Tim Greenway:Jesus4OurWorld: The Spirit of God

Welcome to my blog.

For our daily spiritual nourishment, the Catholic Church, under the Spirit’s inspiration, gives us readings from the Scriptures. You will find them here along with a prayerful reflection upon them.

The Spirit who inspired the author, will also inspire us if we read his Word with an open and humble heart.

May God bless you as your read.

Friday 10 July 2020

The Spirit of God – source of love and peace

Ps 47: 10-11

We have received your merciful love, O God,

in the midst of your temple.

Your praise, O God, like your name,

reaches the ends of the earth;

your right hand is filled with saving justice.

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Prayer

Father in heaven, who through the abject humiliation

of your Son on the Cross,

have saved a world bent on self-destruction,

fill with holy joy all those

you have liberated from the yoke of sin

and grant them everlasting happiness

in your Kingdom.

We make our prayer through your Son,

Christ Jesus our Lord.

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First reading

Hosea 14:2-10

We shall say no more “Our god” to the work of our hands.

Thus says the Lord:

Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God;

you have collapsed through your guilt.

Take with you words,

and return to the Lord;

Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,

and receive what is good, that we may render

as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.

Assyria will not save us,

nor shall we have horses to mount;

We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’

to the work of our hands;

for in you the orphan finds compassion.”

I will heal their defection, says the Lord,

I will love them freely;

for my wrath is turned away from them.

I will be like the dew for Israel:

he shall blossom like the lily;

He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,

and put forth his shoots.

His splendour shall be like the olive tree

and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.

Again they shall dwell in his shade

and raise grain;

They shall blossom like the vine,

and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?

I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.

“I am like a verdant cypress tree”—

because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;

let him who is prudent know them.

Straight are the paths of the Lord,

in them the just walk,

but sinners stumble in them.

THE WORD OF THE LORD

Prayerful reflection

Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future – God fortunately always remains the same, the unbelievably loving and welcoming husband of his wayward wife.

‘Now’ is who we are’ and when we are. Not yesterday and not tomorrow. Through the prophet Hosea, God speaks to everyone in every age. ‘There is no lasting joy in wealth, power, prestige, physical pleasure and excitement or in any kind of self-indulgence’. These are like the idols Hosea is encouraging the people of his day to abandon. Whatever our past, we can have a glorious hope, because the Almighty God stretches out his hands in a loving welcome where all is forgotten and the joy of love is found. Jesus said the same of Jerusalem and he says the same of us: How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings. (Matt 23:37).

Now is the time we have. Now is the person we are. God awaits us with longing. It is for us to respond. God himself helps us to respond positively if we so wish: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Rom 8:26). Let us call on the Holy Spirit of God and surrender to his inspiration. Let us not give up till we have the peace only he can give.

Can you enter into the cave of your own heart and meet the God who longs for you?

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Psalm

Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17