"Do not risk being shut out"

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30 - He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, `Lord, open to  us.' He will answer you, `I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, `We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, `I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

 

Friends who care for others on the journey of life!

Meditation: What does the image of a door say to us about the kingdom of God? Jesus' story about the door being shut to those who come too late suggests they had offended their host and deserved to be excluded. It was customary for teachers in Jesus' time to close the door on tardy students and not allow them back for a whole week in order to teach them a lesson in discipline and faithfulness. Jesus told this story in response to the question of who will make it to heaven. Many rabbis held that all Israel would be saved, except for a few blatant sinners who excluded themselves! After all, they were specially chosen by God when he established a covenant with them.

Jesus doesn't directly answer the question, however; but his response is nonetheless unsettling on two counts. First, Jesus surprised his listeners by saying that one's membership as a covenanted people does not automatically mean entry into the kingdom of God. Second, Jesus asserts that many from the gentile nations would enter God's kingdom. God's invitation is open to Jew and Gentile alike. But Jesus warns that we can be excluded if we do not strive to enter by the narrow door.  What did Jesus mean by this expression? The door which Jesus had in mind was himself. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved (John 10:9).  Jesus opens the way for us to enter into God's kingdom through the cross where he has laid down his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If we want to enter and remain citizens of God's kingdom, then we must follow Jesus in the way of the cross. The word strive can also be translated agony. To enter the kingdom of God one must struggle against the forces of temptation to sin and whatever would hinder us from doing the will of God (even apathy, indifference, and compromise).

The good news is that we do not struggle alone. God is with us and his grace is sufficient! As we strive side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27) Jesus assures us of complete victory!

 

Refection question: Do you trust in God's grace and help, especially in times of testing and temptation?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, help me to always trust in your saving grace, especially when I am tempted and put to the test. Help me to be faithful to you and give me the courage and strength to resist temptation, especially the temptation to compromise or to be indifferent to your word." Amen.

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News:

Father Ralph called me last night around 9:00 P.M. 10/22/13 and said that Sister Marcy called him to say that Sister Ann may not make it through the night, her blood pressure is very low.  

Let us keep our dear Annie close to our hearts in prayer. May she soon be enjoying the heavenly kingdom with all God, Francis and Clare,  her sisters, family, artists and all those people she ministered to in the classroom, TAU House, Jackson Square, Lazarus, Samaritan Ministries and the Journey Retreats.

I recall a funny memory during my time in New Orleans when a person was visiting a friend at Lazarus who was dying, he said to his friend, "when you see the light, run towards it" and we say the same to Annie.

 

The Tau House Memorial Garden The Tau House Memorial Garden will be transferred to the Poor Clare Monastery at Henry Clay & Magazine Streets, New Orleans, LA. Many thanks to Billy Edwards, Patrick Nunez, Chris and Kevin Callaghan for making that happen.

December 15-17 the garden will be arranged by Ted Genebacher of Quincy IL. Ted and his wife Sarah have been friends of the Poor Clare Nuns for about 4 years. They come down from Quincy, IL each Advent to help the nuns with the gardens, cooking, and Christmas decorating etc. Ted and Sarah own and operate Frese Ornamental Nursery in Quincy, IL, awesome people, salt of the earth. Ted is known for his garden arrangements.

 

 Prayer Intentions:

Sister Ann Roddy, SSND

The Poor

For Vocations

For Father Johnpaul, OFM and his family

For first responders

For farmers during this harvest season

For members of the TAU House communities

Have a great day!

Peace and all good,
Brother Ed, OFM

PS: Please send me photos and refection's from your community meetings.

"What God's kingdom is like"

Scripture: Luke 13:18-21 - He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."

Meditation: What can mustard seeds and leaven teach us about the kingdom of God? The tiny mustard seed literally grew to be a tree which attracted numerous birds because they loved the little black mustard seed it produced. God's kingdom works in a similar fashion. It starts from the smallest beginnings in the hearts of men and women who are receptive to God's word. And it works unseen and causes a transformation from within. Leaven is another powerful agent of change. A lump of dough left to itself remains just what it is, a lump of dough. But when the leaven is added to it a transformation takes place which produces rich and wholesome bread when heated – the staple of life for humans. The kingdom of God produces a transformation in those who receive the new life which Jesus Christ offers. When we yield to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Paul the Apostle says, "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

 

Refection question: Do you believe in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and transform me into the Christ-like holiness you desire. Increase my zeal for your kingdom and instill in me a holy desire to live for your greater glory." Amen.

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News:

Father Ralph called me last night around 9:00 P.M. 10/22/13 and said that Sister Marcy called him to say that Sister Ann may not make it through the night, her blood pressure is very low.

Let us keep our dear Annie close to our hearts in prayer. May she soon be enjoying the heavenly kingdom with all God, Francis and Clare,  her sisters, family, artists and all those people she ministered to in the classroom, TAU House, Jackson Square, Lazarus, Samaritan Ministries and the Journey Retreats.

I recall a funny memory during my time in New Orleans when a person was visiting a friend at Lazarus who was dying, he said to his friend, "when you see the light, run towards it" and we say the same to Annie.

 

The Tau House Memorial GardenThe Tau House Memorial Garden will be transferred to the Poor Clare Monastery at Henry Clay & Magazine Streets, New Orleans, LA. Many thanks to Billy Edwards, Patrick Nunez, Chris and Kevin Callaghan for making that happen.

December 15-17 the garden will be arranged by Ted Genebacher of Quincy IL. Ted and his wife Sarah have been friends of the Poor Clare Nuns for about 4 years. They come down from Quincy, IL each Advent to help the nuns with the gardens, cooking, and Christmas decorating etc. Ted and Sarah own and operate Frese Ornamental Nursery in Quincy, IL, awesome people, salt of the earth. Ted is known for his garden arrangements.