Kingdom belongs to them!

1. Who are the people in your life with whom you do not bother? 

2. What have you learned from the children you have encountered?

3. Do you think that Jesus will always make time for you?

4. Who are the "little ones" in your life?

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