Archives: Watchword

A bit of scripture, short meditations and stories, prayers, news and maybe a touch of humor.

A Farmer Went Out to Sow…

WATCHWORD:

5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,“‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.  15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:5-11,15

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Genesis 22:2

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 Continue reading

Every Good Thing

WATCHWORD:

 2 I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy: 3 Join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out. 4 God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. 5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. 6 When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. 7 God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. 8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Psalm 34:2-8 The Message Continue reading

Embrace the Air

WATCHWORD:

1 But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3a Continue reading

Compassion and Generosity

WATCHWORD:

“…But a hated Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” Luke 10:33-35

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.  43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”  Mark 12:41-44

 

Meditation:

 Two Copper Coins > Two Silver Coins

Street Scene: There’s that guy, standing at the corner, holding a sign:  “Homeless.  Need food”.   Or, maybe the sign reads – “Will Work for Food”.  Or, you are on your way into a store and are stopped by a young man who tells you he hasn’t eaten in two days, could you spare some money? Then there is that plea on television showing sad, abused little puppies or kittens, pleading for donations. And, of course, we are asked to help victims of a tsunamis, or the crisis in Ukraine.  And all those pleas tend to give us pause when the next “opportunity” presents itself.

I was stopped by that young man just as I was entering the local pharmacy. I found I was at war with myself!  How do I get out of this?  No, help the guy!  No!  He might buy drugs!  No!  He’ll buy food!  All in the blink of an eye. In the end, I walked with him across the mall to a Burger King, bought him lunch and we had a good conversation. I learned who he was and that he was trying to get back to his home. I ended up giving him some money. He thanked me and I would swear he was fighting back tears as he lifted his backpack and waved goodbye.

I had a similar incident many years before in Chicago, that didn’t turn out the same.  My wife and I had a late dinner and were crossing in front of Water Tower Place about 11:30 p.m. on our way to our hotel.   We were approached by a well-dressed woman, seemingly alone, who said she needed money to buy her child milk! We, paused, looked at one another, then said “sorry” and  hurried on.  Then our mind games began — What if?  Was her need real?  How about that poor child?  Then, are you kidding me!?  She was dressed for a party! Where was that “child”?  What is she doing this time of night if she is caring for a child?  Get real!

What’s with us?  Are we distrustful of the needs that seem to find their way to us?  Do we wonder how our donations will be spent.  Do we read too much into it?   Before we give do we check the “administrative overhead” numbers?  Do we give only to our alma mater?  How about the food drive to help the local Food Pantry?  Does our generous nature change when we weigh it against “what will it cost us?” or “Is it tax- deductible?”

Question: When are copper coins worth more than two silver coins?

That is not a trick question.  In the parable, the Samaritan trusted the innkeeper to take care of the man and use the silver coins to help him…no contract, no guarantees.  He gave without thought of his own gain, only out of compassion for the injured man. He had no “war” within about helping, about giving. What about the widow and her two copper coins, worth perhaps a penny?  She gave out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on. All she had, tells that story.

Two who gave no thought to what it cost them personally. There was a greater purpose in their giving. How would Jesus respond to our record of compassion and generosity? Did we give out of our wealth, without pain or questioning our giving? Do we walk away knowing in our heart that we did right in God’s sight? Are we not the recipient of generosity?  Are we not gifted?  Are we not advantaged?  Compassion and generosity:  those are two copper coins, what are they worth to you? Are we willing to spare them?

When are copper coins worth more than two silver coins? Their value determined by your purpose for giving.  What is the Spirit telling you?  May it ever be so.

 

Prayer of St. Ignatius:

Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve as you deserve, To give and not to count the cost, To fight and not to heed the wounds, To labor and not to seek to rest, To give of my self and not ask for a reward, Except the reward of knowing that I am doing your will. St.
 

 

Easter Sunday

WATCHWORD:

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.  John 20:11-18

Continue reading

Holy Week Saturday

WATCHWORD:

62 The next day—at the close of the first day of the Passover ceremonies—the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate, 63 and told him, “Sir, that liar once said, ‘After three days I will come back to life again.’ 64 So we request an order from you sealing the tomb until the third day, to prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” 65 “Use your own Temple police,” Pilate told them. “They can guard it safely enough.” 66 So they sealed the stone and posted guards to protect it from intrusion. Matthew 27:62-66

4 Oh, sing to him you saints of his; give thanks to his holy name. 5 His anger lasts a moment; his favor lasts for life! Weeping may go on all night, but in the morning there is joy. Palm 30:4-5 Continue reading

Holy Week Friday

WATCHWORD:

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barab′bas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barab′bas or Jesus who is called Christ?” …  21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barab′bas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified.” Matthew 27:15-17, 21-22

 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.. Matthew 27:35-37 Continue reading

Holy Week Thursday

WATCHWORD:

17 In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.” 19 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?” 20 He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” Mark 14:17-21

19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people, an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. Luke 22:19-20 Continue reading

Holy Week Wednesday

WATCHWORD:

2 A banquet was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples—the one who would betray him—said, 5 “That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples’ funds and often dipped into them for his own use! 7 Jesus replied, “Let her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. 8 You can always help the poor, but I won’t be with you very long.”  John 12:2-8

 

Meditation:

Jesus on Wednesday 

The Bible doesn’t say what the Lord did on this Wednesday of Holy Week. Scholars speculate that after two exhausting days in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples spent this day resting in Bethany in anticipation of the remaining days of the Passover festivities.

Jesus, by raising Lazarus from the grave, had revealed to the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death. After seeing this incredible miracle, many people in Bethany believed that Jesus was the Son of God and put their faith in him. The Pharisees saw this growing popularity as a threat, and met with Judas Iscariot who agreed to betray Jesus and was paid 30 pieces of silver.

We know that in the evening, Jesus, along with Lazarus and his sisters, attended a celebration dinner at the home of Simon the Leper. Toward the end of the meal, Mary lovingly anointed the feet of Jesus with oil of spikenard, an expensive perfume. The disciples were indignant. “What a waste of good money,” they said. “Why, she could have sold it for a fortune and given it to the poor.  Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why are you criticizing her? For she has done a good thing to me.”

Jesus and his disciples then remained in Bethany for the night.

(Based on Biblical facts from sources including Matthew, Isaiah, and the historic writings of Josephus.)

Barabbas on Wednesday 

There had been other demonstrations, disrupting the normal daily activities around The Marketplace, The Citadel, Herod’s Palace, even near the Great Temple. Bloodshed was a common occurrence. Often the leader of the riotous gatherings was Barabbas, always in the middle of it, often blindly acting out of anger, seeking revenge.

And now, what Shania had feared the most, had come to pass. There had been another demonstration, another confrontation, a violent and bloody fight, and Barabbas had been arrested. The Romans had been waiting for him. His reputation as a dangerous man was well known. Within hours of his arrest, Herod ordered that there would be an immediate trial. He was charged with inciting a riot, theft and murder, was found guilty on all counts, and sentenced to death, death by crucifixion. The sentence to be carried out before the Sabbath.

Barabbas sat in his prison cell, stunned and angry. Then a thought that further deepened his anger; that last demonstration, he was sure he had been betrayed by those he trusted. It had been a peaceful demonstration that had gone according to plan until…it had all fallen apart with the unexpected arrival of a squad of guards. With no provocation and without warning, they attacked the quiet demonstrators, who defended themselves. They were badly outnumbered, and, after a short skirmish, all had fled. But, as if planned, Barabbas, alone, had been captured. It seemed obvious that he had been the target. In anger, he lifted his fist in the air and shook it in the face of cruel fates. Who had betrayed him?

(An excerpt from Stan Escott’s novel A Life for Barabbas, based on Biblical facts and a general understanding of human nature.)

 

Prayer of Forgiveness:

Father, we are sinners, but we also have been sinned against. We bring before You the pain of where we have been wronged. By Your grace, help us to wring out our pain at the foot of the cross of Jesus. Father, thank You that our many sins can be forgiven through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Holy Week Tuesday

WATCHWORD:

20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida, and said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. 23-24 Jesus replied that the time had come for him to return to his glory in heaven, and that “I must fall and die like a kernel of wheat that falls into the furrows of the earth. Unless I die I will be alone—a single seed. But my death will produce many new wheat kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 If you love your life down here—you will lose it. If you despise your life down here—you will exchange it for eternal glory. 26 “If these Greeks want to be my disciples, tell them to come and follow me, for my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them. 27 Now my soul is deeply troubled. Shall I pray, ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’? But that is the very reason why I came! 28 Father, bring glory and honor to your name.” John 12:20-27 Continue reading

Holy Week Monday

WATCHWORD:

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger—whom shall I fear? 2 When evil men come to destroy me, they will stumble and fall! 3 Yes, though a mighty army marches against me, my heart shall know no fear! I am confident that God will save me. Psalm 27:1-3 Continue reading

Palm Sunday

WATCHWORD:

40 “But didn’t I tell you that you will see a wonderful miracle from God if you believe?” Jesus asked Martha.41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 (You always hear me, of course, but I said it because of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.)” 43 Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And Lazarus came—bound up in the grave cloth, his face muffled in a head swath. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”  John 11:40-44

33b “Why are you untying that colt?” 34 And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”  Luke 19:33b-40 Continue reading