What Are My Priorities?

“Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.”

Matthew 8:34

When Jesus did the people a favor by driving the demons out and into pigs, the people were unhappy and asked Him to leave. Instead of rejoicing that evil has been driven out the people were worried and upset over losing pigs, which probably did cost them some money and food. What are the priorities here?

What are the priorities in your life? For the people in the Gospel passage material wealth was more important than their spiritual and overall well being. They would rather have had demons among them than to have lost some profits. If we have our priorities out of order our lives will also be out of sorts. This is an invitation to evaluate your priorities. Where does God stand in our lives?  You are first in God’s list.  How about you?

In Times of Trouble

“They came and woke him, saying,

‘Lord, save us!  We are perishing!’

He said to them,

‘Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?’”

Matthew 8:25-26

Who do we turn to in times of trouble? Do we turn inward and drive ourselves into corners? When hardships and difficulties come our way, what do we do? Do we turn to drugs or alcohol? Who do we call out to? When the Apostles were at sea with the Lord, a storm came about and it frightened them. The winds were blowing and the seas were roaring, and yet the Lord was peacefully resting. The Apostles had thought that the Lord had forgotten them and no longer cared for them, but He was right there with them. Would He – could He watch them drown and die? Their faith was weak and allowed the storm on the sea as well as the storms in their hearts to take over, putting them into a state of panic.

When the circumstances of our lives grow shaky and uncertain, do we turn to the Lord? Do we anchor ourselves in Jesus? There is no fear, no situation, no problem, no storm too big or strong for the Lord. Just as Jesus was with the Apostles on that boat, Jesus remains with us even through the most difficult times of our lives. In times of trouble may we cry out, “Jesus, I trust in You! Lord, save me and strengthen me!” and may our unwavering faith bring us safely to shore with Jesus as our captain.

The Importance of Identity

“He said to them,

‘But who do you say that I am?’

Simon Peter said in reply,

‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

Matthew 16:15-16

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

One’s identity is crucial. It sort of dictates what we do, how we act, and what we believe. So when Jesus asks His disciples who the people say that He is, He further asks, “But who do YOU say that I am?”  Jesus wanted to know who they, His followers, know Him to be. Peter said that He is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” By making that confession, Peter was saying that He knows Jesus and He believes in Him and in the One who sent Him. From knowing Jesus’ identity, Peter came to know His own.

Jesus asks you today, “Who do you say that I am?  Who am I to you?” How you answer this question will determine your own identity. The answer here is not that He is the Son of God or the Second Person of the Trinity – both of which are correct, but rather who is Jesus to you?  Do you know Him or do you only know of and about Him? We need to know the answer to Jesus’ question because our life depends on it. Is Jesus my Savior and my brother or is He a God that is up there in heaven that is far away from me?  For me, Jesus is my Savior and my brother, my sustainer and my redeemer, my all in all.  And in knowing that I know who I am before God – a beloved son. How about you? Jesus asks you today, “Who am I to you?”