After a particularly long day I was looking forward to a good nights sleep. God wakes me up in the middle of the night and wants me to pray and be with him. Upset, I say to God, "What are you thinking. I just had a big day and I have another one tomorrow and here you are waking me up in the middle of the night. Can't you just let me get some sleep so I won't be dragging? Why are you doing this to me?" This scenario is kind of a love/hate thing with me and it is happening more often in my life. There is nothing I love better than being with Jesus but on the physical level I like getting enough sleep.

God told Israel that kings would stem from them because of God. God wakes me up in the middle of the night to offer me more. What will stem from my spending time with him?

Ever been hurt by someone? Betrayed, used, abused or crushed by someone in a deep way? Have you been able to forgive or, at least, work on that? The truth is "I" cannot forgive. But Jesus, through my one hundred percent consent, can forgive through me. At each mass we remember he is the Lamb of God who takes away all the sins of the world. Every sin there ever was or will be is covered by the Precious Blood of Jesus. If we know Jesus and spend time him, we will know that the power of his Precious Blood is greater than the power of all sin. Yes, in the Old Testament kings will stem from God for the good of Israel and forgiveness that forgives all will stem from Jesus through us if we consent to it.

Just what all stems from Jesus? Take some time journaling about that. What does he offer, what does he give? What have you consented to with all that he has offered you? When is he not offering? What have you actively refused that he has offered?

Many times we are just not awake to what he has offered. We don't think about, remember, believe and open ourselves to his offering and what he wants to stem through us. I pray that God will wake us up. Not just physically wake us up in the middle of the night to bestow his offering upon us (although I pray for that if that is part of his plan) but, most importantly, spiritually. May we come to believe, i.e. BE-LIVING, all that he is offering us.

Let us pray, "Jesus, stem through me! Amen"

Blessed by the BEST,

+Fr. John