" Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,"(Acts 20:26)
Who do you feel responsible for? All of us know that we are first and foremost responsible for ourselves. As a parent I was responsible for bringing my sons up. I certainly feel some level of responsibility towards my wife. And there may come a time when I have responsibility for my parents. As a priest I also have responsibility to my parishioners.
Paul of course is saying he's not responsible if anything goes wrong in his absence since he's given them the tools they need to succeed. And much like most of the responsibilities I listed there's only so much I can do beyond myself.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Reflection for June 13, 2017
"A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead."(Acts 20:9)
Have you ever fallen asleep when someone else is talking? Maybe it was in a college class, right after lunch, or during a movie. Hopefully not during a sermon. Frankly mine or too short to fall asleep during.
We are told this story in Acts but there are other factors than Paul going on and on. There were candles it was late. Sitting in an open window probably not a great idea either.
There are times that we need to pay attention. We may also want to consider our own sleep patterns and have a good sense of self to know when we are getting tired. And of course it also helps when the speaker isn't boring.
Blessings,
Ed
Have you ever fallen asleep when someone else is talking? Maybe it was in a college class, right after lunch, or during a movie. Hopefully not during a sermon. Frankly mine or too short to fall asleep during.
We are told this story in Acts but there are other factors than Paul going on and on. There were candles it was late. Sitting in an open window probably not a great idea either.
There are times that we need to pay attention. We may also want to consider our own sleep patterns and have a good sense of self to know when we are getting tired. And of course it also helps when the speaker isn't boring.
Blessings,
Ed
Reflection for June 12, 2017
" Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together."(Acts 19:32)
Usually when we find ourselves in a shouting match it is a one on one event. But it can also happen that when two large opposing groups get together and begin shouting at each other that things can get ugly. And of course if this starts to draw in onlookers who then get caught up in the emotion of the moment, things grow exponentially and the tension gets ratcheted up.
And imagine if you walked in on this and you're trying to figure out what all the fuss is about? How hard to get at the issue through all the shouting, in addition to people on the fringes not even sure why they are there to begin with.
I try to avoid these train wrecks, but in our time, they seem to happen often, where people spend more time shouting and talking past each other and most don't even know why they're mad.
Blessings,
Ed
Usually when we find ourselves in a shouting match it is a one on one event. But it can also happen that when two large opposing groups get together and begin shouting at each other that things can get ugly. And of course if this starts to draw in onlookers who then get caught up in the emotion of the moment, things grow exponentially and the tension gets ratcheted up.
And imagine if you walked in on this and you're trying to figure out what all the fuss is about? How hard to get at the issue through all the shouting, in addition to people on the fringes not even sure why they are there to begin with.
I try to avoid these train wrecks, but in our time, they seem to happen often, where people spend more time shouting and talking past each other and most don't even know why they're mad.
Blessings,
Ed
Reflection for June 11, 2017
" But the evil spirit said to them in reply, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”(Acts 19:15)
One way we can get ourselves in trouble is when we attempt to assert some authority when we don't actually have it. Or if we try to be wiser than we actually are. Attempting to be something we aren't never works out very well.
The evil spirit quoted here recognizes real authority, but not pretenders, and asks a very poignant question "but who are you?" When we know ourselves and are honest about our strengths and weaknesses, we can actually answer that question. It's when we really aren't sure of the answer that we keep trying on personas that may not really fit. And wind up in a bad place.
Blessings,
Ed
One way we can get ourselves in trouble is when we attempt to assert some authority when we don't actually have it. Or if we try to be wiser than we actually are. Attempting to be something we aren't never works out very well.
The evil spirit quoted here recognizes real authority, but not pretenders, and asks a very poignant question "but who are you?" When we know ourselves and are honest about our strengths and weaknesses, we can actually answer that question. It's when we really aren't sure of the answer that we keep trying on personas that may not really fit. And wind up in a bad place.
Blessings,
Ed
Reflection for June 10, 2017
"He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately."(Acts 18:26)
Have you ever learned something but just enough to get the basic idea? Usually the next step should be to learn the specifics, so that you can then perhaps share it with others.
Sometimes in our enthusiasm our mouths start proclaiming things without having it totally down. The nice thing is when someone with a little more depth of knowledge comes in and gives us the finer points. They can see the desire and the enthusiasm and they know how to polish the rough edges and to correct the parts that we didn't get quite right.
Much of life is like that because we all continually need to grow in what we think we know.
Blessings,
Ed
Have you ever learned something but just enough to get the basic idea? Usually the next step should be to learn the specifics, so that you can then perhaps share it with others.
Sometimes in our enthusiasm our mouths start proclaiming things without having it totally down. The nice thing is when someone with a little more depth of knowledge comes in and gives us the finer points. They can see the desire and the enthusiasm and they know how to polish the rough edges and to correct the parts that we didn't get quite right.
Much of life is like that because we all continually need to grow in what we think we know.
Blessings,
Ed
Reflection for June 9, 2017
" Then all of them[h] seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things."(Acts 18:17)
I'm not much of a protester. While I certainly have opinions about the government, I've never tried to get the governments attention. From what I gather those that do will usually start by bringing their concerns to the proper authorities first, usually via letters or phone calls. And if it seems like no one is paying attention, they might move onto organized protests, usually peaceful.
But there are times when people get too frustrated and decide to get a little more physical, hoping to draw attention. I'm not convinced this actually works other than getting people agitated with the people who chose that course of action. I have yet to see leaders moved to change their minds or pay more attention to the grievance, but usually just they continue to ignore these folks or respond in kind.
Blessings,
Ed
I'm not much of a protester. While I certainly have opinions about the government, I've never tried to get the governments attention. From what I gather those that do will usually start by bringing their concerns to the proper authorities first, usually via letters or phone calls. And if it seems like no one is paying attention, they might move onto organized protests, usually peaceful.
But there are times when people get too frustrated and decide to get a little more physical, hoping to draw attention. I'm not convinced this actually works other than getting people agitated with the people who chose that course of action. I have yet to see leaders moved to change their minds or pay more attention to the grievance, but usually just they continue to ignore these folks or respond in kind.
Blessings,
Ed
Reflection for June 8, 2017
"Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new."(Acts 17:21)
How do you spend your time? When I look at my day, a good chunk is spent working. There is of course the part that is spent sleeping too. But what do I do with the time that isn't spoken for? What do I do to renew myself in body, mind and spirit?
I know that I spend time at the gym and walking to take care of my body. I spend time in intentional prayer and bible reading to take care of my spirit. And I read for pleasure and pay attention to articles that catch my interest to renew my mind. Sometimes I even engage in discussion with others to broaden my perspective.
I will admit that I don't take as much time telling or hearing something new. Mainly because so much of my time is taken up with those other things. But new things and ideas are always popping up looking to be discussed, debated, and then either to catch on or be discarded.
It is true that there are things that seem new, but in many ways or just old things trying to make a comeback.
Blessings,
Ed
How do you spend your time? When I look at my day, a good chunk is spent working. There is of course the part that is spent sleeping too. But what do I do with the time that isn't spoken for? What do I do to renew myself in body, mind and spirit?
I know that I spend time at the gym and walking to take care of my body. I spend time in intentional prayer and bible reading to take care of my spirit. And I read for pleasure and pay attention to articles that catch my interest to renew my mind. Sometimes I even engage in discussion with others to broaden my perspective.
I will admit that I don't take as much time telling or hearing something new. Mainly because so much of my time is taken up with those other things. But new things and ideas are always popping up looking to be discussed, debated, and then either to catch on or be discarded.
It is true that there are things that seem new, but in many ways or just old things trying to make a comeback.
Blessings,
Ed
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