|  | Daily Bible Reflections Archive
 |
Theo Tigno•
3/3/2011 5:44 pm
Reply To Post
|
Friday, March 4th 2011 |
Mark 11: 11-26
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, "May no one ever eat of your fruit again!" And his disciples heard it.
They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, "Is it not written:
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?
But you have made it a den of thieves."
The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city.
Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." Jesus said to them in reply, "Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions."
Dawg's Thought:
Today's prayer intention - for those who are discerning their vocation.
I want to be that person of great faith.
Yet, many times, I am the tree that doesn't bear fruit, hiding the gift of faith that is meant bear fruit. How often do my prayers give the appearance of vibrancy, such as the tree with leaves, yet lack anything to offer?
Many times, I am the "money changer" wanting worldly profit from the faith versus recognizing faith as the gift. How often do I pray with the hope of wanting the created versus letting my prayer be an act of love to The Creator?
"Have faith in God"
Too many times have I seen "faith" used for personal gain: a way to prove that you are better than someone else ... a way to escape from facing a difficult situation ... a way to hide who you are because you're insecure in the person God made you to be. I know all these well because I have been there.
I heard a story today about a man who was in the military and they were on a rescue mission. This man had just seen his best friend die and as he was wiping the blood, they told him that he had to go back and rescue more men. He said at that moment, he was gripped with fear. He did not want to go back.
In that moment, God spoke to him: "Do you love Me?" He responded yes. "Do you love your wife?" Again, he responded yes.
Then God spoke to him, "if you live today, you'll go home to your wife. If you die today, you'll go home to Me."
Have faith in God, Who curses trees and throws the thieves out of His temple. Have faith in God, Who moves mountains and forgives our transgressions. Notice Jesus doesn't say that the person with faith will move the mountain, but rather, "it shall be done for him."
Let it be done unto me, Lord.
Take care and God Bless.
|
|
| |
