Persistence

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Persistence

Asking   Seeking

Prayer   Focusing   Belief

Door Will Be Opened

Answered

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 11:9

Jesus was teaching His disciples about prayer:

"I tell you ask, and you will receive.

Seek and you will find.

Knock and the door will be opened to you."

Reflection

It is a real challenge to be persistent. When we face difficulties and failures, our tendency is to give up. We convince ourselves that we made a mistake in trying something new. We write it off as beyond our reach and abilities.

There are amazing exceptions. The story of Michael Jordan not making his seventh-grade basketball team and then going on to become such a dominant player is famous.

 On the religious level the story of St. John Vianney is also inspiring. He was dismissed from the seminary because he found it hard to learn Latin and went on to become the most sought out priest in the France of his time after receiving tutoring from his parish priest. The railroad had to build a special branch to the town of Ars where John ministered to accommodate all the pilgrims that were flocking to his church.

In our reading from Luke, Jesus speaks of the importance of asking. We might be reluctant to ask God for the help we need or for the patience to hang in there and to be persistent. 

Instead of giving up on our dreams, Jesus encourages us to keep on seeking. Those dreams might not materialize in a few months, a few years, or even in our lifetime. If they are from Jesus and inspired by His teachings, they are always worth pursuing.

At the heart of our seeking is turning to Jesus in prayer. We converse with Jesus about our hopes and dreams for a world that is more just and more peaceful. 

As we pray each day, we focus on the Good News of Jesus. As we savor the scriptures, we try to truly hear the word that Jesus wants to speak to us. It is a word that both encourages and challenges us to be persistent as we realize that Jesus will be with us to help us reach our goals.

Our persistence flows from our belief that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We have encountered Jesus in our prayer and know that He will lead us to overcome our doubts and failures.

We are wise enough to know that the path is not always smooth and easy. There are rocks that we will stumble over. There will be bends in the road. Sometimes the journey will be very steep, and we will wonder if we have enough energy to make it to the top. 

Jesus assures us, however, that the door will be opened. Jesus came for that very purpose. He wants to help us and guide us.

We speak of the frustrations we encounter when we have doors slammed in our faces. It can lead us to giving up. 

Jesus shows us another way. He wants to open the doors that lead to peace, true happiness, and justice. He wants to help us build community and unite people.

He wants to answer the deepest longings of our hearts. When we are persistent and patient, we can hear those answers. 

I picture Jesus opening the door of our striving and embracing us with His Love.

He knows us.

He cares about us.

He always answers!

1. Do you find it difficult to be persistent after you have failed at a task?

2. Have you ever felt reluctant to ask God for something?

3. Do you always feel that God should answer your prayers immediately?

4. Do you find it difficult to hear the word that Jesus is speaking to you?

5. What are some of the doors that Jesus has opened for you?

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

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

Priority

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Priority

Christ Within

Cultivating   Nurturing   Relationship

Need Only One Thing

Word

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 10: 41 and 42

Jesus said to Martha,

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about a lot of things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has discovered the better part, and no one can take it from her."

Reflection

Every once in a while, it is good to take a step back from the hectic pace of our lives and evaluate our priorities. Who are the people and what are the issues that I should be emphasizing every day? Have I gone off track in my relationships and my values?

It is easy to do. We can get caught up in trivia and lose sight of what is truly important in our lives. We become angrier and more irritable.

When we start to reflect and examine what is going on in our hearts, we discover the Christ that is within us. Jesus comes to bring us peace. he wants to connect with us and lead us to rediscover our priorities.

Jesus helps us to cultivate the garden of our soul. We can pull out the weeds that are threatening to take over. We can enrich the soil of our relationships. We can trim the branches of our distractions.

In doing that we are nurturing our relationships with Jesus, our family, and our friends. We become more aware of others and eager to listen to them. We are not caught up as much in our own worries and problems. Our burdens seem lighter.

In our reading from Luke, Martha has gotten caught up in the tasks that she needs to do. They are important---the meal has to be prepared. It is a sign of the love Martha has for Jesus. When we have a guest for dinner, we like to share something special. 

Jesus reminds Martha of the better part. The meal is good but listening to Jesus is better. When we sit at the feet of Jesus in prayer, we discover the way to Peace and 
Love.

Our life now has direction. We find our priorities. Our concerns, while still with us, do not seem as overwhelming. We are assured that Jesus will help us with them.

Jesus is the Word of God dwelling with us and within us. Can there be any better priority?

1. Do you find it helpful to take time to reflect on your priorities?

2. How do you know when your life is off track?

3. What role does Jesus play in helping you discover your priorities? 

4. Why do you think that Jesus says Mary has chosen the better part?

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

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

Accountable

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Accountable

Commandments     Statutes

Care     Show Mercy

Who Is My Neighbor

Love

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 10:36 and 37

Jesus shared the story of a Samaritan who helped a man who was robbed and beaten. A priest and a Levite passed him by. Jesus asked the scholar of the law who was questioning him,

"Which of the three in this story was the neighbor to the robber's victim in your opinion?"

The scholar of the law responded,

"The one who treated him with mercy."

Jesus told him,

"Go and act in the same way."

Reflection

It can be a challenge to hold people accountable for their actions. We can face a lot of opposition, excuse making, and avoidance.

God holds us accountable through the commandments. They are guidelines for us to help us live a happy life. These statutes maintain order and unity in society. They teach us to do good and to avoid evil.

The commandments help us to show care for others. We learn to respect the person and the property of others and to be honest with them. This care leads us to show mercy. 

The commandments are based on loving God and loving our neighbor. Jesus gives a good example of loving our neighbor in the story of the Good Samaritan. 

The scholar of the law questions Jesus about who our neighbor is. Is he trying to avoid being held accountable for his actions?

Jesus explains His concept of our neighbor: those who are in need. It doesn't matter if there are racial, ethnic, or religious differences. If someone is in need, we are accountable to show mercy.

Jesus is telling us that we have a relationship with each person in the world. We have all been created in love and to love. Jesus will hold us accountable. 

He will question us: did you help your neighbor in need, or did you walk on by and ignore her or him? 

Are you ready to be held accountable?

1. Do you find it difficult to hold people accountable for their actions?

2. Do you find the commandments are helpful in your life?

3. Do you agree that our neighbor is any person we meet who is in need?

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

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

Appointed

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Appointed

72   Laborers

Reap   Gather   Resurrect

Peace to this Household

Harvest

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 10:1 and 2

Jesus appointed seventy-two whom He sent out in pairs to go before Him to the towns He was intending to visit. 

Jesus told them, "The harvest is great but there are few laborers."

Reflection

How do you feel when you get an appointment to do a special task? 

Sometimes we can think of it as a great honor. We can wonder if we have the necessary skills to carry it out. We can be afraid of the obstacles we might encounter.

In our reading from Luke these seventy-two disciples (a group that is distinct from the twelve apostles) are sent out to reap a harvest. Jesus believes that the people will respond to the teachings, healings, and exorcisms from the seventy-two. He has tremendous confidence in both the mission and those He has appointed to carry it out. He says quite clearly that there will be a harvest.

Their task will be to gather up that harvest. Jesus knows that the people are ready to hear the Gospel. They want to embrace the Good News of the Kingdom of God. They are eager to hear how deeply God loves them. 

The seventy-two will resurrect a feeling of joy in the people. They have been burdened by the oppression of the Roman occupiers and unfair taxes. They have been searching for someone who can lift them up and renew them.

Jesus instructs them to bring a message of peace to each home they enter. Jesus wants the people to know how deeply God cares for them. He knows that many people do not feel that peace. They battle with worries, resentments, and disappointments. 

As we look around today, we can see the same lack of peace. We hear every day of the numerous wars and bombings. We see people displaced and threatened in their native lands. We see too many people arguing and raising their voices against others. 

We need true peace. Jesus knows this well and sent out the seventy-two to work for peace. Jesus sends us out today with that same mission.

Jesus assures us that there will be a great harvest. He has appointed us to share the Good News of God's Kingdom with each person we meet. 

It is harvesting time!

Are you ready? 

1. Have you ever been appointed for a special task? How did you feel?

2. Do you believe that people are eager to hear the Good News of Jesus today?

3. Why does Jesus stress that the seventy-two should bring a message of peace to the people in their homes?

4. Do you feel that people need that message of peace today?

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

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