God's Laws

 LECTIO:                                                                        Psalm 19: 8,9, 10,15

The law of the Lord is perfect,
   refreshing the soul;
the decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
   giving wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
   rejoicing the heart;
the command of the Lord is clear,
   enlightening the eye.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
   enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true,
   all of them just.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought
   of my heart
find favor before you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer

STUDIUM:

God's laws are not draconian.  His laws are the opposite.  God's laws are guidelines and signs to follow along our way.

MEDITATIO:

Lord, I want to follow Your Words.  What comes out of my mouth must come from the heart.  May my heart align with Yours.

ORATIO:

As I study Your Words, O Lord, guide my understanding.  Guide my actions to follow Your Words.  I only want to please You.

CONTEMPLATIO:

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and Life.

RESOLUTIO:

I need to study God's Words, daily.

   

Course Correction

 

LECTIO:                                         1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Brothers and sisters:
As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Now the body is not a single part, but many.
If a foot should say,
"Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, "
it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
Or if an ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body, "

it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?
If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God placed the parts,
each one of them, in the body as he intended.
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you, "
nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need you."
Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are all the more necessary,
and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable
we surround with greater honor,
and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
whereas our more presentable parts do not need this.
But God has so constructed the body
as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
so that there may be no division in the body,
but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it.
Some people God has designated in the church
to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers;
then, mighty deeds;
then gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

STUDIUM:

The Corinthians must have been arguing amongst themselves.  Paul uses the Greek image of the body, as an example. Hopefully, he got across the idea that everyone had different gifts, but all are to be used to spread the Good News.

MEDITATIO:

All the parts of the body that Paul mentions, work together to get the body to function. A community needs to work together to function.  We all have different gifts.

ORATIO:

Lord, help me be all You want me to be. Lead me away from being jealous of  others.

CONTEMPLATIO:

We are the body of Christ.

Defense Wins Games

In all sports, it's defense that wins games. The offense scores and is obviously impressive, but it's defense that allowed that score.  Defense determines who wins.

The same is true in life.  Life is hard.  Once in a while, someone is called to act heroically, but I contend that that would not have happened, if that someone wasn't responding loving every day.  Picking up after oneself, and even others, helping people, will automatically encourage the once in a lifetime heroic act.  Doing the right thing day after day will come naturally, when one is called upon.

Just like the defense player in any game, who practices defense every day, will automatically react, so will responding with love.  Doing the right thing, all the time should become automatic. Be on the defense from laziness, sloth, apathy, and lethargy. 

Cure for Sleeplessness

 Psalm 63 mentions "I think of you through the watches of the night."

What is that about?

The night was divided into three watches.  If someone was awake through all three, they were having a sleepless night.  The psalm is telling you that the cure for sleeplessness is to think of God.

That'll bore you to sleep.

I'm being sarcastic.  But think about it.  As long as you can't sleep, you might as well make use of the time.  Pray.  Examine your conscience. Plan a retreat or some other religious endeavor. Review how God has always been there for you.  Don't waste the opportunity to get closer to God.

I

 Only you and God have this name.

I

Think about it.  God made us in His image.

 

Never Forget

LECTIO:

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,
which consisted of men, women,
and those children old enough to understand.
Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,
he read out of the book from daybreak till midday,
in the presence of the men, the women,
and those children old enough to understand;
and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the occasion.
He opened the scroll
so that all the people might see it
— for he was standing higher up than any of the people —;
and, as he opened it, all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
"Amen, amen!"
Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,
their faces to the ground.
Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,
interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.
Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe
and the Levites who were instructing the people
said to all the people:
"Today is holy to the LORD your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep"—
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"

STUDIUM:

Ezra was a priest/scribe, and Nehemiah was an official from the Persian Court, assigned to oversee the rebuilding of Jerusalem.  Remember the people were exiled in Babylon for so long, not only did they forget their religion but maybe their language.  That is why they weep when they Ezra reviews what happened to them.  Ezra reads the Torah and they stand and prostrate themselves.  It's very dramatic and moving.

MEDITATIO:

Lord, why do You bother with us?  Look what we did to our Indigenous American Indian, the African slaves, and today's immigrants. These verses remind us that only God remains good.  That's the only constant.  You are precious.  All else may be lost.

ORATIO:

I pray that I never forget you, Lord. I know You will always love us.   Love is what is important.

CONTEMPLATIO:

If we love one another, God is present.

Knowing and Accepting

 The Apostles and disciples were always expecting Jesus to establish His kingdom here, on earth.  They found it hard to understand why Jesus didn't just tell the world Who He was.  Not until Pentecost did they understand.

Still, think of this.  Ever since Pentecost, the gospel of the kingdom has been proclaimed to the whole world.  Yet not everyone is receptive.  Everyone knows, but they don't accept the message.