Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:19-23

 

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

 

How many times have we heard it said that we should save up for a rainy day or that we need to save for the future.  Jesus talks to us today about building treasures in our life.  Today’s Gospel reading should be titled, “You can’t take it with you.”  Jesus tells us the obvious, the material treasures that we build on earth cannot go with us to heaven.  However, this is only half the story.  In fact you can take some of the treasures you build on earth with you.  The spiritual gifts which we form on earth transcend this world and follow us into heaven.  Unfortunately, so do the sinful gifts which we attach to our lives.  While our money will rot on earth, the treasures we build in our soul will last for eternity.  What treasures do you store in your heart?  Do you allow greed, hatred and selfishness to consume your soul or do you build compassion, love and kindness.  Christ says that the eye is the window to your soul.  When one looks in, what do they see, darkness or the light of Christ.  When we look into the world, what is it that we desire? - the latest X Box or WII, the most expensive clothes, a new car or the latest electronic gadget.  Is your mind consumed with the material aspects of this world.  These types of treasures can weigh us down and create darkness in our souls because they block out the needs of others who have nothing.  We must be able to release these material items and replace them spiritual treasures.  You must be willing to sacrifice your time for others.  Do you go out of your way to help those in need?  Are you willing to give all that you own to God?  The simple litmus test is – do you desire the Eucharist more than anything else on earth?  Would you chose Mass over an Astro’s game, a soccer game or some other activity you are involved in.  As soon as Christ becomes second, you have filled your heart with darkness.  What is first in your life, God or you?

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, Your are the light of world.

You lead me from the darkness.

Give me the strength to give up my worldly possessions

For a life walking with you.

 

Yours in Christ:

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:43-48

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

 

Have you ever felt that overwhelming need for love? You just wanted to be hugged? Nothing says love and comfort like a good hug. A while ago I was out on a job site having a pretty lousy day when I stopped in a Whataburger to get a coke.  A young lady who was mentally challenged came up to me and hugged me.  Out of everyone in the crowded restaurant, she picked me.  She hugged me!  Why? I do not know, but I sure needed it and it felt good.  It reminded me of when I was a little boy. I loved to crawl into my mom or dad’s lap to get a hug.  It was a place of safety and comfort. Now my dad may have squeezed a little too hard at times, but that didn’t matter – it felt good. Nothing symbolizes the true joy of love more than a mother hugging her little child. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be hugged by God, to crawl up in his lap and just sit there while he comforted you and loved you? Well the good news is that God’s arms are always open and always waiting for us to make the move. We can crawl into his lap any time we want. Close your eyes and let all the cares of the world leave your mind. Imagine you are sitting with Christ in all his glory, His robes brighter than the midday sun, His grace flowing from him like the rays of light. Crawl into His lap and let His arms wrap around you. Say a prayer with Christ as He comforts you. 

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus commands us to love everyone; no exclusions allowed. To love not only our brothers and sisters, but our enemies. Those people we do not like; those people with whom we have unpleasant discourse. Jesus commands us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father …” Yes, we are commanded to love our enemies.  Such a simple request, yet such a difficult task to complete. Imagine that you are now in God’s lap, you are warm and comfortable, the joy of the Lord has made you at peace. Now invite your enemies to join you, invite those people who persecute you to sit with you in the Glory of God. Today is a good day to hug someone.  Especially someone you would not normally reach out to.  If we make peace with our enemies, then we will eliminate hatred in the world.  If we eliminate hatred in the world, there will be no more war.  Without war, the fear of oppression goes away and we can all live in the peace and joy we will experience in heaven. 

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Father God, you gave us Mary as the purist example of love. 

May I live my life as she lived hers.

Open my heart so that the love of Mary can flow out into the world.

 

Pray to the Blessed Mother that she may intercede in your life.  It is Mary’s motherness that brings compassion to us. Mary is our Holy mother who looks over us. Say a Hail Mary for peace in the world. Let us seek the light of God’s glory, let us give praise to his name.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:38-42

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus puts a new spin on the old Mosaic Law. He elevates the law above a level of righteousness to one that accounts for grace and love. Our purpose on earth is to bring others to the kingdom of God.  Today’s message gives us the secret.  Many of still today like to practice `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,' but Jesus tells that we must be compassionate and understanding.  Which is easier, to strike back with vengeance or to forgive someone who has struck out against you? The message in today’s Gospel reading is quite clear. Man is not to lash out against his enemy, but to be merciful and kind. To go the extra mile to bring joy and happiness into their life.  So why must Jesus tell his disciples this.  In the very early days of the Jewish clans, retaliation was an issue. Clans would strike out in retaliation if one clan harmed another. The law of retaliation limited the punishment. This was considered a significant advancement in moral and ethical thinking; no punishment could exceed the crime. This was the first step in understanding mercy and kindness. But Jesus takes us much further. One must go deeper into ones heart to find true forgiveness without resentment. One must be willing to forgive and forget. He tells us that retaliation is not good, it is not kind and it is not merciful. Kind and merciful is making a true sacrifice to help others when it goes against the norm.

 

What a better place this world would be if we all practiced mercy with unconditional loving kindness. How many wars between nations were started because one person felt they needed to strike back and get even. Usually, “getting even” means magnifying the response and hurting a lot of people. When someone lashes out against us, do we seek to even the score or are we willing to let it go. Many people lashed out against Jesus and he never returned hatred with hatred. Instead, he extended his hand in love and kindness. When we retaliate against our aggressor, not only do we hurt that person, but we risk hurting others that we love. Too many times have I heard of friends who have severed their friendship because of retaliation. It is not just the two friends who get hurt, but everyone in their circle. Eventually, the friends are forced to take sides. Vengeance grows and hatred wins. Is there such a thing as just retribution? There probably is to some degree, but it must involve the loving and merciful hands of forgiveness.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

O merciful and loving Father in Heaven,

Fill our hearts with your love and kindness so that it may overflow into all that we meet.

Give me the strength to forgive those who have wronged me.

Let humility and kindness be my retribution for those who have wronged me.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”

 

Gospel Reading Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:  "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.  "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.  But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

 

Today’s Gospel reading opens the true depth of the commandments. The scribes and Pharisees had distorted the true meaning of the Mosaic Law. According to Pharisees, unless I actually killed somebody, I did not violate the commandment.  It was purely a black and white law based on an outward actions.  But Jesus tells us that the Commandments go much deeper than “You shall not kill.” The early Jews went to great length to expand the Ten Commandments to the point that they became a set of rituals that they believed if you followed, you were guaranteed salvation. But Jesus tells us that we have to do much more than just follow the letter of the law, we must know and obey the spirit of the law. We must desire to be obedient to the law of God.  “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

 

The commandment “Thou shall not kill” goes much deeper than just killing someone. It really says, thou shall not hate. Before one kills, one must hate. Therefore, the sin begins as hate and grows within us. Hatred is the real sin. Our hearts are the source of our sins, not our outward actions. Jesus asks them a simple question – “How can you come to the altar with hatred in heart? How can you make an offering when in your heart you do not love?” When we offer gifts to God, we offer them out of love. To truly love God, we must free our hearts of the hatred that poisons us. We must get rid of the anger, the insults and the rage that corrupts our soul and poisons our righteousness. We must come to the altar with a pure heart and clean hands. How can you see the beauty and glory of God if your eyes are covered over in hatred and resentment. 

 

To release the anger within us, we must be willing to forgive and forget the actions which created the feelings. We must be willing to forgive our neighbors. If your heart is filled with anger, rage and hatred, ask the Holy Spirit to replace this hatred with love. If you want to see the kingdom of heaven, then you must learn to reach out in forgiveness. The kingdom of heaven is in your hands. When you extend your hands, do you extend them in friendship and love or hatred and anger?

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I have anger in my heart; anger which has grown into hatred.

Help me release this anger and fill my heart with love and compassion.

It is through your example that I will learn to love my neighbor.

Give me the wisdom to see your will and not mine.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

 

 

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

 

Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

 

What does it mean to lose your saltiness? Salt was a very important seasoning during these times. Salt prevented food from going bad and spoiling. It kept your food pure. The salt would penetrate the meat and prevent bad things from growing on it. So if we lose our saltiness, what will keep us pure? What will penetrate our soul to prevent evil from taking over? We are called not only to be the salt of the earth to help preserve and purify our own soul, but the souls of others. We are the most important spice on the rack. Without salt, we would die to the way of the Lord. We must share the Word of God; we must purify and preserve.

 

Jesus also tells us that "We are the light of the world.” What does it mean to be “the light” of the world? Similar to the salt, lamps were the only source of illumination in darkness. Without the lamp, our house would be dark and we could not see the way. We do not light the lamp and hide it, but we let the light shine through so all can see. Jesus calls us to “Let our light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” With our light shining bright, we can lead God’s people through the darkness of evil and sin. If we are given the light, then we must give others light so they do not stumble on their journey to heaven.

 

Salt must not lose its power to purify and the lamp must not lose its light. We are each called to purify and guide; to provide a clear example of a life with Christ. Our faith provides the fuel for the lamp and our commitment to God provides the saltiness. If we do not illuminate others by our actions and our examples, we are not doing the work of God on earth.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Oh mighty Jesus, You gave me salt and you gave me light.

I do not want to waste these treasures.

May they be purified and guide all souls to heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Today is the Solemnity of All Saints.

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

 

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the beatitudes. A beatitude is a condition of perfect happiness and inner peace to be enjoyed by us in heaven. When Jesus says “Blessed are the…,” he is telling us that these people who appear to be suffering greatly are actually going to experience great joy and solace in heaven. Do we not all seek to happy? It is a natural desire placed in all humans to be happy. We all want to be happy. Today’s Gospel reading is the beginning of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. He is talking to the masses telling them who will ultimately be the happiest in heaven. If we were to sit down and define what it takes to be happy, I would guess that the list that Jesus described in this sermon would not be at the top of our list. Poor, mournful, meek, hungry and thirsty would not be words used to describe the good life. But yet Christ tells us that these people will ultimately experience the greatest joy in heaven.  Why? Because they have humbled themselves on earth. They find joy in the humility and in the humbleness they give to others. 

 

Christ is telling us that these people are absent greed and envy and fill their lives with simple things that truly express God’s joy in their lives. Their lives are open to God’s glory. Jesus calls for us all to be merciful, pure in heart and to be a peacemaker. It is only through these actions that we truly unite ourselves with Christ.  We are called to forgive those who have trespassed against us. We are called to forgive those who want to hurt us. We must strive to make peace with our fellow man. Many of us will be persecuted for our beliefs and our actions. Our friends and peers will make fun of us for the decisions we make. But Jesus tells that the kingdom of heaven is for those who make the ultimate sacrifice to live truly by the Word of God. The beatitudes reassure us that those who sacrifice the most on earth will ultimately be that happiest in heaven. Do you hunger and thirst for the spirit of God? Blessed are you who do.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, Teach me to be humble.

Lead me down the path of righteousness.

Lead me to everlasting peace and happiness.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.”

 

Gospel Reading Luke 15:3-7

 

Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes: "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

 

Have you ever felt like you were all alone in the world and then someone came up and put their arms around you.  At that very moment, you are overwhelmed with joy and elation knowing that someone loves you and cares about you.  Today’s Gospel reading tells us to “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.”  Jesus, in his earthly ministry, cared for and loved sinners. He sought out the sinners to bring them to God.  His apostles were not righteous men, yet they became the foundation of the Christian church.  Most of the people he met were “unclean” yet he still reached out to them to wash their feet.  These sinners were lost in the world and Jesus put his arms around them.  He embraced them with love and compassion.

 

A shepherd cares very much for their sheep.  If one was lost, the sheep’s life is in danger because sheep are a community creature needing the companionship of others.  We too are a community creature needing the love and compassion of others.  We cannot survive without the support of our neighbors.  At the end of the day, God counts all his sheep to see if we are there.  He is deeply saddened when one of his sheep drifts from the flock.  But what greater joy does He have when that lost sheep returns to the flock.  Every one of God’s sheep is valuable.  There are no useless sheep. God does not create bad things and therefore desires everyone of us to be members of his flock.  No one sheep is more valuable than the other.  He wants not only the righteous, but the unclean.  God wants us all to join him in the kingdom of heaven, not just Catholics, everyone.  As Catholics, we are not only called to pray for our own salvation, but for the salvation of everyone.  Even those who are considered the lowest of society. It is important that we pray for all sinners and all who have not met Jesus.  We should pray that they find a simple path to Jesus and to heaven.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, Let your light shine through me that others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you.

May I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me.

Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“To love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

 

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:28-34

 

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel!  The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

 

What does it take to find the Kingdom of God? Simple - love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself.  If you do this, you will find the Kingdom of God.  These two commandments which appear to be two different commandments are actually one in the same.  How can you love God without loving your neighbor?  Whatever you do to the least of your brother, you do unto the Lord.  To love your neighbor with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength is to love God.  When we do this, we truly find God in others.  We are called to love and cherish what God has given us because “God is love.” In the time of Moses, God gave us the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments were expanded into 616 precepts of the Old Testament or the Torah to help the early Jews understand how to obey the commandments.  They just kept expanding until it became more about following the rules then about loving ones neighbor.  So when asked, which commandment is most important, Jesus tells his people, “Why are you making things so complicated?” All these “rules” are important, but unless you do these things out of love, they are not sincere. There is only one important thing and that is to love as God has loved you. Everything we do should be out of love for God and love for neighbor. We should not obey the commandments because they are law, but out of love for our fellow man.  Once we realize this, we have entered into the Kingdom of God.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Oh how I love you O merciful God.

I desire to love you more and to be embraced by the Holy Spirit.

May your love overflow in me and overflow out of me.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

 

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

 

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:13-17

 

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone's opinion. You do not regard a person's status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?" Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at." They brought one to him and he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They replied to him, "Caesar's." So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." They were utterly amazed at him.

 

In the time of Christ, the rulers would stamp their image on the coins signifying their control. Caesar’s image was on the coin; therefore, the coin belonged to Caesar. But who’s image is stamped on your heart. God stamps his image on our heart at the very moment we are conceived. We are “created in his image and likeness”; therefore, we belong to God. Our life is the greatest gift which God has given us and it is the most valuable thing we can give back. To give our life to God is to repay to God what rightfully belongs to him. But when we give our life to material wants and desires, we deny God and separate ourselves from his bounty. When someone sees you, can they recognize the face of God within you? Whose face do you portray? When we give back to God what is his; we give faith, hope and love to others. By giving to others, you are giving what belongs to God back to him. You can never adequately pay God what you owe him, but you can give him yourself, the most valuable gift that you have.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God, your image is pressed in my soul and my heart.

May I honor your image and may it grow in value.

Give me the strength to do your will to others.

Give me the strength to share my faith, hope and love of Christ.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”

 

Gospel Reading: Mark:12:1-12

 

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture passage: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?" They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.

 

God created the world that we live in for us. Everything God created is good, yet man found some way to corrupt the creation of God. Jesus uses the analogy of the vineyard to explain our treatment of the gifts God gave us. In this story, the master provides the workers with everything they need. He provides them good stock, protection from the outside, a place to make wine and a place to store the harvest. When it is time for the master to collect but a small share of the harvest, he sends a messenger to claim some of the harvest. How do the workers repay him? They shoot the messenger. This is the same thing that man did with all the messengers that God sent. But the master does not give up. Eventually God sends his “beloved son” to save us from our sinfulness; however, humanity does not change. In response to the greatest gift that God could give us - beloved son, we torture, beat then kill him. When asked what should the master do, the people respond that the master should come and punish and destroy the tenants. This is probably how we would respond if someone destroyed everything that was valuable to us.  However, this is not the behavior that our Master in heaven wants from us.  Instead of killing them, the beloved son becomes the cornerstone of our faith and our salvation. Instead of retaliating hatred for hatred, God responds with love.

 

This same message is so true even today. God gives us everything we need. He provides us with many gifts and talents. How we use those gifts reflects how we respect the master who gave them to us. This parable tells us how God deals with the sinfulness of man. God loves us and continually forgives us. His forgiveness is limitless. No matter what we do with the gifts he gives us, God will continually be there for us. He has entrusted us each with different gifts to help in the harvest. We are free to do as we will with these gifts. Not only does God trusts us to make our own decisions, he loves us so much that he will not force us to do things that are against our will. God entrusted us with the vineyard and it is our responsibility to reap the harvest. Jesus knew that he would be rejected and killed, but he also knew that his death would not be the end. Through his death would come the ultimate glory. He knew that he would be the cornerstone of our faith and our salvation. Jesus promises us a great harvest if we submit to his will. If we use the gifts he gave us to fulfill the wishes of the master, we will be rewarded abundantly in the Kingdom of heaven.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, you are the cornerstone of our faith.

Through you we find our salvation.

You provide me with many gifts and talents.

May I use these gifts for your glory and praise.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon