Not Grown Up Yet

"When I was a child I thought and reasoned like a child, but when I grew up, I gave up childish ways. Likewise, at present we see dimly as in a faulty mirror, but then we shall see face to face." - 1st Corinthians 13:11-12

I find myself telling my little brothers phrases like, "when I was your age…" or "you'll understand when you get older," things my parents used to tell me and I never believed them until now. When we're younger, we think we know it all, until we get older and realize how foolish we were. It's the same thing with God. Sometimes I sit in my room and whine to myself about praying (do I haaaave to??) or get upset when I don't understand something God does. Just as I was childish and impatient when I was a little girl, I am childish now in my spiritual life. We are all childish in this sense because none of us have reached a spiritual maturity which surrenders to and obeys God's will perfectly. In the meantime, we are like whiny little children who unreasonably complain about things that don't seem fair to us, who get mad when we don't get the toy we want and get jealous when someone else has it.

We outgrew our human childhood (most of us, I hope), let's work on developing our spiritual maturity so we can reason like adults and accept God's perfect will in our lives. One day, as Paul says here in his letters to the Corinthians, we will be face to face with God Himself and all will be made known to us. We will understand everything instantly and then we will be able to look back at our lives and how little we know now.

Today's Prayer:
Father, I ask that You take me by the hand and lead me. I know I whine and complain, but please have mercy on me. Show me how to speak and walk. Guide me in all of my steps until that day when I grow up and am able to understand it all. Most importantly, give me patience to take all the baby steps I need to make. In Jesus' Name we pray, amen.

The Cross of Christ

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1st Corinthians 1:17-18


We live in a time where everything we say has to be measured. Obama, Clinton, and all the rest are saying the things they think people want to hear. They watch the polls, listen to their professional advisors and then speak. Religion and spirituality are the same nowadays. The majority of the population is so attached to their "freedom" that they only follow a religion that seems to fit what they are looking for. A religion or a belief that tells them that all they do is ok, they don't need to repent of anything or change their ways. Preachers and churches have to adapt just to keep the people coming. But this message from Paul fills me with so much conviction! It is not God that needs to change and cater to the morally decaying beliefs of our day, we are the ones that need to open our eyes and see that the truth is a bloody and violent one - Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Son of the Living God, was brutally beaten and killed to save us from the sins we would like to hold on to today! The truth of the cross, so that it is not emptied of its meaning, is that Jesus was handed over to death by His friends. He was spit on. He was laughed at. He was scourged with whips that had tied to them pieces of bone so that muscles and flesh would be ripped off in chunks with each lashing. On raw skin He was made to carry that cross to calvary and there He was nailed to it, gasping for air as the cool wind pierced His skin and the blood from the crown of thorns dripped down His face and pooled around His eyes. There He died so that you and I could be free… free of the hate, jealousy, addictions, gossip, and immoralities that we are so very attached to, as if what He did was not necessary.

We want to hear God loves us but not that we are called to holiness. We want to know that God listens to us when we need Him to, but don't want to listen to Him when He needs us to. Always, always remember the price Jesus paid for your life on the cross. The mystery of the cross is that it represents life and life is freedom from the pain and shame of the vices we hold on to. Freedom is NOT casual sex, occasional drug use, getting wasted and then covering up for those mistakes. The consequences of these things are what Jesus went to the cross for.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, forgive my arrogance in wanting to live my life in the way I see fit. You are my Creator and only You know how to give me what's best for me. Be with me as I struggle to keep Your cross before my eyes, and keep sin behind me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Perfection

"When what is perfect comes, everything imperfect will pass away." - 1st Corinthians 13:10

This one truth can tell us so much about our lives. How do we know if we've made the right decision about something? How do we know we're on the right path? I've been learning in the last couple of months that what we really want out of life is what God wants for us, because He was the one that put that desire in us. But so many times, especially when we're younger, we don't know what that is. It's as simple as how Paul puts it here: when what is perfect comes, everything imperfect will pass away. The moment that you make a decision about something, you should feel in your being if that decision has brought you peace or brought you anxiety. What is perfect brings you peace. What is perfect will light you on fire so that you shine and never look back on that darkness you have left behind, except to thank God for where He's taken you. When you find what is perfect, in terms of a relationship, a job, a new home, anything, all will fall into place for you. Of course, there are always struggles, but God helps you get to where you need to be. The imperfect bring us fruitless worry, strife, and continuing on that path is like going against the wind in a storm. It can only take you further back in life making a mess of everything else.

But how are you able to make the decision to choose what is perfect? By quietening yourself down, and giving God's voice the chance to break through the noise in your own head. The Spirit within you will feel drawn to what is perfect, without doubts or hesitations, to the will of God for you.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord Jesus, You are perfection in my life. You bring out the best in me and help rid me of all my hurtful imperfections. Help me be quiet to hear You and be able to see the perfect things You have planned for me ahead. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Personal Property

"You belong no longer to yourselves. Remember at what price you have been bought and make your body serve the glory of God." - 1st Corinthians 6:19-20

This is a very strong message. With His death, Christ paid the price for you, your body and your soul. You have life because He offered up His own for yours. Therefore, you do not belong to yourself anymore. Jesus paid a price for you and you belong to Him. Think about this fact in everything you do. When you are considering a sin, remember that if you choose to fall, you are betraying what He did for you. If you let this sink in, not sinning can become easier. You wouldn't damage someone else's property, would you? You wouldn't break something that belonged to someone else, something that person sacrificed so much for? So don't do it to Jesus. Through the sacraments you have received, you bear His mark upon you - the mark of the Holy Spirit. Your life and His work in you have so much value. Don't treat it as if it has been acquired cheaply. Watch closely what you do, say, and think.

Also remember that since you belong to Him, He is taking care of you. He is watching over you. Paying the price that He did, He won't let any harm come upon you. When you live with this in your mind, it will be easier to accept what happens to you, and easier to choose between right and wrong. God has made you His property, learn to give all things up into His hands since you are not your own.

Today's Prayer:
Jesus, I'm sorry for thinking myself master of my own life and my own body. I forget that I belong to You and Your will needs to be my will. Forgive and help my ego, my pride, my selfishness, and my foolishness. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Love

"Love is patient, kind, without envy. It is not boastful or arrogant. It is not ill-mannered nor does it seek its own interest. Love overcomes anger and forgets offenses. It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in truth. Love excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1st Corinthians 13:4-6

I think that this is one of the most beautiful passages in the bible. I know a lot of couples use this for their readings on their wedding day at mass, but the theme that Paul touches upon here is much broader than just romantic love. All values, beliefs, commandments, everything is based on love and the kindness we show to others. And the most important part of this love is that it be sincere, not showing love because we feel it's appropriate at certain situations, but to really, genuinely express love to others in the form of service. Love isn't love when we wait for others to do something for us first. Love isn't love when we keep a checklist of what others have done to us. No, love forgives, love first seeks the others' comfort before we seek our own. Love never ever rejoices at the downfall of another. Love expects the best out of people and love can withstand anything, even the biggest offenses. True love that comes from God can do this.

Not possible you're thinking? Guess again. I've heard of people that have forgiven the murderer of their own child. People that have put their own lives at risk to help strangers, like the man that jumped in front of a subway train to help someone who had fallen on the tracks. And then we have Jesus Christ, who gave up His own life for us while His enemies laughed at Him, eventhough He was able to save Himself. None of this happens over night, but if you don't at least take baby steps every day to try to achieve more love each day, more service to a stranger, more patience to someone who gets on your nerves, you will have no love inside of you. No love is really having no life because all that is inside you is dead. No one could ever love you in the right way because you could never show them true love. But to achieve this we have our Lord to help us, who gives us much more than we could ever ask for or imagine, if we do truly seek to love as He loves.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, show me to love as You love. Right now, I can only really love those who love me and even then I don't serve them as I should. Open my heart, strengthen it so I can have the courage to forget all offenses in Your Name. Show me how to love perfectly and serve all of Your children, from the least to the greatest. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Watch What You Do

"When you disturb the weak conscience of your brothers and sin against them, you sin against Christ Himself." - 1st Corinthians 8:12

We all make mistakes, but the older we get, the more we need to realize that our mistakes not only affect us, but also those who watch us. What we are missing today are good role models, those that might make a mistake, but make sure they rectify their behavior and show those watching them how they should act. I was just telling someone that in the case of Jamie Lynn Spears and her pregnancy, everyone points to her mom as being at fault, but I'm sure that growing up, Jamie looked up to her big sister more than anyone else. It's great to be young and have fun, but don't let your mistakes cost someone else to sin against God. You might have sons or daughters, little brothers or sisters, or neices and nephews who look up to you. What are you teaching them with your example? Will they grow up thinking that you taught them honesty and integrity, or will you teach them to follow in the same mistakes you've made? You might not think you affect anyone's behavior, but you do. Look at what Paul says here, when you fail to be a good example for those around you and condone the same bad examples you have, you not only carry the weight of your sin, but the weight of their sin as well. And it might not be crazy, wild behavior, you can also pass on your negative attitudes, your doubts and pessimism. Is this what you want to pass on to someone who looks up to you?

Today's Prayer:
Lord, I forget at times that I'm not alone in my actions and even when I think no one is watching, I could be passing on my sins and negative behaviors to someone else. Oh God, keep my eyes open so that I can only pass on a good example so that no one sins because of me, and please help me so that I myself can always do right by You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

No Record of Wrongs

"Love overcomes anger and forgets offenses." - 1st Corinthians 13:5

I know a girl who committed a sin she is very ashamed of. Immediately, the walls went up between her and God, but God wasn't the one who raised them, she did. I look at myself and think of the times I've offended someone and needed to apologize. I find that I keep my distance and not talk to the person, hoping they'll get over it because it makes me feel bad that they're so angry with me. It takes a lot to apologize so it's easier for me to stay away. A lot of us tend to take this route with the Lord. We do something we know God wouldn't like and/ or continue to do it, and we distance ourselves from God because of the guilt we feel, or because we think we're just not compatible with Him.

In this verse, Paul tells us that even though that's how we are, God is not like this. In his gospel, the apostle John said that God is love, and this God, who is perfect love, does not hold on to grudges from the times we have offended Him. Another translation says that love does not keep a record of wrongs. That's what we do! We keep a checklist of what others have done to us and we also keep a checklist of sins we've committed, reasons we've made up to justify why we stay away from God and why we're not worthy. We all need to take a step back and realize that God is love and God understands all that we go through. All we do in life is part of a journey we need to take to discover ourselves, so no sin should keep us away from trying to get back to God. He waits for each and every one of us with open arms. Forgetting our offenses, He always waits in love for our return.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, You are so good. You forget the sins I've commited and cast them out of Your site when I seek You. No matter what I've done, You still love me and wait for my return. Lord, don't ever let me forget Your great mercy, love and compassion for me. I love You. In Your Name we pray, amen.

You Are Not Your Own

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, given by God? You belong no longer to yourselves." -1st Corinthians 6: 19-20

Sin has an ugly affect on our lives. It blinds us and makes us believe in our own lies and deceptions, giving way to our own perdition. It leads us to foolishly trust ourselves and lose sight of the fact that we belong to God and He is the ONLY source of strength.

I heard this song today called "There You Go Again," and I hope that you see yourself in these lyrics and are able to repent from sins that are suffocating you.

There you go again, stepping 'cross another line, scorning all the warning signs, flying in the face of danger. There you go again, slickly twisting truth around 'till you can't tell up from down, treating wisdom like a stranger. There you go again.

There you go again, you take temptation lying down, you're giving sin a breeding ground, buying into its seduction. There you go again, trusting your own will and power, you race a hundred miles an hour down the path of self-destruction.

Have you forgotten who you are? Have you forgotten where your strength comes from? Have you forgotten whose you are? You are not your own…you are not your own.

But there you go again, you hang up on the Spirit's call, ignore the writings on the wall, blindly minding your own senses. There you go again, bowing to your every whim, and tearing conscience limb from limb, you disable your defenses. There you go again, you insult grace and strut your stuff, you make believe you're strong enough to avoid the consequences. There you go again.

Today's Prayer is for you to sit and think about your own sins. You are not your own; ask God to root the sins out of your soul.

One Body

"God has arranged all the members, placing each part of the body as He pleased. If all were the same part where would the body be? But there are many members and one body." - 1st Corinthians 12:18-20

Each and everyone of you is special and has a very important role in God's overall plan. Just as your different body parts have their own functions, so do all of you have your own parts to play out for God's kingdom here on earth. There are some of you that are great with children and you are their positive role models as they grow up. There are others of you that are so hard working and constantly pick up the pieces for others, and there are also those that are always there to serve those around them, hardly thinking of yourselves. You are doing God's work. God has placed these gifts in you to answer the prayers of those around you. Being a part of the body of Christ not only means that we help the other body parts when they need it, but also, that inspired by God, those other parts are there to serve us as well when we're in need.

Think about how you fit into the body of Christ and how you can better serve the members around you.

Today's Prayer:
Thank You God because we all belong to Your family and You have formed us to help and support those around us. Please bless me and help me to function better as a member of Your holy body. In Your Name we pray, Amen.