living power

Aug 25, 2021

.

“Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.”    1 Thess 2:13

I remember as a small boy my father helping me to build a simple windmill, some balsa wood wings linked to a small generator. I was amazed when the wind (with a bit of help from us) turned the blades and the small light bulb my dad had connected flickered light.

Dad explained to me that it was relatively easy to make this happen, but the real challenge was to build a battery that could store the power of the wind to be used later when there was no wind.

Half a century later batteries are better and wind and other forms of power are more widely used. But there are some things that wind (and sun, water and fire) cannot empower.

Healthy humans know that they are powered by God.

Earthly thinking can only harness power that already exists (from the wind, waves or sun). The God who created these earthly and cosmic elements today offers to be our personal power supply. This living power is not forced on us (like the sun, wind and rain that we shelter ourselves against) but is offered, and we are free to accept or reject the invitation.

In Jesus God offers power which forgives and gives new birth by transforming and healing,

You might like to pray today’s psalm as a reminder that in this moment Jesus is waiting to be invited to empower you with love. Click on the link below to hear Christchurch children singing Psalm 139 to a setting by Bernadette Farrell.

O God, you search me and you know me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze.
When I walk or lie down, you are before me,
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
You know my resting and my rising.
You discern my purpose from afar,
and with love everlasting you besiege me:
In ev’ry moment of life or death, you are.
Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
you have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, my past and future too.

Although your Spirit is upon me,
still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight.

For you created me and shaped me,
gave me life within my mother’s womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:
Safe in your hands, all creation is made new.

Words and music by Bernadette Farrell
All rights reserved.  Used with permission
© One License A-626491

 

5 Comments

  1. “God of my present, my past and future too”

    We had a lovely old priest, Jim Brosnahan, who took that literally. When we went to Confession, his absolution was: “I forgive ALL your sins, past, present and future”!

    Let the theologians work that out! We thought it was great!

    Reply
    • Wow. What an eloquent expression of forgiveness. I think it is great too.

      Reply
  2. Amen. Amen.

    Reply
  3. Jesus died for all sin, past, present, in his time, and future in ours and future generations.

    Reply
  4. May I Always” Store,
    Continually,The Power
    of the HOLY SPIRIT
    in my heart, so as to
    Not to be blown away by
    Worldly thoughts- actions.
    The Windmill memory
    Was special to read
    Thankyou Fr John

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

Ascension

Ascension

Most people think of the Ascension of Jesus as being a ‘departure’ moment. Jesus was here and now he is gone. We imagine Jesus going up into the clouds and the disciples waving farewell from below.
This is an unhelpful image.
It is essential that we understand what does happen and what does not happen in the Ascension event.
It would be easy to wrongly think that in his ministry showed us how to build the city of God on earth, and now he has gone and the mission is left to us.

touching the sacred

touching the sacred

A few years ago I was on Rēkohu Chatham Islands for what has become one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most sacred days, the ANZAC day of remembrance in gratitude for those who gave their lives, their health, their youth, their service that we may live in peace.
The art above was produced by one of the students at the local Te One school.

every which way

every which way

A good number of Food For Faith readers have discovered one of the more recent FFF initiatives, the weekly Homily Studio.
The recording of this half-hour podcast is one of the highlights of my week.

in the room

in the room

Today’s reflection marks the end of the FFF Lent-to-Easter daily email posts. Thank you for your company on this journey.  While these daily posts (for those who have signed up for the Lent / Advent reflections at this link) will take a break until Advent, those who have signed up to receive every post or regular posts at this link.  You might take a moment now to visit this page now to check your email preferences.

During retreat this week I found myself pondering just how difficult it is to accept that God, in Jesus, is really with me today.

disciplined discipleship

disciplined discipleship

As I write I’m nearing the end of retreat days with a group of fifty priests from across the USA.  As I mentioned a couple of days ago the diversity and youth of the group is remarkable with the majority being aged under 40 and a good number ordained for fewer than five years.