-Last Sunday's homily is available by email
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishlincletter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 9:30am and 12:30pm
What's Your Fishing Boat?
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus gets in or better, invades not just Peter's fishing boat - but his very livelihood. Uninvited, Jesus asserts himself into Peter's world, his stuff, his expertise, his space and he takes over. And Peter lets him.
That "invasion and surrender" is what the Lord wants to do in all our lives. So, two questions! What is your fishing boat? Will your surrender?
What is your livelihood, your life's work, your expertise, your realm in which you operate and lead in life? Maybe we each have more than one. Do you know that Jesus wants to get in there? Are you prepared tto surrender to him there?
Some of these boats are great things like work, art, athletics, exercise, parenting, relationships, etc. some of these are less good - leisure time, sexuality, entertainment, alcohol, etc. Yes, Jesus is invading there too.
In as much as we perceive his invasion and surrender to his values, friendship, guidance, insertion, grace - to that extent the real living in freedom can begin.
I think most of us stubbornly and jealously hold onto control of our boat. Not even Jesus can insert himself in that realm of our lives. We prefer that Jesus stay in church and let us worry about life.
7 comments:
Let go. Let God!
Welcoming Jesus into every area of my life is a allowing the spiritual to rule every area and not just selected portions that are safe. I have an integrated life, not a spiritual life and a worldly life, separate. Peter had doubts yet obeyed, surrendered, accepted & acted upon the command of Jesus. I must do the same in each area. Many that I selfishly protect out of pride, or fear of what God will ask of me.The introspection for me is when Christ asks me to do, think, say something that may not be my immediate response yet faith and openness must dictate what I am which is not of this world or at least my future is with Him who is Lord and Savior.
I see myself "stubbornly and jealously" holding onto the boat. In fact, it is amazing to me how that continues to be my approach, despite the proof I've seen of the beauty and freedom in turning the reigns over to Jesus. So many times I've reached a point of exhaustion or frustration and finally think to ask Jesus to step in - and He does. Every time this happens I say to myself, "Really? Why did I wait so long to give it over to Him? I could have avoided so much anxiety and anguish if I had just started things off that way!"
Even though I know life works best when I fully depend on Him, this human pride of mine gets in the way and I frequently start things off trying to do things my way.
And even if our boats are only filled with the things that God has made for just us, by our surrendering our very lives, allowing Him to "fill" our boats, do we still invite Him into these things that are from Him?
Invasion & surrender ... don't want to relate to the violence/warrior mentality with growth in Jesus ... But the example of boats was SUPER eye opening for me ... SUPER GREAT examples I had not considered. Reminds me of when I shadowed a person for a school assignment ... I only shadowed them during the work hours ... I wonder if I would have admired them, been so enamored with them by how/what they did after work ... for dinner ... evening ... leisure time... By what they ate or drak ... or the next day.
We watched Heartland last night, about assassination of JFK. As I went to bed, If I had truly & really realized Jesus was shadowing me, Christ was present with me, I would have skipped the JFK assassination YouTube videos & reading about conspiracy theories and spent time more time with Jesus. Now I feel foolish -- and gypped! -- for wasting time on something insignificant but our Lord reassures me to 'learn from me for I am meek & humble of heart.' Win-win ... He was with me, I'll learn!
I believe we must listen and see the signs. God may want us to step from one boat into another. There are many ways we may serve God and his people; there is more than one gift or talent to use for his glory within us. Rest is rejuvenating, celebrations are needed, expression of sexuality is a gift as long as it is done within God's commandments and with respect.
Mercy in every thing we do and say- showing compassion, love, forgiveness,mercy,understanding. What do you think Christ did for us ? Was he derogatory towards others? Did he use tough love? He only gave his life for us so that we may be forgiven and have everlasting life.
But yet as soon as we are done with mass service we go about living our daily life, we stab others with words and unholy actions. Showing mercy is a constant vigil.
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