Word

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Word

Heart     Planted

Hear     Understand     Nurture

The Sower Seed Soil

Creation

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:    Matthew 13: 18 to 23

"Understand the parable of the sower. 

The seed that is sown in the path represents a person who hears the word about the kingdom but does not really grasp the meaning of the teaching. The evil one can comes and takes away what had been sown in this person's heart.

The seed sown on rocky ground represents a person who is very happy when it first comes. However, it is only on the surface and does not last long. When a hardship or persecution comes because of the word, this person gives up.

The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word of God but then gets anxious about the things of the world and gets concerned about riches. The word gets choked. The seed produces no fruit.

The seed that is sown in the rich soil is the person who hears the word and truly understands it. This person bears much fruit. The harvest is a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold."

Reflection

It is so hard to listen to the word. We are all surrounded by so many distractions. 

We are an "advanced" civilization. We have all the answers at our fingertips. Our phones lead us to true wisdom.

Why should we bother with God's Word? Isn't that old fashioned and out of date?

It seems the people to whom Jesus spoke about God's Kingdom had the same attitude. The distractions and attractions in their day were much more interesting than what Jesus offered. 

The evil one, worldly anxieties, hardships, persecutions are very powerful distractions. They can easily win out over the word. 

The problem is those distraction and attractions do not bear much fruit. They always leave us looking for more. 

They can feel good for awhile but then we can get tired of them and ask ourselves, "Is that all there is?".

Jesus knows that our hearts need to be nourished deeply and truly. He comes as the Word and with the words of eternal life. He wants to feed our deepest hungers.

Enjoy those meals!

1. What are the main distractions that you face that keep you from hearing the word?

2. Do you ever have the hunger for something more substantial in your life?

3. How has Jesus nourished you?

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

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

Yoke

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Yoke

Of   Christ

Surrender   Trust   Yield

Come To Me     Rest

Dwell

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Matthew 11:28 to 30

"Come to Me, all you who work and carry a heavy load, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn my ways. I am meek and gentle of heart, and you will find rest when you dwell with Me. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light."

Reflection

When I think about yoke, I see two large animals working together with a plow to prepare the soil for planting. Because they are bound together, they are able to work more efficiently and accomplish so much more.

Jesus takes this everyday image and transforms it. He knows that we carry many burdens in our lives: our worries for family; our concerns about our community and our country; and our struggle to make ends meet. He invites us to come to Him with all our struggles and to give those to Him so we can find some relief.

He is inviting us to be yoked to Him. I picture closeness and intimacy with Jesus as He places His yoke around us and invites us to dwell with Him.

What an amazing invitation. All those worries and struggles can drag us down. Jesus does not want that for us. He wants us to thrive.

The words of Pope Francis to priests echo in my mind when I ponder this scripture. He always emphasizes that the priests should be careful to avoid placing any unnecessary burdens on penitents when they are hearing confessions. 

He urges the priests to follow the example of Jesus and to lighten the loads of those who come to them. It is a wonderful example for all of us to follow.

Let us stay yoked to Jesus and to share the rest and refreshment He wants to give to us with each person we meet. 

1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word yoke?

2. What burdens would you like to give to Jesus?

3. How do you feel when you think of being yoked to Jesus?

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

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

Cross

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Cross

Priority     Identity

Grace     Love     Surrender

A Cup Of Water

Baptism

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Matthew 10: 38-39, 42

Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will discover it.

Whoever gives only a cup of refreshing water to one of these disciples to drink---he will be rewarded.

Reflection

Is this any way to recruit disciples? 

Jesus is telling them that they will have to take up a cross and follow Him. I'm sure in hearing this the disciples could not have been too happy!

The cross was a frightening reality. It was used by the Roman authorities as a cruel and intimidating form of punishment. It was meant to keep the conquered peoples in line and to make sure that they had no thoughts of rebellion.

Jesus does not soft peddle what His disciples will be facing. If you want to follow Jesus, there will be many challenges. He gives His disciples fair warning.

Jesus tells them that they will have to lose their life to find it. It certainly was a prediction that came true. The apostles gave their lives up through martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel. They were completely dedicated to sharing the Good News and did not hold back.

Jesus says when we do this, we will truly discover our lives. We will find meaning, purpose, and true happiness. We will find true joy----a joy that no one can take from us.

The authorities who put Jesus to death and the apostles to death thought that by doing this they would quash the message. The opposite happened and the message kept on spreading.

Through our baptism, we have been called to proclaim the Gospel as the apostles did. We are called to sacrifice everything for Jesus. We are called to make Jesus our priority.

It was a huge challenge for the apostles and it is a huge challenge for us today. We have to take up our cross and to follow in the way that Jesus will show us. 

It might seem difficult but Jesus assures us that we do not walk alone. He will be with us to assist us and to guide us. There will be those to who will offering us that refreshing cup of water to keep us going. 

We will find true life with the cross!

1. What are some of the challenges that you have been facing lately in following Jesus?

2. What are the joys you have found in following Jesus?

3. Is following Jesus a priority for you?

4. Who are some of the people in your life who have offered you that refreshing cup of water to keep you going?

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

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

Acknowledge

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Acknowledge

Declare     Attest

Admit     Fear     Proclaim

Speak In The Light

Avow

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Matthew 10: 26 to 28a; 32

Do not be afraid of those who will reject you. Nothing is hidden that will not be brought into the light.

Nothing is secret that will not be revealed.

What I say to you privately, share it with everyone.

What you hear me say quietly to you, proclaim it from the housetops.

Everyone who acknowledges Me before other people, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.

Reflection

Have you ever acknowledged Jesus before other people who were not eager to hear about Him?

Not an easy task!

We have a bag full of excuses:

I don't want to upset other people.

I don't want to force my faith on other people.

My faith is personal---it's just between me and Jesus.

What if they don't think I'm cool any more?

Pretty convincing objections, right?

Such a shame that Jesus will have none of that in this passage from Matthew! Jesus doesn't equivocate here. He tells us to go out and share the message publicly and in the light. 

No keeping secrets! Tell others how great Jesus is and how much Jesus loves them.

You might get rejected.

Today.

Sometimes, however, you have planted a seed that might come to fruition down the road. It might be a seed that you don't personally see blossom and teem with new life. It might take time.

Are you willing to acknowledge Jesus?

1. What is your number one excuse for not sharing the Good News of Jesus?

2. Why does Jesus want us to share the message from the "housetops"?

3. How do you overcome your fear that people will reject you if you talk to them about Jesus?

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

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

 

Authority

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Authority

Twelve     Apostles

Cure     Raise     Cleanse

Jesus' Heart Was Moved

Without Cost

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Matthew 9:35 to 38; 10:1 and 7

Jesus travelled to all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues and shared the Good News of the kingdom.

He cured those who were sick.

As He looked at the people who were following Him, His heart was moved with compassion for them. They seemed troubled and without direction, like sheep who had no shepherd to guide them.

Then Jesus said to the disciples who were with Him, "The potential for the harvest is huge but we are in need of laborers. Ask the one who is in charge of the harvest to send out more laborers for this large harvest."

Then Jesus called twelve of His followers and He anointed them as apostles. He gave them authority over evil spirits so that they could drive them out.

He gave them authority over every disease.

Jesus told them that when they went out sharing the Good News, they would say:

"God's Kingdom is here."

 They were to cure the sick. Raise the dead. Cleanse the lepers. Drive out the evil spirits.

" Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

Reflection

When we hear the word authority, we can have different reactions. We can become very apprehensive that the authority might be looking to punish us. We can delight is meeting someone who is knowledgeable in a field that we are very interested in learning about. We can wonder if we have the skill set to be placed in a position of tremendous importance at our job.

The authority that Jesus is giving is really an ability to help those who are facing difficulties. In this passage from Matthew we get a huge glimpse into the humanity and compassion of Jesus.

He is looking at the faces of the people who are coming to hear Him. He looks into their hearts and their souls and He sees their struggles and difficulties. Matthew tells us that "His heart was moved with compassion". Jesus knows that they need good leaders who will guide them to the truth and heal them of their hurts.

The authority that Jesus gives to the apostles is a response from Jesus to the needs He sees. He wants to make sure that the People of God can find comfort and peace.

Jesus comes to us with that same authority today. He calls us to heal those who are heavily burdened and overwhelmed with the hardships that they are facing.

We all know people in our lives who need a kind word or someone who will listen. Jesus is calling us today, as He called the twelve apostles in the first century, to be His agents of compassion in the world.

We know how great His authority is. Let us use the gifts that flow from that authority to transform our world through one act of compassion at a time.

God's Kingdom is here!

1. What is your first reaction when you hear the word authority?

2. Why is the heart of Jesus moved with compassion for the people who are following him?

3. Who are the people that Jesus has been sending to you who need the healing of Jesus?

4. How can we transform our world?

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

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

Memorial

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Memorial

Fruits     Redemption

Eat     Drink     Partake

I Am Living Bread

Life

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Deuteronomy 8:3

God let you feel hunger as you were wandering in the desert for forty years and then fed you with manna.

This was a food that both you and your fathers had never eaten.

The Lord wanted to show you that not by bread alone does a person live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Sequence: Lauda Sion

What Jesus did at supper seated,

Christ desired to be repeated,

His memorial always given.

John 6:51

I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

If you eat this bread, you will live forever.

Reflection

Memorials can be very helpful. We can learn about important events in the past. 

Jesus wanted to give Himself to us. He knew that we would need His strength and His Love.

He left us a memorial of bread and wine to nourish us and help us. Jesus wants to give us a living bread. He wants us to live forever with Him. 

The Jewish people had an important history with bread. The manna had sustained them as they were traveling in the desert after Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt. 

This experience was a special memorial for the Israelites. It reminded them that God would never abandon them.

God fed them with manna and also with the word of God. Jesus comes to us as the Word of God.

The memorial that Jesus leaves for us is His gift for us. It is the greatest gift we can receive.

It is the gift of life.

Forever!

1. What are some memorials that have a special meaning for you?

2. Why did Jesus leave a memorial for us?

3. How did manna help the Jewish people?

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

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

   

Rejoice

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Rejoice

Gift     Grace

Mend     Encourage     Agree

Live In Peace

Trinity

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   2 Corinthians 13: 11 and 13

Rejoice!

Mend your actions.

Encourage each other.

Agree with one another.

Live in peace.

The God of love and peace will dwell with you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you!

Reflection

It is time to rejoice!

God wants to share the gift of JOY with us. It is a joy that comes when we encourage others and point out the good that they are trying to do.

This gift of joy can help us to build a world of peace. It is a peace that comes from our realization that God dwells within us.

We can all think of times in our life when we were upset or confused. When we realize that our God is with us and wants to help us with our burdens and worries, our concerns feel much lighter and more manageable. 

Our God comes to us with the grace of Jesus Christ. That grace nurtures us and gives us the strength to build peace by working for justice. Jesus is generous with that grace.

That grace fills us with the Love of God. That Love is a sign to all of us that God continues to reach out to us with care and compassion.

That Love of God dwells within us through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. It is amazing, when we reflect on it, that our God desires to be in fellowship with us. Our God delights in us and loves to be with us each day.

Our God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit loves us completely and shares the grace of Trinity with us.

Kathy's photo reminds us of the peace symbol. God's grace comes to us to lead us to true Peace. 

It is a Peace that dwells with the Trinity and comes to us when we begin to accept how deeply and completely our God loves us.

Accept that Peace and spread it to all you encounter!

1. Where do you see the gift of JOY in your life?

2. How have you been strengthened by God's grace recently?

3. When have you found fellowship with the Holy Spirit in your daily life?

4. What does it mean to you when you think of God as Trinity----the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

5. How does Kathy's photo make you feel?

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