Reflections

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, “He is possessed by a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, “Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

(Luke 7:33-34)

When we judge others, Lord, we are never satisfied. We build up expectations that reflect our own moods and desires. When we are sad, we want them to cry; when we are happy we want them to laugh.
John fasted in preparation for you, as we fast in preparation for the holiest days. Because his life was different, he was ridiculed.

Fasting is not intrinsically good, nor are feasting and drinking intrinsically bad. There is a time for either. You are the bridegroom. We celebrate you and welcome all in your name.

Even though I hate gossip and try to walk away from it, I still tend to judge others by their demeanor, their friends, by the attitudes I attribute to them. I compare them to my standards, even when I don’t apply them to myself.

They judged you by your actions, Lord, and by the company you kept. Please help me to be gracious to everyone. There is someone I consider rude, selfish, and downright nasty. I pray for her daily because I think she must be miserable. Even so, I bolster myself for every encounter with her, something I wouldn’t do if I could forget my last interaction and start anew. I can’t erase my memories, but with your grace, I can step over them. Please help me to leave yesterday behind, to have no expectations, but to trust in you.

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