MEDITATIONS
BY:BOBOT APIT

Oct 18,2010 - Monday Meditation (Shalom! My Friend!) 
Shalom is simply the well being  experienced when  hearts are aligned with God’s presence and consequently ordered to loving all creation and people in God. When hearts are transformed by shalom, they resonate with the Good News and welcome its bearers. 
  
Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist 
2 Timothy 4:9-17b 
Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 17-18 
Luke 10:1-9 After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. 2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 
  
Meditation by Dick Hauser, S.J. 
“Into whatever house you enter first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 
If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him.” 
  
Rather surprisingly, Jesus gives his disciples a specific greeting for their missionary journeys. As they enter a household they are to say, “Peace to this household.” 
  
For the Jewish people peace — shalom — is the greatest blessing God can bestow. Shalom is simply the well being  experienced when  hearts are aligned with God’s presence and consequently ordered to loving all creation and people in God. Jesus himself uses the greeting in nearly every post-Resurrection appearance. 
  
When hearts are transformed by shalom, they resonate with the Good News and welcome its bearers. When hearts are not transformed, they  reject the Good News and its bearers. So Jesus advises disciples not to waste their time. 
  
Jesus advice has implication for our societal interactions today, especially as we approach electing our nation’s political leaders. True communication and understanding on opposing points of view can occur only when we dialogue with respect and harmony with one another — and shalom is present.  True communication cannot occur when  dialogue is marked by lack of respect and fractious discord --  and shalom is absent. 
  
May all our dialogues concerning the common good of our national community be marked by shalom and deserve Jesus’ commendation: “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” 
  
  
Supplementary Reading 
Grace Abounds 
  
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”  - 2 Corinthians 9:8 
  
What is it that you have need of today? Remember, we serve a God of a bun dance. Our God is always more than enough. No matter what is on your “plate of life,” God wants to empower you with His grace. 
  
One meaning of the word “grace” is God’s good will, loving-kindness and favor. His grace, His good will is what keeps us. His favor strengthens us and causes us to increase. The wonderful thing is that He’s already extending that grace to you right now; all you have to do is open your heart and humbly receive it by faith. 
  
Notice in this verse that when He pours out His grace on you, you will have all that you need at all times...that’s living in a bun dance. And when you are living in a bun dance, you are equipped to pour out that goodness and blessing on those around you. A bun dant grace leads to a bun dant living, and a bun dant living leads to a bun dant giving! Today, receive His grace because it abounds to you! 
  
Father in heaven, today I humbly come before You. I surrender my heart, my will, mind and emotions to You. I ask that You pour out Your grace on me today and equip me for every good work. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. - Joel & Victoria Osteen