The greatest commandment

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40


Peace

Fill the vacuum!

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

― Blaise Pascal, Pensées

Peace

Attitude

A man came across three masons who were working at chipping chunks of granite from large blocks. The first seemed unhappy at his job, chipping away and frequently looking at his watch. When the man asked what it was that he was doing, the first mason responded, rather curtly, “I’m hammering this stupid rock, and I can’t wait ’til 5 when I can go home.”

”A second mason, seemingly more interested in his work, was hammering diligently and when asked what it was that he was doing, answered, “Well, I’m molding this block of rock so that it can be used with others to construct a wall. It’s not bad work, but I’ll sure be glad when it’s done.”

”A third mason was hammering at his block fervently, taking time to stand back and admire his work. He chipped off small pieces until he was satisfied that it was the best he could do. When he was questioned about his work he stopped, gazed skyward and proudly proclaimed, “I…am building a cathedral!”

“Three men, three different attitudes, all doing the same job.”

With startling clarity, this story illustrates that purpose has the power to transform not only our attitude about the work that we do, but the quality of our work as well. And if purpose can help one transcend even a physically laborious task as that undertaken by the three masons in our story, then imagine the impact that clarity of purpose can have on our work, and on that of our employees.

So what purpose drives you to achieve the results you seek in your life

Peace

Cargo

Two paddleboats left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail's pace of the other. Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South.

One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship's cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.

God has entrusted cargo to us, too: children, spouses, friends. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination. Yet when the program takes priority over people, people often suffer. How much cargo do we sacrifice in order to achieve the number one slot? How many people never reach the destination because of the aggressiveness of a competitive captain?

by Max Lucado

Peace

The triumph of the Cross

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (or Triumph of the Cross) we honor the Holy Cross by which Christ redeemed the world. The public veneration of the Cross of Christ originated in the fourth century, according to early accounts, beginning with the miraculous discovery of the cross on September 14, 326, by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine, while she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem - the same day that two churches built at the site of Calvary by Constantine were dedicated.

"He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:38-39

Peace

Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

On those days when life seems too demanding with all of its cares, burdens and concerns...Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we experience great loneliness deep inside and the pain of separation fills our spirits…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we feel the pain of our world and unite in compassion with the Earth’s suffering people…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we struggle with decision-making and the time comes to make good choices about our lives…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we are with others in their physical pain or when we vigil with one in the grips of terminal illness…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we are asked to go the extra mile, to be generous with our time and our presence…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we feel weary and worn out, when it seems like all of our energy has been drained away…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we are challenged to risk our security and accept new growth in our relationship with you…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we experience the effects of aging or extended illness on our bodies or our minds…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we feel discouraged, desolate, and depressed and want to withdraw from others…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When worries and concerns choke our peacefulness and leave us with anxiety and fear…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

·       When we harbor old wounds and are called to offer or to receive forgiveness…Jesus, grant us strength to carry our cross.

Crucified Jesus, help us to take up our cross day by day. Through these crosses we can grow closer to you. Help us to lean on you and to learn from you. May we not give in to self-pity or self-doubt. Rather, let us trust in your presence which strengthens us. Encourage us on our tomb-like days. Remind us of your resurrection. Help us to keep our vision focused on life and growth. Amen.

Peace

Today

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26

+

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

=

Today

Peace

Worries

Matthew 6

Do Not Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Peace

Enter through the narrow gate

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

Peace

Behold

2 Corinthians 6:2

For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,
    and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Peace

Mysterious ways

"

 

T

r

uly, O God of Israel, our Savior, you work in mysterious ways.

 "

 Isaiah 45:1

 

5

Peace

Without wondering

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.

Saint Augustine

Peace