Beatitudes

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Beatitudes

Humble     Lowly

Chosen     Sanctified     Redeemed

Consider Your Own Calling

Seek

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Second Corinthians 1: 26 and 27

Consider your own calling, sisters and brothers.

You were not wise by human judgments, not many of your held positions of power, not many of you came from the nobility.

Rather God calls the foolish of the world to confound the wise.

Matthew 5: 1 to 3

Jesus saw that there was a large crowd gathering, so He decided to go up the mountain.

He sat down and His disciples gathered around Him.

He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, God's kingdom is theirs."

Reflection

How does God call us?

Many of us might respond to this question by saying that God does not really call me. We could reply that we really do not have as much talent, skill, charisma, or ability as so many other people we know. God might be calling them but not me!

St. Paul shatters that thought quickly as he writes to the Corinthians. God calls us not because of any special gift or gifts we might possess but simply because God calls us.

What does God calls us to do?

Jesus gives us the answer in the Beatitudes. God wants us to be poor in spirit. God desires us to be empty of any selfishness we might pursue, so that God can fill us with the Love and Grace God desires for us.

I had a recent experience of this which Kathy captured in her photo above. I had the BLESSING of being able to work with a wonderful man who wanted to be initiated into the Catholic Church. 

He felt God was calling him in this way. After a conversation with him and his supportive and prayerful wife, I had no doubt that God was calling him to embrace the Church.

He was truly poor in spirit and he realized that God was going to fill his soul with the wealth that only God can provide.

I was moved to tears as he professed his belief in God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.

He had fully responded to God's call.

He sought.

He found.

Through his faith and his response we were all inspired to once again accept our calling from God.

1. How has God been calling you in your life?

2. What has God been calling you to do?

3. What does it mean for you personally to be poor in spirit?

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

Capernaum

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Capernaum

Prophecy     Fulfilled

Starting     Calling     Inviting

Glorified The Seaward Road

Begin

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:  Isaiah 8:23

First the Lord looked down upon the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but now He has glorified the seaward road, the land that is found west of the Jordan that is occupied by many Gentiles.

Matthew 4: 12 to 20

When Jesus got the news that John had ben arrested, He decided to go to Galilee. He went to stay in Capernaum by the sea instead of Nazareth. It was located in the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali.

What Isaiah had talked about was now fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan , and Galilee of the Gentiles---the people who were enveloped in darkness have now seen a great light and those who were living in a land of death have found a beautiful light."

Jesus then began His preaching and told the people, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is here."

Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers: Simon, who is now called Peter, and Andrew.

They were fishing, casting their nets out into the sea.

Jesus spoke to them and said, "If you come with me, I will make you fishers of men."

At once they left their nets and went with Jesus.

Reflection

Capernaum.

Jesus changes His location when he gets word of the arrest of John according to Matthew. We can understand why----if Jesus was up in the north, the religious and political authorities centered around the Temple in Jerusalem would not bother Him.

By bringing the light of the Gospel and His healing to this area, Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that was written around five hundred years before His birth. 

It was a beautiful area by the water but also an area where many Gentiles (those who were not Jewish) lived. This does not stop Jesus from proclaiming the Gospel and also calling others to follow Him. Yes, John was arrested and there were many non-Jews in the area. So what! Full speed ahead!

Jesus shows us that no obstacles were going to get in His way. He was beginning His mission to bring light, healing, and love to others. He would fulfill the prophecy that Isaiah had uttered and He would fulfill the mission given to Him by the Father.

We face many obstacles today also. We are called just as Simon and Andrew were. We know that the Light of Jesus will be with us as we try to overcome the barriers confronting us.

We are called to follow from our Capernaums and to glorify the roads we walk with the Good News we have been given.

Enjoy your walk!

1.  What do you feel when you hear that Jesus fulfilled a prophecy from Isaiah that was written five hundred years before His birth?

2. We saw in today's scriptures that Jesus faced many obstacles. What are some of the obstacles that you face today in proclaiming the Good News?

3. How do you feel that Jesus is calling you to follow Him?

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

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

 

 

John

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

John

Baptizer     Annointer

Proclaimed     Testified     Called

Behold the Lamb of God

Jesus

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 1: 29 to 30

John the Baptist saw Jesus moving towards him and proclaimed,

"Behold the Lamb of God.

He is the one who will wash away all the sin that surrounds us."

Reflection

John the Baptist gets it right!

He sees Jesus for who He truly is.

John was used to large crowds of people coming to hear him and to be baptized. We might wonder, "How was he able to pick out Jesus."

It would have been easy for John to just focus on all the people who were coming to listen to his message of repentance.

John saw something special and unique in Jesus. He proclaims it by testifying that Jesus is the Lamb of God.

The Jewish people were used to bringing lambs to God which they would offer in sacrifice. The lambs would have to be without blemish----pure and with no birth defects or injuries.

However to call someone the Lamb of God was different. God is coming to present a sacrifice for us.

John is indicating what Jesus will do: He will offer His life for us. Jesus loves us so much that He is willing to be totally faithful to the mission the Father has given Him. His faithfulness to that mission will lead to His death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension to heaven, and His sending of the Holy Spirit upon us.

John saw that Jesus was special. He saw with the eyes of faith.

John's testimony to who Jesus was challenges us to open our eyes today and to see Jesus among us.

The Lamb of God continues to offer Himself to us each day as we open our eyes to see Him in our sisters and brothers, especially those who are on the peripheries. 

Behold Him in your life.

He comes to offer you His Love!

1. What does it mean to say that Jesus is the Lamb of God?

2. How can we see with the "eyes of faith"?

3. How does John's testimony about Jesus challenge you today?

4. As you reflect on Kathy's photo, what do you feel?

Epiphany

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Epiphany

Looking     Up

Revelation     Guidance     Faith

Star At Its Rising

Radiate

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Isaiah 60: 1 and 2

Arise in splendor! Your light is here, the glory of God shines upon you.

There is darkness over all the earth and it covers all the people; but God shines on you and spreads glory over you.

Matthew 2: 1b-2; 9b-11

Magi came from the east to Jerusalem saying, "Where is the King of the Jews that was just born? We saw His star at its rising and we wish to celebrate Him."

The star they had seen at its rising went before them and it stood over the place where the infant was.

They were filled with joy at seeing the star.

When they went into the house, they saw the infant with His mother, Mary.

They knelt down and showed Him reverence.

Then they shared gifts with them from their wealth: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Reflection

The Light is here!

How often have we all longed for that Light when we have faced difficult situations in our lives? Sometimes things can seem very confusing and we wonder what we should do or to whom we should turn.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God is with us and that God will always share Light, Wisdom, and Peace with us.

The magi who have come searching for the King of the Jews have found that King in the most unlikely place. God helped them to find that King with the help of a star. Their faith, patience, and persistence led them to the child Jesus. 

In our own lives we look for those signs that will lead us to Jesus. They are all around us when we open our eyes to them.

A good spiritual practice that I have found is to ask at the end of each day, "Where have I seen Jesus today?" That always helps me to focus on the people, situations, and signs in creation that are epiphanies---manifestations---of God's Love for me that day.

Then I can also kneel down in reverence as the magi did and share my gifts with Jesus and thank Jesus for His many Blessings.

Enjoy the Light that God reveals to you and radiate it to others!

1. Where have you seen God's Light lately?

2. Do you feel that God is always with you?

3. Like the magi, do you sometimes find God in the most unlikely of places?

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

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