Daily Thoughts - Make God Known.
THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
1210 Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life:1 they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.
Foundation. The Spiritual life, as I listened to God, the word foundation was what He gave. Did not know where He was leading but I was following. In our own lives, there is the opportunity to "listen" to Him, this is the spiritual life that leads to salvation. Maybe you are not a spiritual person and don't care to listen. You are still listening but it isn't God that is speaking. We are each called to develop a holy fear of God, to be obedient to His voice and respond to what He asks.In todays Gospel reading Jesus makes the disciples get in the boat, He doesn't ask them, He makes them. It is their choice to get in but His direction is clear. "Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds." Matthew 14:22. We can listen to God and respond to His direction or we can go our own way.
In todays first reading there is a lesson on what happens when we go our own way and not obey God's voice. Scripture is so clear when you sit with God and listen. "Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses on the pretext of the Cushite woman he had married; for he had in fact married a Cushite woman. They complained, "Is it through Moses alone that the Lord has spoken? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the Lord heard this." Numbers 12:1-2
You will have to read the rest of numbers 12 to see how the story unfolds. The foundation of my faith is built upon the Sacraments that God gives. They bring meaning to my worship, they give hope in times of need and they refresh the soul for it is God that is working through His graces within the Church. It may not look like a boat but it is.
Dear Lord, I did not know where we were going this morning but I knew it was upon a firm foundation. I thank You for giving us a boat that we can cross the sea with. I see the winds blowing and the boat being tossed and I also see the boat getting to the other side. Help each of us develop a holy fear that only honors You. Prayers for friends that are praying together, a boat is hard to row by yourself and there is room for all that choose to "listen" to You. Love Your son.
Mary, Mother of Mercy, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Pray for us.
St Patrick, Pray for us.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
No comments:
Post a Comment