Friday of the Second Week of Lent - March 5, 2021

-

Hebrews 13:1-18 Mark 6:14-29

When I first became a parent I was struck early on at the insight it gave me into God the Father.  Watching my kids learn to walk, and picking them up when they would fall and trip. Watching them explore their surroundings and test their physical capabilities. Watching them climb on furniture, jump off steps, and ride a bike. Watching them take risks and fail, learn, and try again. Coaching, teaching, and rooting for them throughout. All the while struck by the thought that this was all a microcosm of what God the Father goes through with each of us at every stage of our lives.

As they got older and able to voice their needs, wants, and opinions, my reflections again went to God the Father. How easy it would be to just give them what they are seeking. How much more peaceful it would be to clean up their mess rather than convincing them to do it, wait for them to do it wrong, and then fix it. How faster it would be to drive them to their friend’s house instead of walking them there over and over until they learn the way. But the easy, peaceful, and fast way would miss the opportunity for them to grow.

“Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.” This was the advice I was given soon after I became a parent. Today’s readings present two examples of fathers sending their sons into dangerous situations, trusting that they have prepared them for the road. And isn’t that what God does for us every day? He teaches us, withholds from us, challenges us, and then rejoices with us. We are constantly (and often simultaneously) at different spots in this cycle with God. And while we beg God to prepare the road for us, we carry forward knowing that he has been preparing us for this road.

Q: What desire has God placed on your heart that he is preparing you for? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) - April 7, 2023

-
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42  Every morning when I go to Mass and the Priest asks for our intentions for the day, my response is for “wisdom, courage, comfort and trust.” Wisdom to fi gure out the answer, the courage to carry it out, and the comfort that it is the best solution and the trust to know God is guiding us in the best way. When I read the Psalms for today, I was taken back by David’s trust in the Lord to guide him and keep him safe. “In you, Lord, I take refuge”  A good friend coined this prayer when I was helping my parents navigate through my brother’s cancer. He passed away, but I continue to take comfort in those words and try daily to TRUST. Many people have commented on how they appreciate that petition so I continue to pray it.  There are big things and little things that come into our lives that require us to trust as David did. Some things are as small as smiling at the person at the traffic light or as big as standing up for another’s r
Read more

Monday of the First Week of Lent - March 11, 2019

-
Leviticus19:1-2, 11-18  Matthew 25:31-46 As I read my assignment for today, I felt relief. I knew these readings; I could relate to them. I had heard them multiple times and thought that I understood them well. The first reading from Leviticus tells me to love my neighbor as myself and to judge my neighbor justly. I know this! I believe this in my head! I often find it difficult to carry out, but I do believe it. Today’s gospel, Matthew 25, many of us know well through readings, songs, and social concerns committees, "Whatever you do for one of the least of …mine, you do to me." Feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; welcome the stranger; clothe the naked; comfort the sick; visit the prisoner. We try to do these things in our life. I decided to read our parish book, Stranger God by Richard Beck, to see how it could expand my understanding of Matthew 25 – and expand it did! After I read the book, I realized that I had been reading Matthew 25 literally.
Read more

Monday of Holy Week - April 3, 2023

-
Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11  One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more mindful about how I spend my time. When we started having kids, everyone was always telling us, “enjoy it while it lasts because they grow up so fast!” I’d look at my tiny baby and think, yeah okay, we’ve got a long way to go. Fast forward 6 years, we have a kindergartener, and I am constantly asking myself, “where did the time go!?!?”  This Gospel is a reminder to me that I need to take advantage of every moment just as Mary decided to take advantage of that special moment with Jesus when she anointed his feet. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and fi nd ourselves just going through the motions without putting much thought into the importance of our actions. When I am at church, am I really present? I often fi nd that my focus is on how my children are behaving and if they are disturbing the people around us. When I am at home, am I making the most of my time with my family? Sadly,
Read more