Machaerus, known as “Mukawir,” was a fortified palace in Jordan on a hill overlooking the Dead Sea. It is the setting for today’s Gospel—the fortress where King Herod imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist. My memories of climbing that hill to walk among the ruins of this pilgrimage site are overshadowed by the image of its primitive prison cells perched on the hillside. It is the place where the precursor to the Messiah died as a martyr, where St. John fulfilled his mission.
St. Paul writes it is God who calls those whom the world calls “foolish” (v. 27). He chooses the “weak of the world,” “the lowly” and “despised of the world,” “those who count for nothing” (v. 28). Like John the Baptist, God chooses the humble who know they’re nothing on their own—who rely only on God for “righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (v. 30).
How did God call you? What language did he use to speak to your heart?
Amen. :)
I believe that God called me by the language of the Holy Spirit even before I was born. From a young age I had a deep devotion to my Lord and any time I deviated from the path he had set me on, he set me straight again. Outwardly I don’t think I appeared much different than others of my age, even teenagers, - we danced to jukebox music at the local luncheonette, went to drive-in movies, and also went to mass every week and novena every Monday evening. I married my highschool sweetheart and we celebrated our 67th Anniversary...
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Anne, my adult son's also stopped attending. One shortly after he could drive. The other after his teenaged son died as a result of an automobile accident. He's mad at God. His older son goes to a monastery near his job occasionally. His younger son is following his father's example. It breaks my heart. I pray every day for God to open their eyes. PS When visiting, I asked if anyone would like to go to church with me. My daughter-in-law said, "Yes." My heart is still singing.
God called me when I became a parent. My eyes were opened to the realization of what an example I must be as a father and husband to lead my family in God's ways and try to get them all to heaven.
Amen... Maria, now that you have described the hill in Jordan, I hope to make that pilgrimage some day to feel the power of the Holy Spirit that surrounds that blessed site
Maria thank you for all your motivating reflections. I am a worrier and worry a great deal about seeing the way God wants me to go everyday. I pray to know his path but fear I will miss his calling. Blessings to all the LFF, especially those with extra needs, for the soul of Jeff, Matt's cousin. Holy Spirit fill the hearts of all to guide us to a more heavenly earth.
God called me when my granddaughter was born he used my daughter to call me to the Catholic Church and I am so grateful he did God bless us all Amen Amen Amen
Amen!
*** God chose these in 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, “But God chose the foolish things of the world …. God chose the weak things of the world … God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. God chose things considered unimportant…” *** What for? 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, “… to shame the wise … to shame the strong … to do away with things considered important!” *** Why? 1 Corinthians 1:29, “So no one can boast to God!” ******* Remember these as I am chosen by God in 1 Corinthians 1:24-26, “(First) But there are those...
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HELEN I don’t know if this will help you, but about 20 years ago our family was going through a terrifying situation for a year and a half. I was so mad at God and then I would feel guilty and it was just a vicious cycle. And then one day I went and spoke with our priest at parish and I told him what was going on, and he said to me: God is your father. Do you get mad at your father here on earth and I said well yes and then he said to me God knows...
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