Having faith doesn't mean having no difficulties

"Having faith does not mean having no difficulties, but having the strength to face them, knowing we are not alone." - Pope Francis

While the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new leader, it is fitting to dwell on some of the wisdom from the late Pope Francis. His life was lived in obedience to Christ and although he was not perfect, he modelled for Christians the tricky dilemma of 'faith in action.' It is easy to speak about God and the things of faith, but to live them out sincerely is the true test of our obedience.

"The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love."

Romans 4:20 - "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God."

Living in Grace

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A changed world

"A changed world begins with us … and a changed us begins when we pray." - Eugene Peterson

These words are profoundly simple. I wish more of us could believe that we are changed through prayer, and that when we are changed, the world can also change.

What do you think? Is this too simple?

Living in grace

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I apologise for the lack of blogs the past few days. I have had a number of commitments that have taken me away from my desk. I hope to be a little more consistent next week :) 

The worst thing is not the last thing!

This is still one of my all-time favourite quotes: 

“The resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.” - Frederick Buechner

May these words live with you throughout this week and beyond. Trust that with the grace of God, whatever you are facing at the moment, will not be the final word on the matter. Christ has overcome all things!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." - 1 Peter 1:3

Living in Grace

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Being watchful

To be 'watchful' is to be alert and vigilant. 

And this is what Jesus was challenging his followers to do, while they were praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke records: 

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22)

Jesus was not only questioning why they were sleeping in that moment but imploring them to wake up and be aware what was to come. And after the disciples managed to get this right, the early Church also lived with a strong sense of watchfulness. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:6:

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”

So, what does this mean for us? Could being watchful mean that we are to be present to God, present to our neighbor, and present to our own hearts? 

What do you think?

Living in Grace

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Am I leading a Rebellion?

When Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, he challenged the mob that had gathered with swords and clubs: "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?" (Matthew 26:55). 

Jesus also pointed out to them that he had been peacefully teaching in the Temple Courts for days on end, and no one came to arrest him them. Jesus was unarmed while teaching, just as he was in Gethsemane, yet the mob chose to violently arrest him at night. It shows the state of their minds and hearts, that they actually believed that Jesus was a rebel and an outlaw. 

Of course, the answer to Jesus' question is: "No!" He had not been leading a rebellion against the Roman authorities, nor a rebellion against the religious leaders. Jesus had definitely come to reveal the truth of his Father's kingdom and to invite everyone to turn back to God. This was seen as being subversive and this agitated the people.  

Thought. Jesus was not leading an armed rebellion, but he was calling for a Revolution. This revolution was for love, peace and grace to change our hearts and the world around us.

Living in grace

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Agitated and shaken - Who is this?

 "The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked." - Matthew 21:10

When Jesus entered Jerusalem in the final week of his life, the city was shaken to its core. Matthew says the city was in uproar (seio), with many people not sure of what was going on. Jesus' appearance in our world does shake things up a lot. He comes to confront our comfort, our priorities and our sense of control. 

And when Jesus brushes past us, we need to answer the same question posed by the crowds on that dramatic day: "Who is this?"

Who is Jesus to you? Who is he to me? 

Some people called him the 'prophet', while others referred to him as a 'Rabbi!' What about your response? Who do you say he is?

Living in Grace

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Through your eyes

Teresa of Ávila wrote: "Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion is to look out to the earth."

It is her last statement that I feel is most relevant for this day and age. We are being called to look out into our communities with compassion and to help others encounter Jesus.

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick" - Matthew 14:14

Did you notice how Jesus 'saw' the crowd - he looked into their souls and hearts. He had compassion on them.

What would that mean for us today?

Living in grace

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Willing to wear the crown

Charles Spurgeon once remarked: "Many would be willing to wear a crown, but few are willing to bear a cross." 

And what he was getting at is that there are many Christians who are happy to wear the crown - to walk with Christ when it feels like we are winning, or life is going great. However, there are very few of us who are willing to carry the cross - to keep close to Jesus when things are going belly up.  

As disciples of Jesus, we will need to embrace hardship, and to trust that bearing the cross is not a sign of failure.

James 1:12 - God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him

Living in Grace

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The art of holding on

C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods."

We all experience ups and downs in life, and these situations can have a marked impact on our faith. C.S. Lewis challenges us to hold onto the promises of God, despite what our moods may be doing. In theory, this makes a lot of sense, but in reality, I still need a lot of practice to get this right.

This quote also reminds me of the question that Jesus put to his disciples when they were watching many others desert Jesus. 

"From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve." - John 6:66-67

Thoughts: Has there been a time in your faith journey where you have felt like giving up? What helped you to hang on?

Living in grace

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An authentic prayer by Thomas Merton

Prayers can be contrived at times, but they can also be deeply authentic. Take this famous prayer by Thomas Merton as an example. There is so much heart and honesty in his words, that I feel we all can relate to his thoughts.

"My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone." - Thomas Merton

Hebrews 5:7 - While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.

Living in Grace

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When we have no intention of following through with action

There are few things more annoying than someone who promises to do something and then intentionally doesn't do it. I am not speaking about times when we genuinely forget to do something, because this happens to us all, at some point in time. 

What I mean is when someone says "Yes, I will do it" but actually has no will or intention to commit to any action. That can make us all mad!

And I think it also got under Jesus' skin too. Listen to what he says: 

"Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46)

I think he was used to people being excited about the idea of following him, but then never committing to the journey of discipleship. 

1 Samuel 15:22 - But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

“Discipleship is not an option. Jesus says that if anyone would come after me, he must follow me.” - Timothy Keller

Living in Grace

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Self-sufficiency. Is it a good or bad thing?

We live in a world we where have been taught to, 'fend for ourselves', 'don't trust anyone', 'no one can do this as good as you can', and 'look after number one!' 

While these may be helpful at certain times in our lives, they are not a good recipe for following Jesus. As William Barclay points out: “The one thing that shuts a person off from God is self-sufficiency.” 

When we tell God that we are 'okay' and that we don't need Him, then I feel that God obliges and lets us get on with things on our own steam. In my experience, this usually ends up with me crawling back to God, embarrassed at my own ego.

Psalm 70:5 - But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Living in Grace

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