Your choice. God's invitation.

      In this past week I have written about listening and introspection as a means to avoid death. That is, an attitude perhaps but more like a malignancy of the mind that is exhibited in self righteous arrogance, lack of thought and being closed to the movement of the Spirit. You may not not physically die until you are 99 but for years before you will have lived a dangerous sad life of death. This is the grouchy old man, the old codger or the reminiscing grump who always has someone to blame for it not being 'the way it used to be'.

         Today's Scripture passage speaks of this and bolsters it by quoting the prophet Isaiah. God does know her people. There are certain things that do not change. If there were stiff necked people in the time of Isaiah why would it change now? I have called it a malignancy of the mind but it is all about people who do not want to listen to God. People who hear but don't listen and people who see but seem to be blind.  

        If the readings then today speak of anything it is of God's abundant love and the constant invitation to embrace the gifts of self as well as all of creation. The loving Creator/parent inviting us always to see, hear and love. It always comes down to the invitation and our free will. If you choose not to accept the challenge of love, the invitation of God's inheritance, then then invitation is open the someone else as well. 

        Your choice.  God's invitation.

Acts 28:23-31

 After they had fixed a day to meet him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: ‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, 
“Go to this people and say,
You will indeed listen, but never understand,
   and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
   and their ears are hard of hearing,
     and they have shut their eyes;
     so that they might not look with their eyes,
   and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
   and I would heal them.” 
Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’