1 Peter: so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God.
I don't know about you, but when I feel like I am in tune with God's will for my life, life is good.
During my meditation this morning, I was reminded of my high school teacher of world religions. She taught us about Buddhism, Hinduism, and many other isms. Her message was that we are all one. There is one God, and we are all children of that one God, no matter what name we use for God.
It was a radical message from a nun in the late seventies, and early eighties, especially when I went home after class and discussed some of the other isms with my dad. His immediate response was fear that I would join a cult. Years later, I discovered that he wouldn't even enter a church that wasn't Catholic for fear of going to hell.
Today, I will attend a Catholic Women's Conference as a vendor. They had no record of me when I arrived yesterday to set up my booth for Camino Spice (Divine Inspired Spice), but thankfully someone couldn't make it and they were able to fit me in. God's will? Thank you, God.
An older woman came up to me as I was setting up the table and we started chatting. She made the comment, jokingly that I'm from the other Diocese. I know she was trying to be funny but it struck me as judgmental. Then again, was I the one being judgmental? Regardless, it instantly struck me that my God is all-inclusive, that we are all children of one God. God's will? Thank you, God.
I don't believe in coincidences, rather I believe that everything happens for a reason. Was she put in my path to remind me of my all-inclusive teacher nun from high school? Or was it to remind me that if we are all children of God, there is no need for fear, hatred, war, the other?
I love my dad and I know his spirit is back with his God in Heaven, where he is free from all fear of the "other" where everything is good and filled with love.
Today, may we all live more from our hearts, knowing we are all children of God, living from a place of love, living God's will, no matter how prickly it may seem.
April 2
Matthew: He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.
Mark: He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:
Luke: where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.
John: —although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized—
Acts: much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.
Romans: For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
1 Corinthians: Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
2 Corinthians: We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
Galatians: but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.
Ephesians: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Philippians: I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
Colossians: Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians: For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
1 Timothy: through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
2 Timothy: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.
Hebrews: For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
James: You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask.
1 Peter: so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God.
1 John: By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
Revelation: At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne!