Matthew 13:54-55

He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son?

Isn’t it true that sometimes the people closest to us hold us back from reaching our full potential? Sometimes…they are the ones who refuse to let go of past mistakes we’ve made or shortcomings we had. When you follow Jesus, you will make others around you uncomfortable sometimes…because they may have to confront whether they are following Jesus as you are. If that happens to you, know that you are in good company. It happened to Jesus as well! Follow Jesus with courage and know that He can redeem and change anyone! But…remember to respond to those who reject you with love. Perhaps Jesus will change them as well…by using you.

Psalm 84:3

My heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

What are you yearning for? Isn’t there something inside you that is empty…that is longing to be filled? You are not alone…for as St. Paul writes in Romans 8:22, “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now.” Satisfaction cannot come from anything material or physical but only from the One who can satisfy a spiritual longing…the Living God. Take a few minutes to be with the One who wants to satisfy you with Unconditional Love.

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Notice that Jesus uses the present tense in saying, “I AM the resurrection and the life.” Jesus, one with God and the Holy Spirit, ARE. God wants to “raise you”…redeem you…give you new life…in this present moment. Believe in Jesus…follow Him…and you will live life to the fullest…into eternity.

Psalm 103:12-13

As far as the east is from the west, so far have our sins been removed from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on the faithful.

What kind of Love would love me so much that it would rather die than see me suffer? The Love of God! It was undeserved and unconditional. Jesus is our model. How can I be a sign of that Love to others?

Matthew 13:20-21

“The seed down on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away.”

Jesus warns us that living by the word of the kingdom will not be easy. When we practice unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion…we will sometimes not be appreciated. We will sometimes be rejected or ridiculed. But if we deeply believe that Jesus is the “way, the truth and the life” as He said…and if we persevere…and if we get back up and follow Him after messing up…Jesus promises our seed will bear fruit and yield “a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

Matthew 13:13

“This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’”

Jesus told his disciples to listen with their hearts to what He was saying and to have faith like a child. If we open our hearts in trust to Jesus…He will no doubt reveal deep truths to us as we read His parables today. But how can we connect with these deep truths that could change our lives and lead us to freedom…if we don’t read Jesus’ words and then “listen” with our hearts?

John 20:16

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.

Picture this very emotional scene where Mary of Magdala is the first to witness the resurrected Jesus outside the tomb. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus chose as the first person to see Him after the resurrection…and the person to deliver the message to the other disciples that He had risen…a woman? We know that Jesus had driven-out “seven demons” from Mary…and whatever that means exactly…we know that she was healed, freed, and changed…so much that she passionately followed Jesus. That passion brought her to the tomb on that Easter morning…to witness the miracle of miracles. What might happen in our lives if we followed Jesus…with the same passion?

Matthew 12:49

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.”

Jesus says that we are all one family…the body of Christ. We are to love others with the same intensity that we love our own family. This is how we bring about the Kingdom of God…in the here and now. Jesus taught us in the “Our Father”: “Thy kingdom come.” It’s up to us to make that happen.

Dear God, help me to break down the walls of division!

Matthew 12:38

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

How often do we do this…ask God for a sign? There is nothing wrong with this as I think God many times delights in giving us signs. Did you ever wonder how many signs we might be missing…simply because we are too busy and distracted by the “noise” we are constantly immersed in…and are immersing ourselves in? Set aside five to ten minutes today to simply sit in silence and contemplate whether God has already given you many signs of his unconditional love.