Last night my husband and I were doing our "Rosary walk" around the neighborhood. It was a beautiful, cool Florida evening. After praying the Rosary, we started talking about this blog and increasing readership. It's interesting which keywords drive the most traffic. Jay thought quietly for a few seconds, then said "Belly Fat! That should be your next keyword!" Um, well, belly fat and the Gospel didn't immediately connect in my mind. Then I read the Gospel this morning and couldn't help but laugh! The connection was instant!
Today's Gospel (Luke 14:1-6):
On a sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" But they were unable to answer his question.
The medical term "dropsy" is used today and I wasn't exactly sure what it was (not a term I learned in nursing school!) and how I could connect it to belly fat.
Here is the medical definition according to medicinenet.com:
An old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water.
Hmmm . . . belly fat . . . accumulation of excess . . . yes, this can work! Like getting rid of stubborn belly fat, changing the views of the Pharisees must have been quite a daunting task. At least it would have been for me! They were so stuck on the "rules" and "catching Jesus" that they couldn't even respond to His question. They knew He was doing the right thing . . . but they were too blinded by their own ambitions and egos to accept the Truth. Sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it? All the bitterness, anger and jealousy targeting President Trump is coming full circle. The Truth always prevails . . . always.
In Anne a lay apostle's book Staying in Place, she reminds us to be aware of what we say and do:
"We must be assured that if we plant seeds of bitterness, then bitter little shoots will come up. These shoots will make themselves known in various ways at various times."
Lay apostles, take note today of your verbal/physical interactions. Are you spreading God's love with encouragement or evil's hate with lies and bitterness? Just like belly fat, it's hard to make even the slightest alterations to change old habits. But with a little effort, a flat stomach is achievable!
Thank you, Lord, for the brilliant mind of my wonderful husband. And, thank you for the lessons in the Gospels I can apply today!
Today's Gospel (Luke 14:1-6):
On a sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them "Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" But they were unable to answer his question.
The medical term "dropsy" is used today and I wasn't exactly sure what it was (not a term I learned in nursing school!) and how I could connect it to belly fat.
Here is the medical definition according to medicinenet.com:
An old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water.
Hmmm . . . belly fat . . . accumulation of excess . . . yes, this can work! Like getting rid of stubborn belly fat, changing the views of the Pharisees must have been quite a daunting task. At least it would have been for me! They were so stuck on the "rules" and "catching Jesus" that they couldn't even respond to His question. They knew He was doing the right thing . . . but they were too blinded by their own ambitions and egos to accept the Truth. Sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it? All the bitterness, anger and jealousy targeting President Trump is coming full circle. The Truth always prevails . . . always.
In Anne a lay apostle's book Staying in Place, she reminds us to be aware of what we say and do:
"We must be assured that if we plant seeds of bitterness, then bitter little shoots will come up. These shoots will make themselves known in various ways at various times."
Lay apostles, take note today of your verbal/physical interactions. Are you spreading God's love with encouragement or evil's hate with lies and bitterness? Just like belly fat, it's hard to make even the slightest alterations to change old habits. But with a little effort, a flat stomach is achievable!
Thank you, Lord, for the brilliant mind of my wonderful husband. And, thank you for the lessons in the Gospels I can apply today!
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