2015.02.28: now is not the time to judge

“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” – Mt 5:44-45

the sun rises
on the bad and the good
who are we to judge

the rain fall
on the just and the unjust
who are we to judge

the wheat and the weeds
grow in the same field
who are we to judge

the sheep and the goats
graze in the same pasture
who are we to judge

there’s a purpose
for every creation under heaven
who are we to judge

ours is for living
ours is for loving
our is not to judge

there’s a season
for every purpose under heaven
now is not the time to judge

now is the time for living
now is the time for loving
now is not the time for judging

2015.02.27: righteousness

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” – Mt: 5:20

righteousness: morally upright, without guilt,
without sin. a word that casted fear into my
heart. how can i be more righteous than the
impeccable rule followers? am i doomed to
the netherworld? and if a righteous man
turns from the virtuous path before death,
the rest of his life counts for nought? what
kind of righteousness is that, Ezekiel?

thank God for the Word Incarnate, he who
brings the kingdom of God, a new heaven
and a new earth. his kingdom doesn’t depend
on the righteousness of humans. his kingdom
is founded on divine righteousness. in the
baptism of the sinful, he took on our sins:
past, present, and future. through his death
on the cross our sins died with him. with his
resurrection from the dead we rise with his
righteousness to a life everlasting. he remains
with us still, he lives in us, and he acts through
us – the Body of Christ. that is the good news.
we do not have to enter the kingdom of heaven
on our righteousness. we enter the kingdom of
heaven with, in, and through the righteousness
of Emmanuel, God with us. Praise be to God.

2015.02.26: all that is

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:8

all that is given leads to more wanting
all that is found leads to more seeking
all that is opened leads to more doors

which gift leads to the truth?
which answer leads to the way?
which door leads to the life?

am i doomed to constant longing?
am i destined to endless searching?
will i always face a hall of doors?

“be still
be still and know
be still and know that i am
be still and know that i am God”

is that knocking that i hear?

2015.02.25: something greater

In reflection of Lk 11:29-32

---

there something greater
than the wisdom of Solomon

there something greater
than the preaching of Jonah

there something greater
than the willfulness of men

there something greater
than the sinfulness of men

there’s no greater peace
than the ever presence of the Holy Spirit

there’s no greater joy
than an encounter with the Son of God

there’s no greater love
than the boundless mercy of the Father

there’ no greater feeling
than being loved just as you are

02.24.15: an oasis

Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it. – Is 55:10-11

---

 
like the desert
my soul was parched
thirsting for each word
from you, oh Lord

the rain fell on these
rocks and washed away
your words did not sink
into my thirsty soul

until the Word Incarnate
came and softened the soil
making it fertile and fruitful
and renewed the wellspring

now the words from heaven
fall and collect
and the Garden thrives
an oasis in the desert