Morning Connection

Today is Friday, December 13, 2012.
The feast of St. Lucy

Good Morning.

A thought for the day:
The truth is, for many folks, obedience is an ugly word.

The Church’s 1st reading for today: Isaiah chapter 48 verses 17-19

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.

* * *
A man, bragging on his dog, said, "he's a fine dog. He's so smart, and obedient, too. Why, all I have to do is tell him what to do and he either does it, or he doesn't!" Whether God’s word succeeds or fails hinges on our acceptance or rejection of the word "obedience”. Obedience implies that we are not independent, that we are accountable to another, that we do have someone over us, that there is higher authority than ourselves.
In a world where we are taught that it is our "right" to do "our own thing", "be our own person", do it because it "feels good" - we find that God expects us to lay all that aside and obey Him! Just how radical can you be? But that’s exactly what the Prophet Isaiah calls us to do: “hearken to my commandments” he says to us as he speaks for God.
Naturally we all conform to others when we must. We won't speed too much above the limit posted lest we get caught and have to pay a fine; we won't lie, steal, and cheat unless we think we can get by with it. But give us a chance and we give ourselves permission to do as we please.

God expects more from us. And why shouldn’t He.

God bless,
Father Pat