Do you love St Paul as much as I do? Wow! He really grabs me, because he didn't walk this earth with Jesus just like you and I! Yes, he was probably alive at the time of Christ, and maybe he did see him from afar or hear about him from the Church leaders... then after his death Paul was a zealot, who was persecuting the Christians. He held the cloaks of those that stoned St Stephen, the first martyr, and he was on his way to arrest Christians when he was stopped on the road by a blinding light, and heard the voice of our risen Lord speak to him! We too hear a few things about Jesus, and view HIM from afar, but then we come in contact with HIM and how He touches our lives in a personal way! Yes, there are times when I feel that I have been blinded by the LIGHT of something that comes out of the blue... Like brain cancer in our son, John, 3 years ago! You are stunned and unable to "see" where to go or what to do. Then through our faith and prayer the scales fall away, and we see Jesus in the front of the boat in the storm. He stands up and tells the storm to "Be Still!" and it does! Jesus, is in control, and He is LIFE and LOVE! We are reminded by dear St Paul in the first reading today to Ephesians, that we are to be ONE... not an easy thing to do!
St Paul says it so powerfully and totally and clearly;
"Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: One Body and One Spirit, as you are also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift..."
Ephesians 4: 1-7
Yes, if we live with humility, and gentleness, and patience... we can certainly have a more loving and unified domestic Church/family. We can be ONE and face the world and all of its darkness armed with the Truth! Just as St Matthew today needed the great Physician, so do we as we falter in our weak human state to put others first and LOVE as Christ did - embracing our Most Cherished Cross!
Lord, not only do you give us a blueprint to live our lives with you in your amazing Word/Gospel of Truth. But you showed us in the way you lived your LIFE while here as God made man! With all that we do with our lives and especially the sharing with those in our domestic church/family... may we ponder YOU and your Church and your Truth. May we ask ourselves if we are being humble and patient with those we come in contact with... do we see your face in all those in our lives? Jesus, we are so weak and that is when we cry out for you in the midst of the storm... You stand up and tell the storm to "Be Still!" because you are in control! Jesus, we need you and trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
"Sharing in the saving Joy, O Lord,
with which St Matthew welcomed the Savior as a guest in his home, we pray: grant that we may always be renewed by the food we receive from Christ, who came to call sinners to salvation. Who lives and reigns forever and ever."
Prayer after communion on this feastday of ST Matthew, pray for us!
Dear Lord, Keep all farmers safe this day of harvest!
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