Olive Tree

Monday, May 16, 2022

Motherly Miracle









They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."  And he said, "Bring them here to me." 

 -- Matthew 14:17,18








Five small barley loaves which had been baked beforehand.  Someone ground the grain, added the yeast, water and salt before kneading the dough and allowing it to rise. Someone cleaned up the bowl where the dough was mixed and the counter where the dough was kneaded.  Someone baked the loaves.

Two fish which had been cleaned, seasoned and cooked beforehand by someone.  Someone packed the boy’s lunch.  Someone washed first the utensils which cooked the fish and then her industrious hands and dried them, perhaps, on the apron tied about her waist.

Dear Someone, 

He, who sees you in the night watches and who gathers your tears in a bottle, also walks with you.  Draw your daily sustenance from His Love and know that your hard work is the first step towards a miracle of God.

Jesus, encourage us in our daily work and help us to believe that miracles can result from routine, seemingly trivial tasks. Amen.










Thursday, May 5, 2022

Rock Music

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever."  -- Revelation 5:13


I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.  -- Luke 19:40



 Thank you, Lord, that You will one day be worshipped by all.  Find me numbered among those adorers both now and when the Truth is fully revealed.  Amen.

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Divine Mercy Defined

The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. -- Exodus 25:20

 di·vine [dəˈvīn]

ADJECTIVE \

1. of, from or like God 

mer·c
y













  [ˈmərsē]
NOUN 

1. love's response to suffering  


Divine Mercy = God's love in response to suffering.




Jesus, we trust in You.  Thank You that under the wings of Your mercy we find refuge.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

A Time to Rise

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die. -- Ecclesiastes 3:1,2


The wonder of new life and the seeming finality of death.  Yet the Old Testament writer of Ecclesiastes left out something, because he knew not the future.  There also is a time to RISE.  

Thank you, Jesus, for rising from the dead and giving us a hope and a future.  Amen.


Saturday, April 16, 2022

Miserere mei, Deus.






Lord, have mercy, because I am in misery.  My eyes are weak from so much crying, and my whole being is tired from grief.

Psalm 31:9






Thank you, God, that sacrifice to You is a troubled spirit, a broken and contrite heart , that You will not despise.  Amen.  (Ps. 51:17)

Sunday, April 10, 2022

"Palm" Sunday




I will not forget you. 
Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands.
-- Isaiah 49:16


On this Palm Sunday, I pray that you will rest in God's loving care for you. 


Lord, thank you for holding us so lovingly amidst this journey of life, especially when we feel bewildered and blindsided.  Amen.












Wednesday, March 23, 2022

A Dawning Hope


The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me; yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.
-- Psalm 138:8



 
Lord, every morning, there is a new beautiful dawn.  Let this enduring reality be a sign that You indeed are good.