Farmington Canal Heritage Trail C.T. Picture Fred Prince
Our blog is inspired by The Holy Spirit.
Once again, we are using an Optional text. The Gospel reading:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11: 28-30
When I was younger, I read the above lines and didn’t believe the burden God would give me would be light. satan working in my life. I felt loving and living in the “Spirit World” would not be easy, nor would I get any rest.
Why did I feel this way?
I felt God the Father would place demands on me that, frankly, I didn’t want to do. Notice the I’s. It was my life, and I would decide what was best for me and, later, our family.
Well, as the years went by, I found out I couldn’t be more mistaken, and I now look back at age eighty and am sad of all I missed because of my attitude.
If God the Father is a Loving Father, and God the Father is, then why would a Loving Father make life difficult for me?
I could ask the same question as a parent. If I am trying to be a loving parent, why would I try to make life for Gail and the boys difficult for them unless there is a solid reason for the difficulty?
When Mike was eight, we demanded he participate in baseball, basketball, and soccer. We told him he had to go to three practices, and if he wanted to quit after the third practice, Mike could. After the first practice, he was hooked. Mike, it turned out, was nervous about trying a new experience.
Because of Mike’s sports participation, Dave and John went to all of Mike’s games and couldn’t wait to get started in sports.
God, the Father’s demands are just as easy.
Love God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with my whole Heart, mind, and body, and love my neighbor as myself.
Easy!
Let us repeat.
Easy!
The question then is, how do I do this?
Be still and let the Holy Spirit guide you via the whisper of the Holy Spirit to what God the Father is asking you to do.
Example:
They just opened up the jail for Bible study, and John Kiernan and I went into the B1 Pod for our first Bible study in two-and-a-half years.
A few months before going back into the jail, I thought I might stop doing this ministry, satan, because the medication I was taking for my elevated blood pressure was affecting my voice. I felt I couldn’t talk for an hour straight, and Bible study lasted an hour.
I stopped taking the medication two weeks ago; yes, my doctor approved my stopping, and I have taken blood pressure readings every day since, passing with flying colors. God is taking care of me, and I now know I should go back to the jail and work with these wonderful men.
John and I went back in and came out flying high because of the positive response from the men we met at our meeting.
The yoke of Bible study is made light by the high we get by working with these men.
Every time I follow Jesus by doing His father’s will by helping my neighbor, I feel Joy, and living in Joy and Peace is where I want to spend the rest of my life.
“The nine” We pray you will grow in the Love, Joy, and Peace of the Holy Spirit by growing in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
Tim Gray of The Formed had a very interesting take on a Gospel reading a few weeks ago, which we would like to summarize because the reading about the Dishonest Steward has always bothered me. I knew what I read was not what Jesus meant, but I didn’t understand what Jesus was saying.
The reading comes from Luke Chapter 16.
Tim points out that we should read chapter sixteen in its entirety, and sadly the Church breaks the reading into two readings which we will summarize. The reading starts with the Parable of the Dishonest Steward.
Summary; “A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property. Luke 16:1
The rich man calls his steward for an accounting.
Knowing he will be fired, the steward reduces what is owed to the rich man by the rich man’s debtors, so he will be welcomed by those he just helped.
Next, Jesus said,
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
“For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than are the children of light.
I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Emphasis mine Luke 16: 8-9
This world “World.”
Children of Light “Spirit World.”
I had always felt Jesus was approving of the acts of the dishonest Steward, and I knew this was wrong, and this is why we are writing about this in today’s Sidebar.
But I didn’t tie the first Parable with the second Parable in the same chapter, Lazarus and the rich man.
The following Parable is about the rich man and Lazarus. The dishonest steward has worshiped dishonest wealth; the rich man has worshiped money rather than God. The rich man did NOTHING but bask in his wealth. He cared only for himself.
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:29-30
The rich man goes to the netherworld where torment is his place as his eternal dwelling.
Jesus then was not praising the dishonest steward; Jesus, with these two parables, explains the choice we have and the results of that choice.
What Jesus is also saying is we have all been given talents, riches, and we can choose to squander our talents, or we can choose to use our talents to further the kingdom of God.
I believe our talents make us rich, and we say this because our talents enable us to bring to our neighbor the chance to believe in a Loving Triune God.
Link to The Formed:
Picture;
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, Farmington, C.T. Gail, and I enjoyed our ride on this trail. The trail is forty-eight miles long and a Joy to ride or walk. The Farmington Heritage Trail is rated five stars.
Link: https://www.traillink.com/trail/farmington-canal-heritage-trail/
Two Updates;
- I received our first picture. The title is Fall Beauty, and it was taken in Canada by Allain C. We will run the photo on October twelfth. Thanks, Allain.
- The Formed just announced they are running The Chosen on their web page with a commentary to follow each episode. I am excited because Evangelicals are filming the Chosen, and Catholics are starting to embrace their work. Every day I pray for a Revival taking over our country, and I believe this is a sign of things to come.
Link: https://formed.org The cost to belong if your Diocese is not paying is $10 per month.
Your pictures;
I am excited because your comments and pictures involve you in this wonderful ministry; the first picture sent to me is beautiful! I don’t know of any other blog where you can become active as we, yes we are inviting you to be. The Holy Spirit is working in our lives.
I Love it!
You change from being an onlooker to being a participant. YOU become a part of OUR blog.
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, no people, please, because we have to get permission from that person to use their photograph; in the comments section, tell me you want to submit a picture, and I will send you my email in our reply on Thursday.
