Sunday, February 4, 2018

What do we celebrate?


So millions of people were doing the same thing on Sunday Night – they were watching the Superbowl. The climax of a football season in the United States that has people gathering with friends, consuming large amounts of food, and breaking all sorts of records and reasonableness when it comes to expenses. It shows that when something matters to us – well we celebrate. Celebrating is certainly a part of Defining Moments.

Over the last five weekends we have been look at “Defining Moments” – these occasions which bring definition and clarity to our life - which before we did not have. These defining moments are moments brimming with meaning..... Moments of Decision - saying Yes. Moments of Definition - knowing the way. Moments of Determination - deciding to keep at it.

These Defining Moments can be as bright as a Star in the East, or an Angel in the Sky, but most often they are as subtle as an encounter while we are busy in our day, as in the Gospel of today. But Defining moments also have a certain nature to them - We are never called for our own sake, but for the sake of others. Defining Moments come into our life - not solely to affect us! God does not invite us closer to Him simply for ourselves - but as part of His plan that all of us would be united to Him.  Defining Moments also have the danger of containing a certain nonsense to them. To be called does not require perfection on our behalf, only fidelity and holy listening.

In his Book “Perfectly Yourself”, Matthew Kelly, has been inviting us to look at the “Wins and Woes” daily, to keep track of asking Jesus daily “Where Do you Live?” (where are you?) and together we have even written our own little prayer:

Jesus I am looking for you
Jesus I want to see where you live
Jesus I want to come and see every day

A prayer that helps us in the silence of listening for His voice to remember that Character Defines our future, and that what we hold on to, and let go of, both help us to define who we are and whose we are. Ultimately this give us freedom to be Perfectly Yourself, and also to experience defining moments.

Last week to tackled what our Core Values are and in an important message we were invited to take a good look in the mirror – who do we resemble? Do we look like Jesus in those chosen values?

This Lord’s Day we build upon this, and we approach the conclusion of our series – which is next weekend (February 10/11), our two questions become – what do we celebrate? And can we let go?