W.I.S.E. Bible Study

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 On the eve of two holy days for the church: All Saints and All Souls, I think it is helpful to remember that death is conquered in Christ. That is where hope is to be found. I think of carved pumpkins and the light shining through. The light of Christ reminds us not to be afraid of darkness or death, as the light leads the way. Take time this weekend to pray for those who have gone before us. Perhaps as you light your pumpkin candles, light them with the names of loved ones, praying for them on the path…  

  “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 Each of us have little quirks. I know I do. However, growing in love, bearing with one another means that we begin to cherish the quirks, and we don’t try to change them. My classrooms have been noisy as students work on skits and projects. I say to myself, “Isn’t it great they can laugh in a scripture or church history class?" Humility is a quality I strive for but have to remind myself daily and do a self check to make sure in moments I am humble. Gentleness is a lost art and something that needs to be revived as a characteristic of a person. Today, think about how you are humble and gentle, remember to be patient with those people that rub you the wrong way. Even be patient with yourself. Whether you are not healing fast enough, not carrying out the things you want or whatever the circumstances are, be patient. Mostly though, let’s bear each other in love today on the path…

  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 These three things: joyful, patient, faithful…hope, affliction, and prayer. It sounds easy to be joyful in hope, yet there are times when hope is hard to find. Hope is the patience in affliction, believing that this too shall pass as God walks you, cradles you at times and carries you other times. Hope is being faithful in prayer, believing that your prayer is being heard. Prayer is a conversation with the one we love, so be faithful by talking to God and it is in the conversation you will find hope. If you have these, you have joy on the path…

  “ Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33 My students are learning about discernment. They watched a video by Fr. Mike Schmitz on the subject. I was happy that many of the students liked and mentioned this quote in their discussion. “Something might be right, but is it a right fit for my life right now?”   We have many right and good things to choose from in this world. Opportunities that come our way can often be very good, even fantastic. Yet, discernment means we pause and ask: Is it the right fit for my life now? Many times, I have been confronted by this decision and trusted that if I walk in obedience, it was not the path for me at that time, no matter how inviting the prospect was. This evening, think of your opportunities and ask yourself if they lead you to walk obediently with God and if they are the right fit ...

  “ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29 As the weather cools, and different illnesses seem to be spreading, I find it helpful to remember that God will give us strength through our weariness and our weakness. At school we are in our second quarter. It can be difficult to stay focus and on task. As a teacher, it is also a moment of trying to catch one's breath and pace oneself. My mind wanders and wants to look ahead to Thanksgiving break and the end of the semester in December. Yet, one must remain present in the hear and now. I’m a planner and checklist maker, but recently, I have decided to ignore the checklist and flow with the day. My hope is to really be present to those I love and meet on the path…

“ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…” Matthew 6:25-34 The above scripture passage, is the passage read at our wedding. When I told the priest that is the passage I wanted, he remarked that it wasn’t one to choose from in the marriage planning handbook. I told him I wanted the passage to remind us that we should not worry if God was with us we could get through anything. He allowed the passage, and 42 years later…(actually 43 as we had planned and chose the reading before our wedding,) I still remember it and remind myself of it. I am thankful that we didn’t worry about how each of us was maturing and growing…we met at 17…I was grateful that we didn’t worry about the little things and the big things, but could always walk with God as we continue to journey together. The fiat of marriage is “for richer, poor, in sickness and in health”..and always in God, with God and together with God on the path… to me that is the sacrament..and is reflected in the couple we contin...

  But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to abandon you, to turn back from following after you. Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do this to me and more so if even death separates me from you.’” Ruth 1:16-17 Ruth shows what undying love looks like. It is one of my all-time favorite passages. “Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay.” Married love should mirror these passages. To my husband I have pledged this. I have had to, at time reprioritize my life in order to live this out. It is worth it. This kind of love isn’t easy as day to day living with someone can be difficult. Yet having honest and open communication, reminding that person of why you decided to follow and go where they go, etc. is important. It is important not to take a person for granted. Growing old together means growing with a person, e...