Words of Encouragement

Wednesday March 18th

Read: Matthew 5: 17-19

I once had a young person tell me as we were gathered at a friend’s home for dinner that he thought the 10 Commandments were passé! After I apologized for spitting my mouthful of food across the table at the lovely lady seated across from me, I had the courage to ask him what he meant, because surely the laws handed down from Moses by God still were as true as they ever were. His response I will not get into here. Needless to say, I didn’t find any of his reasoning held water. It was basically all a bunch of self-justification. Excuses to say I should be able to do whatever I want without regard for anyone else. Jesus never dismissed the law. He was an observant Jew, true to his beliefs and his faith. He never excused himself or others. Where he differs from his confrere’s, the Pharisees, is that he never made excuses for himself or others. Forgiveness and Mercy, the two greatest hallmarks of his peaching, are not ways of ignoring the law, or ways to get around it. Instead, they are keys to helping the one who fails under the law to find peace, healing and reunion with God.

Thought: Am I sometimes too quick to excuse my behavior? Do I justify my actions a little too much expecting God’s mercy without correcting myself?

Action: Today I will review the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-17). I will review my actions and seek ways to observe God’s commandments in a new light.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Tuesday March 17th. Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Read: Matthew 18:21-35

Forgiving 77 times? Does anyone have that much patience? On a good day I can barely muster patience for the dog let alone be infinitely forgiving! So, what does Jesus mean by this? Does he really expect me to be that forgiving? In a word, YES! Jesus, as always, raises the bar. He wants us to look and act like the Father. So that if the Father is infinitely forgiving, especially to us, even though we may not always deserve it, then we have to be the same way with others. We can’t just resemble him. We have to sound like him, act like him, love like him. And yes, it’s hard, especially when I have just enough patience for the dog. But we have to try. Hopefully with practice we will have a heart that matches our Fathers.

Thought: Who do I need to forgive today? Who is hard for me to love? Do I hold a grudge? Can I truly let it go?

Action: Today I will write a note to someone I find hard to love and right an old wrong.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May your beverage be cold, your corned beef be lean and your Irish Soda Bread have plenty of raisins!

The following is an Excerpt from “St. Patrick’s Breast Plate”. A prayer attributed to St. Patrick himself. Today it’s my prayer of encouragement for each of you!

I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,