Holy Spirit, help me gather, not scatter ...

​Luke 11:14-23 

‘Divide and conquer’ has been the mantra of the forces of power and control for millennia. As Jesus pointed out, a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. It doesn’t work. Unfortunately the powers of wealth and prestige in order to promote their own agendas,  do always divide kingdoms, communities, work places, families and indeed individuals in their hearts.  Humanity is designed by God for unity and solidarity, to solve problems together, and to work together to bring about the common good of purity and purpose. Human actions and conversations need to be, more than anything else, rooted and grounded in the holiness – the whole-ness – of God’s ‘kingdom’, that embraces all Truth in love. As much as I allow pride, envy, greed, etcetera to dictate my time, treasure and talents, I will promote the agendas of power and prestige, and will create divisions between others driving human kind from God.  As much as I embrace the truth and do – and say - things with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, kindness, generosity and self-control I gather, with Jesus, the hearts, minds and souls of others into the arms of God, into his kingdom.  Will I scatter people, or gather others into God’s way of love and truth?  Holy Spirit, help me gather, not scatter.
  
O that today you would listen to His voice!     (Psalm 95)
 
Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer [disengages] anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit and raises a person to heaven.
St. Ephrem
 
Soli ad gloriam
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