(Reflection written by Mark Gates. Thanks Mark for filling in. I will be back next Saturday)
EPH 1:15-23 Brothers and sisters: Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church, which is his Body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
HALLELUIA!! EMANUEL!! GOD is WITH US!! Make a Joyful noise! These exclamations aren’t just for Christmas and if they are, it should be Christmas everyday! Woo – Hoo!! My brothers and sisters, this scripture is (start to finish) Joy-Joy-Joy!!
Paul starts out sounding so very proud of the Ephesian Christians. Just like any mentor, coach, or parent when your child / prodigy is succeeding in accomplishing their goal(s). “May the eyes of your hearts”, suggests that the Holy Spirit has successfully captivated their hearts/souls leading their amazingly better lives through Christ. The Ephesians ‘now’ see through Christ’s eyes. True believers, then and now, are now heirs, beneficiaries, of “The riches and Glories of Heaven!” Our Lord, Jesus Christ, has been set by the father above all things and principalities. ALL things, you and I included, are subject to Christ. ALL things, you and I, flow from Christ and back to Him again. Thank you, God, that I am Your child!!
Psalm: 8:2-7, “O LORD, our LORD, how glorious is your name over all the earth! You have exalted your majesty above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have fashioned praise because of your foes.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place… What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet.”
R: You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
This is incredibly more praise, from a Psalmist, many hundreds of years before Jesus was born. In this instance I feel like I did when I lived in Illinois and DA’ 1985 Bears were my favorite team. The bears won nearly all of their regular and playoff games, including the super-bowl in an overwhelmingly decisive fashion. I just loved the defense, maybe ‘cuz that’s what I played way back when. Finally, my favorite player was Dan Hampton #99. That man was pure bull-grit and determination!! Remind you of anyone? From long before the ‘85’ season, Dan was having knee surgery after surgery. On game day, he was a force to be reckoned with, some teams would line up 2 opposing players just to handle him. Dan Hampton was an outstanding man, player, teammate and, he was on ‘the’ winning team. I cheered for him as a player for what he did on the field. I cheered for the Danimal after his playing days for the generous accomplishments he achieved by just being a nice man, one of God’s children. Jesus is the greatest human being that ever lived. Our job is to be like Him. Some of us, like Dan Hampton, do… some of us do not.
Alleluia: The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify!!
Gospel: Luke 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others, will be denied before the angels of God. “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
What do you do when you’re completely over-joyed about someone or thing? You want to tell everyone; you just might shout from the roof tops or go outside and scream like on New Years or the 4th of July. Yes, tell everybody! I am a lector at Sunday Mass. Sometimes I’ll joke around that it’s “Not really me speaking, it’s the Holy Spirit, I just open my mouth and see what comes out!” Wow, scary stuff. But that response is derived directly from this scripture. You already know that I’m not a scripture scholar. So, these words I write, along with any words that I may speak on behalf of our Trinity, I genuinely pray over. I truly believe that God hears me each and every time I seek him. The Holy Spirit is my head-master, She won’t let me fail!
This is not a hard or exhausting lesson. It only takes persistence, daily persistence. If you can just remember, every day, that each day is a gift, then who is the gift from?? God, of course. **I have a notion that I’ve been chewing on lately. It is: If God is always by my side, He alone controls whether I wake or not… then I live at the pleasure of God! That means, Opening my eyes pleases God. Living this specific day pleases God. Before I am even aware of my day dawning, God is pleased. How could I possibly ‘not’ want to please Him all day and everyday. Let your Joy explode in your life!
SHALOM, & may all of God’s Love be yours, Mark
I am Mark Gates, your servant. I currently live with my wife in Peosta, Iowa and have retired. I have spent my whole life as a God-fearing Christian, Mass Lector and cradle Catholic. In 1996 after a Charismatic Conference, My Spirituality ‘Exploded’. The Holy Spirit has blessed me with personal revelations and events in times of needed admonishment, teaching or encouragement. Having a personal belief and true affection for The Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist and also a very sweet, tender, and special relationship with our Holy Spirit, I believe that our world is in dire need of Good News. I want my spirituality to create conversations! I pray that you allow these musings to start your own conversations. 😊
I’ve written 2 books currently. They are “A Blu Collar Spirituality” and “God has sent You Back”, “A Blu Collar Spirituality (part 2)”. These books are my personal story of resilience flavored with a tremendous relationship with the Holy Spirit. I have been made keenly aware of how the Holy Spirit blesses, encourages, and bolsters me! My story is a tremendous blessing of Eucharist and perseverance, through my Holy Spirit. Also, the necessary battle training required to bring belief and affection for the Holy Spirit into everyday lives starting with my own!
Why not expose every single person that I can to the absolute beauty and majesty of The Holy Spirit!
