One of the reasons Jesus became famous during his ministry was because he performed many miracles. People came from all around to be healed, or to help others be healed. In most of the cases where Jesus healed people, he either asked them if they believed, or after healing them, he told them it was their faith that healed them.

Mark 6 includes the account of Jesus returning to his hometown, and finds that the people there are skeptical about his ability to perform miracles. verses 5 & 6 say, “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” I find it interesting that the verse says Jesus “could not” do miracles because of their lack of faith.

I believe from this that we all play a part in whether God performs miracles in our lives. If we don’t believe God can do it, he possibly won’t, and if we believe, Jesus says in Matthew 19:26, “but with God all things are possible.”

Dear Lord, we want to believe that you can do anything, but often we just cannot bring ourselves to truly believe these things that seem impossible to us. Help us remember that we don’t need to figure it all out; we only need to believe in your power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I recently heard a profound expression from one of the wisest of my friends, Pastor Scott Bruzek, St. John Lutheran, Wheaton, IL, who said, “Love is where mercy meets misery.”

Isn’t this what Jesus is, the mercy of God that comes to us in our misery. He also is the mercy of God carrying the struggles of our lives.

This idea brought to mind the image of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:29, “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Though not so Biblical, I could hear the song written by one of modern day’s musical geniuses, Brian Wilson, “Love and Mercy” express this sentiment. Written after years of his challenges of mental illness and and struggle. He wrote, “Love and mercy is what you need tonight, Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight.”

God’s gift, Jesus Christ is that Love and Mercy.

Dear Lord, Your love and mercy is the gift we need to accept to overcome any misery of our lives. Help us find our way to accepting it and being the path to it for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In modern times we make a distinction between our brain and our heart as the separated places where we think rationally, our brains, and feel emotionally, our heart. In ancient times, they had a different understanding. The brain may have been where information was received and processed, but the heart was where it was considered, evaluated and put to use.

Proverbs 4:20-23 writes, “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

St. Benedict expressed this text in a beautiful way, “Incline the ear of your heart, Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving father’s advice.”

Dear Lord, it is difficult for us to open ourselves up fully to your advice. Our preconceptions, prejudices, pride, and fear fight against it. Help us open up the ears of our hearts to receive your wisdom and direction. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Though it is wrong, I’ll bet we all have looked at some people and thought, “Those people need to fix their lives, it is disgraceful how they behave.”

How did Jesus approach this issue of “bad” people?

Matthew 9:10-12 says,”Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”

I think we often get the sequence of events backward. Whether consciously or not, we think people need to fix their behavior first, then they can be loved and saved. Jesus teaches us the opposite; Show people Gods love first, through our example, and approach. God will work in their heart’s on his timing. Sometimes it may be just a matter of saying a prayer for the person, rather than carrying on our critical thoughts.

Dear Lord, You gave us the example to love first and lead others to the grace of God in Jesus. Help us look at others with love rather than criticism and then let you work in their heart’s. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I have come to believe that most of the time that I get angry or irritated, it is because I am caving-in to temptation. Some event happens, and it is almost like someone is placing thoughts in my mind trying to get me to lose control and criticize, argue, or get angry.

When I have enough self-control to stop and analyze my own thoughts, I realize what is happening, and try to remember to say a quick prayer asking for help overcoming this temptation. It is almost like catching the “Temptor” in the act of manipulating me and beating him at the game.

James 4:7 says, “.. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

To be honest, sometimes when I realize that I am being tempted to go down the wrong path, I will “tell off” the devil, under my breath. I am not sure if that does any good, but understanding and asking for God’s help definitely does.

Dear Lord, It is clear from your word in the Bible, that we are being tempted and manipulated regularly. Help us recognize and resist this temptation and trust that with You we can overcome any temptation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.