Luke 5:11

When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

It usually comes as a great shock to us when we finally realize that we are not the center of the world. Our egos believe the world revolves around them. Living from that viewpoint…we are not living in reality! But how many people are stuck there? God is truly the center of all existence. We find our true selves only when we are in harmony with God. Jesus said that He was “the way, the truth and the life.” Following Him leads us to our true selves…but it means leaving everything…perhaps not literally…but definitely detaching from the desire to possess anything. This is the exact opposite from what our egos want. When our egos decrease…there is room for God to increase inside of us. Then…the true you…will emerge!

Suggested song of the day—”I Want to Follow You” from the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Luke 4:42-43

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Jesus had cured many people in this town…and the people did not want him to go. But Jesus knew his mission. He must go and “proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.” Earlier this week we read how Jesus had quoted the prophet Isaiah when he said specifically what the kingdom of God was about: bringing glad tidings to the poor, proclaiming liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and freeing the oppressed. Following Jesus means more than a private practice of rituals and obligations…it means taking action for social justice. These are the 7 themes of Catholic Social Teaching: Life and dignity of the human person; Call to family community and participation; Rights and responsibilities to private property; Option for the poor and vulnerable; The dignity of work and the rights of workers; Solidarity of one human family; and Care for God’s creation. To follow Jesus we must carry out each of these themes!

Suggested song of the day—”Salvation” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.

While we tend to treat others only as well as they treat us…God pours out grace and compassion on all things no matter how “good” they are. That’s because in God’s eyes…all is good. Life is precious and all life is created with Love. Without God’s constant cooperation in willing us to be…we would cease to exist. So…in times of darkness and pain…know that God is hanging in there and enduring it with you…just as Jesus hung with us on the cross. Nothing can keep us from the loving embrace of God! That is Good News!

Suggested song of the day—”I Will Give You Rest” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Luke 4:17-18

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…”

When Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah to those gathered in the synagogue…He was proclaiming that He was the one whom the prophet was speaking about. Jesus was also proclaiming that this was His mission. If we are followers of Jesus…should this not also be our mission? We are each called to bring glad tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to those held in bondage and recovery of sight to those who are blind and to free those held in oppression! We each have to ask ourselves how well we are doing that. How will you use your gifts and talents to carry out that mission? Is your religion a private, pious exercise in following rules or is it empowering you to open yourself to allow Christ to work through you to bring the kingdom of God to life?

Suggested song of the day—”Salvation” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Matthew 25:13

“Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Many times this comment by Jesus is taken to mean some sort of warning about when death will come…and that you better have your act together or else! This is a very fearful interpretation. Does it sound like something the same guy who loves you so much that he died for you would say? It’s not about our worthiness! Jesus is ready to save you continuously…in each moment. God wants to fill us…to lift us in the places where we are unable! For this to happen…our egos have to get out of the way. Jesus wants to give us salvation and wholeness…but many of us are not listening. We are not awake to his voice. Christ is ready to come into your life…now! This is Good News!

Suggested song of the day—”I Surrender” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God will never let you go…despite all the times you have turned away and despite all the times in the future when you will slip and fall. The Eternal Word was made flesh…and took human form…in Jesus. Jesus said that He is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). If we follow Him…trust Him…become friends with Him…He will show us who we are. There are so many influences and voices trying to tell each of us what we should do, think and act to be someone. If you want to know why you are here…if you want to know the real you…get to know Jesus. This is Good News!

Suggested song of the day—”Show Me…Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Matthew 23:27,28

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites…on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.”

Jesus showed compassion to all the “sinners” of his day…but he had sharp criticism for the religious leaders. They were the ones who held all people to the letter of the law without any filter of love, compassion or forgiveness. They looked down on others and held themselves in high-esteem. The law without compassion is not Christianity. None of us can save ourselves! None of us can keep the law perfectly because we are imperfect! If we didn’t have that certain shortcoming that we just can’t seem to shake…we wouldn’t need God…would we? It’s precisely in that place where you are struggling…that Jesus wants to embrace you and save you! That is Good News!

Suggested song of the day—”Come to Jesus” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Psalm 145:13

Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.

The kingdom of God or the reign of God is eternally present when we are totally present to God…our Source. However, usually our minds are so busy mulling over past events and pondering future possibilities that we are almost never present to the moment…the only time that is actually real and where God can be found! No wonder we are flustered and uneasy because we are out of touch with our Loving Source! The Eternal Now…the kingdom of God…will break into our lives if we stop…focus on the stillness…and listen for God’s gentle invitation to enter into the Great Dance of creation!  Listen…then take action!

Suggested song of the day—”Shall We Sing” from the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Psalm 96:1

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands.

All of creation sings a song in its very being. Everything sings in its very nature…pouring out all that it is without any indecision or hesitancy…except human beings! We compare ourselves to others. We envy others or wish we could be different or try to out-do others! What if we simply were ourselves to the fullest extent? What if we simply kept our eyes on God and followed Jesus? What unique song is God trying to sing through you? Each person has a song that is different than any other person’s song…and each is beautiful and needed to bring about God’s dream for the world! This is Good News!

Suggested song of the day—”Sing a New Song” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.