Meditations on the Word

Our Father All of us must mature. The paradox is that we must mature into children, children of God, giving with an innocent love. Loving without condition, as our Father loves us. It takes time for the child to learn how to tell his parents, “I don’t love you; I hate you, I hate you, I hate you,” when the child does not get what he or she wants. The journey of spiritual growth must end with the reversion to a childlike love. Innocence.

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”   John 20:17 In what sense should I “let go” of Jesus? Certainly not in the sense of letting go of my belief in Him and trust in Him and faith in Him and His teaching. Rather, what do I do that tries to prevent Jesus from uniting with God? Or perhaps the question is, how do I try to limit Jesus, to prevent Him from being God over my life?  Failing to trust is a big aspect. Trying to take control from Him (of Him?) and fighting sin and temptation and fear by myself. Much of sin is fear. Fear that I’m losing out. Fear that God hasn’t “got this” so I have to deal with it alone. Fear that my sins are not taken care of, that I’m not really forgiven. Fear of what the future will bring and failing to trust God. Fear that God will ask too much of me, more than I can ha...

"But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father." John 8:37-38 You must prepare a space as big as your life to make room for Jesus. When your life is filled with yourself, there is no room for Jesus. Remember - God sees our sins, but He also sees and shows us the way to victory.

Great reminder over at Abbey Roads .

So they said to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."  John 8:19 Like Abraham with Isaac, God sacrifices His only Son for us because we ask Him to. The difference is that we ask because we are faithless and demand that He prove his love and loyalty to us. “If you love us, if you are truly a faithful father, give us your only son.” Unlike Abraham and Isaac, there is no relenting when the moment of sacrifice arrives. We insist on Jesus’ sacrifice. ****************************************************************************** Though Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three persons, They are also One. Thus, when the Father sacrifices the Son, He sacrifices Himself. So too with the Holy Spirit.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 Ours is a story religion. It is the enactment in space and time of the drama of God’s creation, with particular focus on His evolving relationship with us and ours with Him. It has a beginning and an end (an Alpha and Omega). It is a story billions of years in the making. It’s climax is the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. The generations since are part of the denouement. The loose ends are being tied up. We are reaching a resolution, and the end approaches. The author, God, has been in control of this perfect story throughout, right to the conclusion. ********* We are children of a breathing God. God’s Breath animates all of creation and shows to us God’s grace, God’s favor toward hum...

I mindlessly made my first post without any real introduction - either to Meditations on the Word or myself. As you'll see from my profile, my name is Kevin. I'm a lawyer from New Hampshire and what is popularly called a "revert" in Catholic circles. That is, I was raised Catholic and left the Church for a while, only to come back home. It has been less than three years but it has been a great blessing to me. For the first time, I am really understanding the depth of experience and practice within the Catholic Church and how it touches on all of life. And, most importantly, I've realized how central the sacrifice of the Mass is to Christianity. For me, each time it occurs it occurs beyond time, one eternal sacrifice that is at the very heart of all that exists. It is cosmic in impact and extent. Meditations on the word, I hope, will serve as an invitation to others, whether Catholic or not. It's an invitation to deeply consider the word of God and the...