God's Generosity

Matthew 20.1-16 is the parable of the landowner and the labourers. It is an interesting parable often used for various statements on serving, for vocations, on justice. The final line often catches everyone's attention: "The last will be first, and the first will be last." It is no doubt a challenge for us as followers of Christ. However the line just before it, the last words of the landowner caught my attention. He says, "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?" I hear our Generous God ask these two questions with a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye and a joy yet challenge in his voice. It had me thinking about how generous our God really is even when we don't acknowledge, see or remember this gift of generosity.

God's Abundant Generosity

In every breath we breathe,
in every move we make,
in every sight we see,
God's generosity abounds.

When trials come and we persevere,
when demands come and we are patient,
when curve balls come and we stay the course,
God's generosity abounds.

In the moments we don't count the cost,
in the moments we learn to surrender,
in the moments we embody humility,
God's generosity abounds.

When we help the neighbour and the foe,
when we rise above the noise with peace,
when we share respect with and for all,
God's generosity abounds.

In serving with a joyful heart,
in being present in the here and now,
in giving of ourselves freely,
God's generosity abounds.

When we are eager and give our all,
when we are stuck and give what we can,
when we are drained and give the little we have,
God's generosity abounds.

In building a kingdom of love - not our own,
in building communities that bring life,
in building up those around us,
God's generosity abounds. 

When we acknowledge our wrongs,
when we seek forgiveness,
when we discover all we are given,
God's generosity abounds.

In realizing our life is not a possession,
in realizing our daily blessings,
in realizing we always belong to God,
God's generosity abounds.

When being first slips away,
when being last becomes fruitful,
when being generous in who we are and with what we have,
God's generosity abounds.

Daily... no matter what... recognized or not....
God's generosity abounds!
Amen.

Cross = Love

This week I read a quote from David Haas - the composer of many church hymns, which read:

"Our vocation is always to be a witness of God's love."

Amen I say to that, Amen indeed! It is a reminder that we are loved and our living calls us to authentic living, honest living and it calls us to love in our every day in little ways not just in the grand moments. It calls us to know that we are God's and because of this love is always ours. Always.

This past week we celebrated the Exultation of the Cross. This is a beautiful reminder that love is our way and is indeed how we are called to live and witness.

"We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, 

because by your cross you have redeemed the world."

The cross and resurrection of Jesus is the the truth that love is rooted in and the way in which we are to love is made obvious and evident in our Savior Jesus Christ. His love took him to the cross - abandoned, rejected, emptied and yet it was so full of love. We look to the Him, the One who gave his all and who loved to the end. We look to the One who chose love over revenge and who made love the authentic way of living. We look to the One who laid every piece of love down on that cross as he had done his whole life, so that in turn we would know that we are loved and he shows us how we are to love.

Yes in our world love is battered, broken, abused, beaten, profaned and even destroyed. We do it to ourselves and we allow others to do it to themselves and to us. Our world is so desperately seeking love and filling it with false loves. At times we fail to grasp the power of love. We fail to see that love is patient, kind, courageous, and calls us to be a witness. May the reminder that we were first loved by God and that the cross is a sign of this love encourage us to claim love and let it be the way we witness to the world. Let it be the way we enter into our vocation each day.

The love of Christ compels us,
it pushes us forward,
it says we have life,
it claims our holiness,
it is our hope,
it is always ours,
it can never be taken away,
so let us love, for God is love
and we are held always in this love.
Amen. 

Christ is Among Us

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, 

I am there among them." - Matthew 18.20

I have been sitting with this line from the Gospel of Matthew this week. It is good to be reminded that Jesus is with us always (Emmanuel) in the journey, especially as fall routines take shape and we are bombarded with demands and roles to fulfill and challenges of being community.

This reflection is broken into two parts (where two or three reflections are in his name - Jesus is there :) - I hope so!) both are prayers that this piece of scripture called out of me. It comes from my desire to see and be aware of Christ more and more in my every day - in relationships, interactions, simple meetings, intense moments, creation, busyness and quiet.

Strength for the journey Lord Jesus,
there is so much going on
and so much goodness in my life,
and so many demands,
and just little things that make a difference...
I trust in you.

I trust that you are my strength, 
my courage, my drive to do all in your name, 
to seek your will and radiate you.

When days seem long
and the load is heavy
I trust you walk with me.

When tasks become too many
and the need to be present is draining
I trust you are strength to do and be.

When the rushing around is endless
and more gets added each day
I trust you are my guide.

When the tiredness takes hold
and emotions run high
I trust you are peace.

When the seeking and searching are continual
and I fail to see you here
I trust you are with me
and will remind me of that always.

You Lord are strength for the journey.

Be present Lord
in our daily gatherings
in our comings and goings
in our work and play.

Be present Lord
when we gather as family
when we welcome friend and stanger
when we help a neighbour.

Be present Lord
in our time of prayer
in our time of leisure
in our time of rest.

Be present Lord
when stresses weigh us down
when burdens seem too heavy
when fears trap us in.

Be present Lord
in the breaking of our bread
in the scripture we share
in the peace we offer each other.

Lord, remember your promise to be present where 

two or three are gathered in your name!

Enticed by the Flame

"If I say, I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name, then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I can not."
                                                                                - Jeremiah 20.9

This line really stuck me and stood out for me this weekend. I think this burning fire is something that continues to burn within me and desires to burst forth at times and at other times simmer more to take in its power. I come to understand more how it is possible not to contain it for it fills my body and soul. It penetrates me, continually enticing me more and more to the source of whom I belong to and how immense and full and intense that love is.

How can I not speak of the Lord?
                                            Look at all the blessings.
How can I not have the Lord come through in my words and actions?
                                                                                           Look at how present God is.

I profess to be a follower of Christ. At times I stumble along the path, at other times my sinfulness traps me and at other times I am lured by the world but still in my weakness, my body and soul yearn for God and I am continually drawn back by God's love, mercy and goodness.

God's love, mercy and goodness is the burning fire that is shut up in my bones, it is the strength of my bones, it is the flow of my blood. These riches consume me and fan the flame and cause it to burst forth and propel me to serve, to grow deeper in love, to claim my faith, to proclaim the Good News in this day, to be a positive voice, person of love in action and to trust that God is at work in me. This adds fuel to the fire - if you will - so that I may be a voice that proclaims God, a life that is wrapped in God's love and a Child of God that can not contain how good God is always. That simply amazes me that I, that you, that each of us are these vessels that hold the flame of God and God's love within and yet can not contain it.

You indeed entice me O God,
and that is beautiful.
It is again the gift of knowing
you are ever at my side
and that I am precious in your sight.
Continue to do something new in me,
as the fire of your love is fanned
and strengthened in my life.
Amen.

How do you share the burning fire?
This week let us not hold it in, let us be bearers of light - God's love.