Tuesday 17 April 2012

Happy Tuesday

Each Monday I attend Tai Chi classes.    There are usually about 20 of us and over two hours
we practice Tai Chi.  The amusing thing is we don't know each other's names.    We come to
class,  we practice,   we share tea together,  but we still don't know each other's names.   
Humm,  upon reflection,  is this also like the Church today?   We attend Worship and perhaps
Bible Study and other Church programs but could you say who you sat beside each week,  where they
worked (or retired!),  if they are married the spouses name,  and how many children or nieces/nephews are in their family?    We have gotten away from knowing the whole person of God.
There is your challenge for the next two weeks.  Find out about the people in Church and then keep them in your prayers. For after all we are an Easter people!

Daily Retreat.....
Prayer:  Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,  have mercy upon us.  Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,  have mercy upon us.  Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace.   Amen.

Read:  St. Matthew 12: 9 – 14

Again the Pharisees and Jesus clash.   The Pharisees keep pointing out rules that Jesus keeps breaking.    The Pharisees say to Jesus, “Is it legal to heal on the Sabbath”?   They know the answer… and so does Jesus.  The Pharisees were baiting Jesus.  And this is not right.  Having someone point out the rules and regulations in any Church is a good thing but becomes destructive when the person is pointing out the rules and regulations for revenge or a “I know more than you do” attitude.   
Jesus replies to the Pharisees by saying,  “But if one of your lambs fall into a ravine,  even though it was a Sabbath,  wouldn’t you pull the lamb out of the ravine?”   Jesus says to the man with a withered hand,  “Hold out your hand”.   And the hand is healed.  The Pharisees are furious and walk away trying to figure out how they will ruin Jesus.  Yikes!  This is not good.    Why are they being so vindictive to Jesus?  The Pharisees are vindictive because Jesus has shown them another side to God.  Instead of welcoming the new thoughts and praying about a new way to consider God,  they are trapped in their old ways and will not change.  How sad!  Even worse,  they are trying to trap another person through their rules and regulations.    How sad!

But what about us today?   Are there areas in our own life where we do not want to make positive changes?

Prayer:  Christ has Risen!  Christ has Risen indeed!   Christ took all our sins upon himself and gave us Eternal Life.   Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  have mercy upon us.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sins from my heart,  have mercy upon me.  Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us Your peace.   As we live out our life in Your name today,  help us to ask ourselves “What have I done for Christ?”    “What am I doing for Christ today?”  What ought I to do for You today”?    Lamb of God,  You take away the sin of the world,  grant us Your love.   Amen

Many blessings!

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