Author: Essy Dias

Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,
he went over to see if he could find anything on it.
When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;
it was not the time for figs.
And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”
And his disciples heard it.

via USCCB | NAB – March 4, 2011.

What “fruit” am I producing in my life? Certain parts of my life may look good with lots of ‘greenery’ but if that particular area is not producing actual Godly fruit then it’s worth nothing and it might as well dry up.  In the case above it wasn’t even “time for figs”. So we may even be producing ‘fruit’ in a worldy manner(doing the right things (according to man) for the wrong reason)…but the Lord expects more from us. To be at His service when He needs us, not when we are good and ready…to do what He asks of us, not what the world expects. Obviously not something that can ever be accomplished on our own strength. We need Him! We need His grace and we need His guidance.

But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
via USCCB | NAB – March 3, 2011.

This shows us the two things to do when confronted with those in dire need.  1) We are to encourage them and point them to Jesus.  (“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”) and 2) Do as Jesus did and ask how we can help. (Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”).

And what is needed if we are the ones afflicted…keep calling out, then throw off all that binds us, and take a leap towards Jesus. (He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus)

Jesus summoned them and said to them,
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

via USCCB | NAB – March 2, 2011.

Whenever the Lord appoints us to a position of authority…whether in our own homes (as parents) or in society in general, He does so for one reason and one reason only…for us to bring God’s love and grace to His children. We do this most concretely through physical service…Mother Teresa comes to mind here.  I can say I love my kids and that I pray for them all I want…but if I don’t meet their physical needs then I’m a rotten parent. Same for my brothers and sisters in need.

“In a generous spirit pay homage to the LORD,
be not sparing of freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
generously, according to your means.”

via USCCB | NAB – March 1, 2011.

I’m reading “Happy Are You Poor : The Simple Life and Spiritual Freedoom” by Thomas Dubay.

This is really powerful stuff that every Christian should read.

“Because it is a negation in itself, poverty is not sought for its own sake but for what it makes possible and much easier to attain: a radical readiness, a sensitivity to what Jesus is about, a sharing with the needy, and apostolic credibility, a pilgrim witness in a world of dwindling resources. These are values, precious values, to our laity as well as to clergy and religious.”

The Lord is working something big in my heart with all of this…please pray that I can discern what He is leading me to do and what He’s wanting from me personally.

“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
At that statement, his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

via USCCB | NAB – February 28, 2011.

Those of us who have been around this mountain a time or too are VERY familiar with this passage and have contemplated its deeper meaning. We have embraced the ‘spirit of poverty’ well…but what if the Lord is speaking here in Spirit AND in Truth. What if we aren’t only to embrace the ‘spirit’ of poverty…but poverty itself. Maybe the riches that go through our hands aren’t meant to stay there so that we can clutter our homes with lots of unnecessary stuff, and instead are meant for others that have next to nothing or who are going through a tough situation.

We have a government with a Robin Hood mentality…it loves to take from the rich and give to the poor. But they are stealing more then their money, they are stealing the blessings that come from their freely giving to others. When we start relying on the government to take our place in helping our neighbors and even our family members…we lose sight of our own mission.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?”
via USCCB | NAB – February 27, 2011.

I can visualize the Lord gathering me close, cupping my face into His scarred hand and whispering this to me. “Therefore I tell you, my dear Essy, do not worry….”.  How did He know? How did He know that these specific things (food, my body, clothes) would become such a strugle  and stronghold for ME a couple of thousand years after these words were spoken. I can’t imagine that in His day it held the same impact…it couldn’t have…right? I bet those tunics could hide a multitude of sins ; )

He’s telling us to not ‘worry’…NOT, to not be concerned or care…but not be obsessed over it or overly attached to it. Here we are heading into Lent and this is the perfect time for me to review my ‘attachments’.  I think these areas are the perfect place for me to start.  I now place them at the foot of the Cross and relinquish my attachment for them and now walk forward in freedom allowing myself to be lead by the Lord.  Speak Lord for your servant is listening.

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
via USCCB | NAB – February 26, 2011.

“Do not prevent them”. We are living in a world that loves its freedom…especial here in the U.S!  Modern day parents have embraced this passion for freedom and it shows in the current parenting styles. We don’t want to burden our children with too many rules or regulations, we want them to be themselves and so on and so forth. However, in heaven’s economy…true freedom comes with boundaries! We step outside of those boundaries and that is when our freedom is lost. There are negative consequences for disobedience. We need to teach our children this. We have a Heavenly assignment…they have been entrusted to us for a time…for us to show them the Way. We need to teach them about God’s boundaries by first setting some within our own homes and teaching our children to obey us, just as the Lord has asked them to.

Lax and lazy parenting steals our children’s true freedom from them and prevents them from coming to the Lord of their own accord. 

Dear Lord, today guide us on setting Godly boundaries for our families.

Rely not on your wealth;
say not: “I have the power.”
Rely not on your strength
in following the desires of your heart.
via USCCB | NAB – February 24, 2011.

Hehehe…it’s funny how we may know something but still try to sneak our own will in and then we get caught.

Ok…here’s one…it’s kind of funny…but lesson learned. God has blessed me with wonderful people in my Carmelite group that are leading me closer to the Lord. They have encouraged me to start attending daily Mass again and are praying for me. You know who you are and I love you dearly. So anyway…yesterday was my first day back. I felt the Lord asking me to sit in the front row. But being a creature of habit, I went to sit in my usual second row seat…I used the excuse that I wasn’t really sure that it was the Lord afterall…maybe it was just my mind playing with me…no need to follow through on this one little detail. Ha.  I had gotten there early enough to do my morning prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours and so I had my pick of seats.

Then a few minutes before Mass started an older couple came and sat right behind me. I heard the husband who must be hard of hearing, say in a loud whisper to the wife…so we didn’t get our seat…lol.  I, in my ‘tiny’ disobedience had sat in ‘their’ seat.  I’m telling you, this man ‘irked’ me all through Mass  (blush) by responding way too fast ahead of the congregation…then at Communion time, he touches me in the shoulder and ushers me forward (yikes…I was just waiting for Father to actually get up front…lol…I hope you are laughing along with me here and not judging me too badly for my irritation.) Ok…so this morning, I say to myself…I’m going to love this couple…I’m going to reliquish my second row seat for them and sit in the third row instead (yep…the first row thing escaped me totally).  Guess what they did? LOL…they.sat.behind.me.again. (so now instead of being in their beloved second row they are now sitting in the fourth row)LOL. The husband then comments to the wife …aren’t we in the wrong seats? LOL…she says no…that’s it’s better for his hearing if he sits there.  Oh my goodness…I hope this blog is really as unpopular as I’m convinced it is…lol. Now I’m beginning to think what the hey…lol. Then full conviction sets in. Sheesh…if only I had sat in the front row!

“Fear and dread she brings upon him
and tries him with her discipline
until she try him by her laws and trust his soul.
Then she comes back to bring him happiness
and reveal her secrets to them
and she will heap upon him
treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice.”
via USCCB | NAB – February 23, 2011.

When the Lord guides us with His Wisdom…He carries us out of our comfort zone. It feels intimidating and risky at first, but then the blessings flow as we step out in faith.

As we do this, another interesting thing happens…we prod others out of THEIR comfort zones as well. We’ll know this most assuredly by the their reactions. Have you ever been awakened from a deep sleep? It’s no fun…even if it is for your own good.  Realizing this, helps us to not react in kind but to bring forth God’s grace instead…a smile, a kind word, a prayer…or simply letting something go with no reaction at all.

“Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.”
via USCCB | NAB – February 22, 2011.

At first look we may think that this applies to the priests, ministers and bishops of our churches only. But let’s take a closer look. Who has God put in my life to care for? All those that God has put me in community with…my children, my spouse, my family, my friends come to mind right away. Sometimes He puts us in roles of direct leadership…such as that of parent, employer or director of a community. Other times we are to work side by side in partnership with others…our spouses, neighbors, friends, co-workers. Other times we are to be in submissive roles…employee, novice etc. None are to be more or less then any other, just different ways to serve each other and the Lord. We are to do it out of great love for each other…not an ‘I have to’ …but an “I am priviledged to…and I can’t wait.” Why do I do the things I do for my husband and children? Because I’m so in love with them it takes my breath away, it is not a chore to spend time with them and love on them. The same should be true of my relationship with the Lord and doing whatever He has called me to…including loving those around me.

So are you still wondering who your “flock” is…take a look at your “contact list” on your smart phone (or address book will do…lol).