Follow the Lamb

John helps us to focus on Jesus. I believe there is a point in our lives when we have to make a personal choice to follow Jesus. Nothing can substitute for Him. The reason we pray, the reason we go to Church or read the Bible, etc, must be to be close with Him. Have I made the fundamental choice to follow Jesus and let nothing take HIs place? not even what I do for Him?

John points to Jesus and identifies Him as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” I wonder, if He has taken away the sin of the world why do we experience sin all the time? True, we are sinners... all the time. But why is it that some sins seem to be more “present” than others?

Jesus does take away our sins but sometimes we have a hard time to give them up to Him. We want to do everything by ourselves... even get rid of our sins. How can that be possible? We cannot erase sins from our souls! This only complicates our lives...

Then, we have to come up with a plan. A plan that can help us correspond to the Grace that He have given us. How can I experience victory if I fight with no shield or sword? 

A Plan, then; first step is to identify the biggest sin, then come up with a solution so that I can avoid triggering the sin.

I pray that I may discover more and more what the role of sin is and most especially the great gift that is to have Jesus being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

In the waters of new life

By saying Yes to God's will I can be reborn

The Christmas cycle ends. With the feast of the Baptism of the Lord we are closing the Christmas season.

Reading the story closely, I understand the difficulties that both John the Baptist and the early communities had about Jesus’ baptism. Why would he go to be baptized? Why forgiveness of sin? Wasn’t Jesus the one without sin?

Jesus brings with Him the sin of the nations, of all ages. Jesus is bringing with Him my sins as well. I know that whatever happens to him happens to all of us. With the forgiveness of sin, the Trinity allows me to be born and re-born everyday. What a great gift I have found!!!!!

The baptism of Jesus challenged the early christian communities! My own baptism challenges me. How do I live my own life as a child of God? Do I keep that “dignity” given to me unstained?

As a community, how can we grow in our understanding as members of God’s household?

I know we have to grow; the challenge exists and we have to keep the light burning.

The Courage to follow the star

There is something wonderful about this story - God’s revelation now reaches all the ends of the world. We are all invited to encounter Christ: it doesn’t matter who we are, where we come from or.. whatever.

God wants us to encounter Jesus and does all that He can - He gives us all a star, guidance and direction in life. God uses what we are into, what we like and are interested and invites us to journey through it. The challenge is to follow the guidance that God provides. How many times we prefer to do what we want and ask God either to make it happen or to clean up after ourselves when things go wrong.

What is the star that God has sent us? sent me?

I am saddened by the other characters in the story. Herod and his scholars knew where the Messiah would be born and yet they stayed home. They asked the Magi to go and then go back and tell them all about. WOW... centuries of waiting and that’s all they did. Sure, I understand: this wasn’t the first time someone claimed to be the messiah, but how many of these wannabes had people from the east undertake such a journey. The Magi were Herod’s star. He didn’t follow.

Not only we are to follow the star but we are also a star for someone else. Would God entrust us with guiding someone to Christ? Do we understand how much He loves us that He asks us to do what He did in the past?

I want to live this feast totally taken by following the star that God has given me.

It's time for the impossible to happen

(please, refer to the meditation from the Journal section of heavenwards.org)

The readings of this week are really helping me to visualize what the effects of the doing the will of God are: by saying "Yes," I can enter into His wonderful Vision and let God realize the impossible through the work of my hands. It's amazing how but God loves and trusts us: He allows us to become part of His creation. It's certainly risky on His part but I appreciate the Love.

How can I live this reality? How can I say a deeper yes and understand that this is the time when the impossible can happen.

Advent: The Journey begins

Where are we going this Advent?

I am feeling challenged to move towards a Christmas life, a life lived with Emmanuel, God-with-us. In order to reach this goal, I have to prepare myself to this encounter which will transform all of me. Part of this transformation is to change my own "sword" - that is, everything that is aggressive and based on Pride - into "ploughshare" (something that is a blessing for others.

the Sound of Silence

I haven't been updating the blog page in a long time. Sorry.
It seems that time is slipping through my fingers....
I am thinking about changing the whole system and combing everything into one place.
What do you think?

Zaccheus

(please, first read the entry in My Journal section at heavenwards.org)

If the story of Zaccheus could be used as a way to see our spiritual life, where are we? in the crowd? looking for a tree? hidden in the tree? at home, having a party with Jesus?

or are we still wondering what is this fuss about Jesus is all about?