Living the Word of God

The call came in at 5 a.m.; but I didn't get to the phone quick enough to answer it, so I called the number back, not knowing who would answer. The man who answered the phone said, “Trina?” It took me a second to realize who it was because I was still partly asleep and who answers their phone saying the callers name?

My friends were at the hospital in labor with their sixth blessing, who was coming a little quicker than anticipated and they needed someone to be with the first five blessings so they could welcome him together. Glad to be close enough to help, I went over and sat with the boys in the waiting room until their aunt could arrive. What a joyous occasion.

Before leaving I was able to visit with my friends a few moments and they asked if I could bring holy communion to them. I promised to return and as the little guy burst into the world very shortly after 7 a.m. I took holy communion to them before our 10 a.m. Mass. We read the Gospel for the day together and then I left to attend Mass.

As I was praying before Mass the Gospel I'd just read with my friends, The Good Samaritan, came to my mind and I was just filled with love for our Lord for allowing me to live that Gospel.

In his homily our priest talked about the Gospel and said the good samaritan was truly following Jesus' second greatest command, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Again, it just really struck me what a great blessing God had given me and I was so grateful that I cooperated with Him to be His hands, feet, eyes, etc.

God created us for good and when we strive to live Godly lives and cooperate with His plan for us, beautiful things happen.

Breaking The Rules

Recently 11 baseball players from various major league teams were placed on suspension for using an illegal substance (human growth hormone).  These men made a bad choice, they broke the rules of baseball. Everyone makes bad choices in their lives and sometimes those choices affect others.  

Does this scandal ruin baseball? Of course it doesn't, because baseball depends on teams, not individuals. An individual can break the rules in baseball, and though that choice can affect others, it doesn't ruin the whole.  People can still enjoy baseball.

The same can be said of Christianity. All Christians are held to the same"rules", which we refer to as the Word of God. But like those baseball players, sometimes Christians do not play by the rules....we bend the Word or twist it or change it completely so it conforms to what we want it to be instead of what Jesus intends it to be.

Christianity is also about teamwork.  Jesus referred to us as His brothers and sisters. As a team, we are supposed to work together and help one another - not to win the World Series or the Superbowl, but something much greater - to one day be together in heaven.

Yes, sometimes individual Christians break the rules (go against the Word of God), but it doesn't ruin the whole of Christianity anymore than a few individual baseball players breaking the rules ruins the game of baseball.  It's an awful thing to go against the Word of God, it injures us, those we wronged and certainly hurts God, but it doesn't ruin Christianity. For that I am eternally grateful.

Just something to think about.