You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

Well, June is over and I’m back.  Did you miss me?  A lot happened last month – some good, some bad but in the words of one of my favorite old testament persons (Job)…the Lord gives and the Lord takes away; Blessed Be the Lord.

Some bad…

1. A dear fried of ours, Ellen, found our she has breast cancer.  Please pray for her, her husband and daughter as they prepare to fight this battle.
2. My mother fell and spent the better part of two days in the hospital.  Other than being sore, all seems to be well with her.
3. My daughter-in-law Megan (Richard’s wife) lost her grandfather suddenly after he suffered a heart attack.

Some good…

1. My son Jerome and his wife Megan announced they are expecting child #2 at the end of February.
2. My daughter Ruth graduated from UMSL, made the Dean’s list and got accepted into their graduate program.
3. My son Richard got a much deserved raise with his teaching job.
4. I got to spend a week of one on two time with my daughter Cecilia and her husband Garrett in LA.
5. The St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup.  With that my grandchildren got to meet some of their players afterward.  Aiden with Alex Petrangelo and Jerome III with Patrick Maroon.

So, onto the readings of the (yester) and (to) day.  The Gospel’s have a very important message – so much so that yesterday we read from Luke and today we read from Matthew – and that message is following Christ, following His Mission and starting that NOW is the most important thing in your life – yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Nothing is as important as this.

From Luke:

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.” 
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

And to another he said, “Follow me.” 
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. 
But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

From Matthew:

So, what should I take from these Gospels?  I need to think long and hard about this. I need to pray that my goals in life are Christ centered.  I need to make sure that everything I do, everything I say, every action that people see from me are grounded in Christ.  I should not foster any prejudices against my fellow man; I should be a constant source of love for my wife, my children, my extended family and all who  come to know me.  I have a great inheritance waiting from me if I can only fulfill the will of God for my life.  God is my inheritance…God is my guide…God is my source of strength.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
 even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
 with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Do something great for our Lord today – follow His path to life.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.