Walk in all the Ways March 15

Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. Jeremiah 7:23

But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Luke 11:22-23

Piety (Cursillo Leaders’ Prayer)

Lord, grant that we may understand the necessity for depth in our movement, rather than surface glory. Convince us of the truth that colourful programs do not constitute success.

My God, give us a spirit of self-sacrifice so that we may offer everything for your cause: our time, our abilities, our health and even our lives if necessary.

Instill in us courage in our initiatives, good judgment in our choice of the right means, and that determination which in spite of failures assures victory.

Move away from us the tiny rivalries, sensitivities, discourtesies, pride, everything that distracts from You, everything which divides or discourages.

Help us to maintain at a high level a meaningful supernatural and mutual charity among ourselves, so that each one will seek by preference the most humble tasks and will rejoice at the good performed by others so that all our spirits united in a common purpose will have one single sprit, Yours Jesus, and that this spirit may let us see Your attractive goodness marked in all our faces, Your warm accents in all our words, and in our lives something superior to the world, something that proclaims Your Living Presence among us. Amen

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/031507.shtml
When have we not sounded as frustrated as Jeremiah. After all, in verse 23, he sums up the Bible pretty succinctly. Listen to God. Do what he says. You will be rewarded. Pretty simple, no? Instead, Jeremiah laments that the people did not listen nor heed God’s word and the words of the prophets sent.

Jeremiah could be talking about us, as well. We get divided…into red states and blue states…into traditionalists and progressives…into conservatives and liberals. Luke gives us the warning about what will happen to a house divided. “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”

In 1863, during the Civil War, President Lincoln overheard someone remark that they hoped “the Lord was on the Union’s side.” Lincoln replied: “I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”

We have to guard that the forces of pride, envy, jealousy and more so not keep us from helping the Lord gather. John the Baptist said someone more powerful was coming after him…Jesus tells us that he is here and wants us to join his team. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Action

Prayer for the leaders of our nation, our community, our Church and our Cursillo. Pray that they mediate on the words of today’s readings and consider their full implications as they carry out their duties to the people they are serving and to the purposes of the Lord.