Help Us

Help Us

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter

During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.  Acts 16:9-10

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name because they do not know the one who sent me." John 15:20-20-21

Piety

“We do what we do in life, even holy things, the Prologue (to the Rule of St. Benedict) teaches, not because we are so good but because God is so good and enables us to rise above the misery of ourselves. Even the spiritual life can become an arrogant trap if we do not realize that the spiritual life is not a game that is won by the development of spiritual skills. The spiritual life is simply the God-life already at work in us.”[1]

Study

“An obligation to the human community and a dependence on God, then, become the cornerstones of Benedictine life,” wrote Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB.

If you merely replace the adjective Benedictine with Christian, then we can see these two pillars come to life in Paul’s mission throughout Asia and our lives as well.  St. Paul does not set down a map or plan. Instead, Paul and his companions go where the Spirit leads them.  They stay away from the places where the spirit warns them not to go. Paul had an obligation to the community to preach the Good News.  However, he did not do that in a vacuum.  He relied upon grace from the Father, Son, and Spirit to guide his way.   

We would do well to notice how God comes first in Paul’s mission.  Paul might have planned on going to Iconium or Lystra.  However, the vision drew him to Macedonia. 

There is a famous joke that is one of my favorites (maybe because I can remember it): 

Q: How do you make God laugh?

A: Tell Him your plans.

Paul’s example in the Acts of the Apostles teaches us that our plans come in a distant second to God’s plans.  Jesus also explains to us how what happened to him is intertwined with what will happen to us.

Fully Rely On God (F.R.O.G.) 

Action

What plan of yours should go on the back burner to what God wants you to do in life?  Who is calling out asking for your help?

---

[1] http://www.eriebenedictines.org/daily-rule reading for May5). Rule of St. Benedict: Wisdom for the Ages.