LITTLE BURST

Genesis 16:1-12,15-16; Ps 106 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; Matthew 7:21-29

Jesus says to his disciples, "not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name?  Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?  Did we not drive out demons in your name?'  Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me."


This is quite a thought provoking passage.  And as much as it is a thought provoking passage it is meant to be a passage that gets us moving, a passage that calls us to action.

Certainly prophesying, driving out demons, mighty deeds are all important and worthy endeavors.  The problem is, in our human nature we have a tendency to just focus on the big ticket items and lose sight of the little things that really make life happen daily.

What good is it to focus our energy and boasting on the big items if we forget or over look those small details where life unfold on a regular basis.

I recently read a book entitled "Olive Kitteridge."  An din this book the author puts these words on the lips of the main character in the story, "life depends on what she thinks o as "big burst" and "little burst."  Big bursts are things like marriage or children, intimacies that keep you afloat, but these big burst hold dangerous unseen currents.  Which is why you need the little bursts as well: a friendly clerk at [the local grocery store], or a waitress [at the coffee shop] who knows how you like your coffee..."

It is the little burst we need to focus on.  Here in these precious brief moments we honor Christ.  The prophesying, the driving out of demons, the mighty works, these will take care of themselves, in fact they will happen more readily if we start small and zero our energy on the little burst of life.

When Jesus tells us in the gospel, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock" It will not collapse because no matter the big things that come our way such as rain, floods, wind, and buffeting the little things have been firmly in place to hold us firm.


The words he speaks of are the words that are found in the sermon of them mount: the beatitudes, being salt of the earth and light to the world, not being angry with our brother, not saying 'you fool' to them, settling with those who may have a grudge against us, not harboring lustful thoughts in our mind, guarding our eyes and hands for goodness, not swearing, turning the other cheek, giving away our cloaks, loving our enemy, doing unto others as we would have them do to us, forgiveness,  praying in the secret of our room, living the tenets of the 'Our Father', storing up treasure in heaven, not getting carried away with concern for material possessions or belongings, recognizing the log in our own eye, thriving to enter to the narrow gate.

These are the words that are meant to form and shape our life.  This is how we allow JEsus to become Lord of our life.