Fly Birdie Fly!

Resending this story being in context with today’s Gospel reading…

Jesus said in John 15:5-6, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

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Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.

Months passed, and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, while the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly.

He presented the task to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch.

Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, “May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem.” So he cried out to his court, “Go and get a farmer. If this time it does not fly we shall shoot it down.”

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, “Bring me the doer of this miracle.”

The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king.

The king asked him, “How did you make the falcon fly?”

With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, “It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting.”

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In life we are all made to fly – we need to realize our incredible potential as human beings made in the image and likeness of God. But at times we sit on our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us viz. obscene movies, dramas, plays, books, drugs, alcoholism, etc. etc.

Let us learn to destroy the branch and free ourselves by seriously giving God priority in our lives in personal prayer, reading the Word of God, being a witness for Christ and do Our Father will. What is the point listening to 100s and 1000s of sermons, preachings and teachings, but are still sitting on the branch and not willing to fly for Jesus?

We have so much incredible potential on the inside. God has put gifts and talents in us that we probably don’t know anything about.

Today, let's get out of our comfort zone and...

Stay Blessed!