Today we hear the Gospel of the poor widow who only gave two coins to the treasury while everyone around her seemed to be giving much more. This theme can be seen in the Old Testament as well. If we look at the story of Cain and Abel we see that God is happy with Abel’s offering because he gave the most important part of his flock whereas Cain gave the minimum amount he was willing to offer.
These verses have me thinking about the biblical concept of stewardship. We have probably heard a million times that stewardship is not just about money but then we hear about the campaigns that both dioceses and parishes put on and so it is hard to separate the concepts.
I think a helpful way to think about stewardship is not to downplay the money aspect but instead to realize that everything is a gift. Think about it for a second, if you are taking your next breath, that means that God is actively thinking about you, holding you in existence, and allowing you to live your life to the full. If God stopped thinking about us for even a second we would cease to exist.
So whether it is money, our gifts and talents, services we provide, or just our presence, all things have been given to us as a gift to be shared. In St. John Paul II’s work, Theology of the Body, he speaks about the concept of the spousal meaning of the body. He talks about the idea that all of us have a spousal meaning to ourselves that essentially has two elements. The first is that we are made with intrinsic dignity in and of ourselves. The second is that we were made to give. In fact, the more we give the more we realize who we truly are.
This is true because we were made by a God who is pure gift. He grants us gifts and graces every day so that we might more fully realize who we are and how we are meant to serve and love our fellow man. The Gospel for today gets right to the heart of this matter. God does not have a checklist in heaven to see who is giving the most of their time, talent, and treasure. It is not a numbers game for Him. What He is concerned with is that we are giving our all and genuinely serving Him and those He has put into our lives.
Imagine a world where we all take the biblical principle of stewardship seriously and first realize how good we are and then from there realize our inner call to be a gift. My prayer for all of us today is that we can realize this and put it into action. Let’s be more like the poor widow who gives fully of what she has been given. Whether what we have to give is big or small, let’s give it our all.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
Have you ever been falsely accused and felt you did nothing to deserve the blame? In today’s Gospel, one criminal rebuked another, saying, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly…but this man has done nothing criminal.” What reaction do you have when faced with false accusations? Anger? Denial? Frustration? Hopelessness? Acceptance? In this Gospel, Jesus and the redeemed criminal provide a great example of how to handle adversity when a situation hits you hard.
Jesus was nearing the end of His time here on earth, yet He focused on saving one more soul before reuniting with the Father. This selfless act shows us that regardless of life’s circumstances, there will always be someone there to help us through. That Someone is Jesus Christ. The redeemed criminal knew he would be together with Jesus in heaven because of His words. Then he spent time in sacred silence, letting the love and mercy of God wash over him.
When do we experience sacred silence? We see several examples within the Mass. During the Penitential Act, we silently acknowledge our sins. Immediately after that, the Priest says, “Let us pray,” and the momentary silence serves as a doorway for us to speak to the Lord and for Him to fill us with His love and mercy. After the homily, we also take a moment of silence. I always ask the Lord to fill my heart and soul with the wisdom from the Gospel and the priest’s words.
Do you experience sacred silence in your daily life? How does it feel within you, and how do you accept it? Another example that comes to mind is sitting with Jesus in Adoration. When I spend an hour in silence it fills me with love, understanding, and a genuine connection with Him. I realize, though, that many times I miss the opportunity for silence and quickly move on to the next action I need to take.
Sacred silence is there when I realize that Jesus is always present, no matter what. He wants to tell me it will be alright, and to rely on Him and His will. It is when our hearts are united with His in a moment of pure love and there’s a peace that fills us. We cannot go wrong when we choose to spend time in sacred silence.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
When it’s all said and done, the vast majority of all human hang ups, concerns, rules, and boundaries will pass away. The structures for governing society, social norms, and even morality itself, will no longer be needed when we arrive in the heavenly Jerusalem. Here on earth, we are limited human beings, broken by sin and inclined to go against God’s will in service of lesser goods. We seek after power, prestige, wealth, and pleasure rather than love of God and love of neighbor.
In today’s Gospel, the Sadducees come to Jesus with a very human, earthly focused question about the “rules” of heaven. They are taking human logic and trying to apply it to heavenly realities. The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, so they have come up with a ridiculous situation of a woman in heaven with seven husbands. They contest that the functions and realities of the present society will continue in heaven and ask whose wife she will be.
Jesus explains that they do not understand what’s really going on here. When the resurrection happens, all things will be made new in ways we cannot understand. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, where human laws and societal norms are no longer needed. We will be restored to perfection in God’s perfect will for humanity. We will experience a new, perfect, freedom in the resurrection. Even our relationships will be transformed and perfected. After all, what is the point of marriage here on earth?
The Catechism tells us: “‘By reason of their state in life and of their order, [Christian spouses] have their own special gifts in the People of God.’ This grace proper to the sacrament of Matrimony is intended to perfect the couple’s love and to strengthen their indissoluble unity. By this grace they ‘help one another attain holiness in their married life and in welcoming and educating their children.’” (1641).
The first point of the Sacrament of Marriage is holiness. Holiness has many definitions, but one of the simplest is to be close to God here on earth so that we can remain close to Him in heaven. That’s the goal and what all married couples ought to discern before their marriage and throughout their marriage. Will this person who I am choosing to spend my life with help me get to heaven and will I help them get to heaven?
God intended humanity for relationship, we can see this in the first chapters of Genesis. What these relationships will look like in a resurrected state of being, we do not know. But, we can trust that God, who is the Creator of all things, will be able to handle, transform, and perfect whatever relationships we have had on earth into new and glorified heavenly realities.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
“Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things…” Most of us are familiar with this Gospel passage. It’s often used to point out that the Christian response to others is not always soft words, but sometimes righteous anger. Yet what is it really about and how does it relate to us?
I read a reflection once about this passage right before Christ drove the sellers out of the Temple: He braided a whip in preparation. Braiding a whip out of leather cords can take hours. Christ’s effort makes it clear that He prepared to cleanse the Temple. This was not an outburst of rage, nor a particularly bad day for Him. This was true justice in action.
What is justice? Is it taking out our anger on whoever is frustrating us? No, of course not. Perhaps we are rightfully angry with someone else for what they’ve done against us or others, or even against God. Perhaps it is in everyone’s best interest to share a few stern words in private. But no matter the circumstance, we are called to virtue, and that looks different in different situations, as Christ shows us here.
We know that He is the Man of perfect virtue. And justice is the virtue of giving to God and to others what they are owed. We owe God reverence, respect, obedience, and worship, to name a few. And we owe others charity, honesty, generosity, prudence, and so on.
The Temple was the Jews’ primary place of worship. In obedience to Old Testament laws, faithful Jews offered animal sacrifices when praying at the Temple – giving God His due. But the sellers here are deliberately taking advantage of those laws to make a profit. We know this because Christ condemns them as a “den of thieves.” Far, far worse than that, they are desecrating the Temple, stabling their smelly wares inside the sanctified walls of God’s holy house. Christ’s righteous anger is an act of restorative justice that amends the wrongs committed against God and others (the faithful Jews).
Our worship as Catholics today looks very different from that of ancient Judaism. Yet like the Jews, we also ought to give God and others what they are owed. The call of today’s Gospel is to turn inward to the temple of our God-given souls. Are you consistently giving God and others their due? Or is there an internal cleansing that needs to take place?
Take a few minutes out of your day and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the ways you have practiced justice toward God and others, and the ways you have fallen short. Then, take up the cords along with Christ, and accompany Him in the spiritual cleaning of your heart. The cords are painful, but they are also fruitful: we are restoring virtue and ultimately restoring our relationships with God and others.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
Way back in 1971, there was a TV movie called “The Homecoming: A Christmas Story.” It introduced the world to the Depression-era Walton family, which became a TV series a year or so later. One scene from the original movie always stuck with me: The Walton kids were teaching younger kids Bible verses at a Christmas Eve service, and those children would then recite the verses in order to receive a Christmas present. One Walton girl was feeding verses to a little boy, who would say, “That’s too long” or “I can’t remember that.” Finally, exasperated, the Walton daughter told the boy, “Jesus wept.” He ran to the minister, said those two words and happily accepted his gift.
Scripture tells us three times that Jesus shed tears. Hebrews Chapter 5 says, “In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.”
In Chapter 11 of the Gospel of John, Jesus goes to raise Lazarus from the dead, and we are told, “When Jesus saw (Mary) weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Sir, come and see.’ And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him.’”
Today’s Gospel, from Luke Chapter 19, gives us the third mention, during or just after his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: “As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
Jesus’ tears are because of His great love for those He loves, for those He came to save but reject His message, for the suffering that He must endure because of our sinfulness. I always think of that: Jesus came to suffer and die for me. Thanks be to God, but I’m the one who sinned in the first place that made it necessary. Jesus died for me, but Jesus also died because of me.
Are we still out here not recognizing the time of our visitation? Are we like the Jews in our first reading from Maccabees, sacrificing on the altar of our modern-day apostasies? Or are we like Mattathias when he invited others to follow the Lord saying, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow after me!”?
Today’s readings make it a good day to ask God for the grace we need to have zeal for Him and His law, for His love and His truth, and for the role He has for us. May we not cause Him more tears, but rather love Him and serve Him in this life so that we can be with Him in true, unending joy in the life to come.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
Today’s Gospel reading may strike us as the way we are called to live as Christians. We have been given many things from God: gifts, talents, intellect, family; and we are to use them to build up the Kingdom. We build our talents through education, practice, and action. We are not to hide them or keep them to ourselves out of fear or selfishness. And this is good and clear thinking on our part. But what about the fact that the king in the story punishes the man who does nothing with his coin and then slays those who do not want him as their king? Can you imagine Jesus killing someone who opposes him? I cannot.
Jesus tells this parable on the way to Jerusalem, where he knows what will happen to Him and he knows who will kill Him. Those who reject and ultimately kill Jesus choose their own death. To choose Christ is to choose life, eternal life in heaven with God, Mary, and all the saints of heaven. To reject God’s mercy is to choose death. To reject Jesus is to reject salvation.
Jesus wants to tell the people that they have a decision to make. Who will they decide they want to follow? Will they follow Him and believe he is the Messiah, will they deny Him, or will they do nothing? In my study of Scripture, especially regarding the words of Jesus, doing nothing seems to be the wrong choice. What do you think? If you agree that doing nothing is not what Jesus wants then we must do something with what we have been given. As Christians, that something needs to be for Christ and building up the Kingdom.
Today, take an inventory. List all your gifts, as many as you can think of, from your great smile to your wonderful family to your ability to listen well. Then, write down how you can use them for others. And by others I do not only mean strangers or those with extraordinary needs. It means the people right in front of you – your family, friends, co-workers. The children who need diaper changes and meals, the parent who needs help going to the doctor, the co-worker who needs a tech assist.
We do not have to go anywhere or look very far to find people to love and serve with the same love Jesus gives us. Take care of the people in front of you. That is how we multiply our coins. Someday you may be called to serve in a faraway place or a new ministry, but when we are faithful to the seemingly small or very ordinary life in front of us, we grow into faithful followers who can make bold decisions for Jesus.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
Forty years ago I underwent a simple out-patient procedure: metatarsal surgery. It was simple, that is, until I had a stroke the evening of the surgery. Eleven days later I was still in the hospital struggling to walk, eat, and talk. The confusion of those first weeks was only the beginning of the quiet desperation of years of rehabilitation, which flowed into a mighty struggle to uncover my fear of God’s power over my life. I have to continue surrendering, trusting that this was and still is a moment of a grace for me through which God gathered the direction of my life toward Himself forever.
With the stroke, God took me from the outside to the inside, from the surface to the deep, from the visible to the invisible, from ambition to powerlessness, from earth to heaven, from complacency to a wrestling with Him, from healing to more healing to more brokenness to even deeper healing. It is kind of like Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus had his life all figured out. He knew who he was, what he wanted, what he had, and what he could get when he needed it. On the surface, he lived in a complacency that isolated him from others in the village who were full of excitement at the arrival of Jesus. Stories were swirling around about how Jesus freed people from demonic possession, cured the lame, blind, mute, deaf and lepers, and asked repentant sinners to follow Him. There was something more to Jesus than the ordinary roving teacher. But Zacchaeus didn’t need any of that. He was fine the way he was. But he was just a little bit curious, and that curiosity sent him up the tree to stake out a spot as an observer, and an observer only.
That was me. No, I’m not short and I certainly don’t climb trees. But at twenty-one, I thought I had my life all figured out. I didn’t know that I needed healing, that I needed Jesus to make a decisive intervention in my life, that I needed my expectations and strategies upended and the rug ripped out from under me, as Jesus so mercifully did for Zacchaeus.
“[T]oday I must stay at your house.”
Friends, when Jesus calls you out of the tree, when He moves you from the efficiency of your planned out life, when He intervenes with a grace-filled but often painful stroke of mercy, climb out of that tree with Zacchaeus. Commit yourself to this new and deepening relationship that Jesus is initiating. Bring the Master into the areas of your life that are the most broken, and let Him change you forever.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
What is something you would love to see right now? The coral reefs of Fiji, outer space, or the colors outside our visual spectrum? What about a loved one or your best friend from college?
The human experience is saturated with beauty because it is saturated with God, who is infinitely beautiful. Imagine being in the dark and unable to see God’s craftsmanship. How devastating! The blind man in today’s Gospel missed out on all of these human delights and so much more. He was looked down upon as a beggar. As a blind person sitting on the side of the road, he didn’t know the dignity of work, and perhaps he had no one to care for him. Furthermore, the fact that he was scolded for making himself known signals that he likely lived a lonely and isolated life.
To the people of Jericho, the blind man was a poor nobody, but they didn’t see his gift of faith. He had nothing to lose by calling out to Jesus, the Son of David, because he knew Him, and to Jesus, the blind man was worth dying for. And so are we.
Jericho is a city of God’s victory where walls fall down and the blind see. God meets each one of us in our own Jericho to claim victory over the sin and death within us. He comes to tear down our walls and give us sight that we may clearly see the beauty of His face that shines upon us. Imagine Jesus’s face being the first thing you’ve ever seen. Let our prayer echo the blind man, “Lord, please let me see.” May the Lord let his face shine upon you. That’s enough beauty to last a lifetime.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
The readings this Sunday are full of difficult images: a day blazing like an oven that will turn evildoers into stubble, the Lord coming to rule with justice, the destruction of the Temple, wars and earthquakes and plagues, persecution of those who follow Jesus, mighty signs from the sky…
Jesus does not promise His followers an alternate way; in fact, He assures them that difficulties will come. But in this sobering message of disasters and betrayal, Jesus gives a profound message of hope: “Do not be terrified… Not a hair of your head will perish. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” He speaks of perseverance through difficulty, not a secret path around it. This is not blind optimism but true Christian hope, which is not rooted in circumstances, but in God’s enduring faithfulness to His people and His promises.
Hope, in the Christian sense, is much more than wishing for a better future. It is the confident expectation that, despite suffering and uncertainty, God is with us and His promises will be fulfilled. Jesus does not sugarcoat reality or fluff over the very real difficulties of life; He prepares us to face it with His help. When everything around us seems to fall apart, He calls us to stand firm, not because we can rely on our own strength, but because we are anchored firmly in Him.
We are called to rely fully on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, even to the point of trusting that we will be given wisdom and words to defend the faith, without our own preparation, because He Himself will speak through us in moments of trial and persecution. Again, this is not an irresponsible wishfulness, but must come from the hope that is firmly anchored in Christ.
As Catholics, our hope is nourished through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. When we receive Christ, we are reminded that He has already conquered sin and death. Our hope is not that we will be spared suffering, but that suffering will never have the final word, and will never overcome us completely. Christ has overcome the world.
In times of fear, chaos, or discouragement, we are encouraged to lift our eyes and cling more firmly to Christ. Everything around us, even the most important to us, even the human institutions on which we have come to rely can fall. But God remains. His Word endures. And His love sustains us.
Let us be people of hope, not because life as Christians is easy, but because we know Who holds the future. Jesus says, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” May we persevere in faith, knowing that our hope in Christ will never be in vain.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus
“Why, Lord?” I cried as I sat in the van outside my doctor’s office and begged Him again for healing. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and my soul screamed in anguish within me. I had suffered so long and had prayed and pursued many promising avenues of healing with little or no relief. I was exhausted and on the verge, once again, of giving up hope. It was all I could do to muffle my cries and calm myself before opening the car door and walking through the parking lot to the entrance of the building.
Today’s Gospel feels challenging to me. Sometimes I feel like the widow continuously begging the judge for an answer, but I am the one being worn down by the delay. Jesus probes, for the purpose of encouraging His followers to persevere in prayer with hope, “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.”
This parable and Jesus’ explanation can feel like a slap in the face. Where is my answer? Is God going to do anything to help me? What I have learned over the years of waiting is that, yes, God absolutely hears us and that, though answers often seem slow in coming, He actually sets to work immediately. However, His work, especially in the early stages, is most often hidden.
God’s timing is rarely quick, but it is not delayed either. It is slow and deep. His goal is not to “fix” us, as if we are broken-down machines, but to heal us and bring us to wholeness in Him. That work cannot be rushed if it is to be effective.
I recently saw a quote from C.S. Lewis on Facebook: “I am sure that God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait” (Mere Christianity). In addition, one of my favorite shirts boasts the message, “In the waiting, God is working.” When God makes us wait, there is a reason for it. He is orchestrating something amazing behind the scenes.
Waiting frequently comes with a feeling of hopelessness as we continue to experience unrelenting difficulty. It takes great faith to wait on the Lord and to continue to hope in Him when all feels hopeless, knowing that He is working even when we don’t see it. As the sun, hidden below the horizon, is there even though we don’t see it, so can we be certain of God’s help, even when there is no evidence of it. Let us wait on the Lord in hope and faith as we persevere in prayer.
Daily Reading
Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Reading I Isaiah 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and…
Saint of the Day
St. John of Damascus
St. John of Damascus
Feast date: Dec 04
Catholics remember and celebrate the life of the great Arab Church Father St. John of Damascus on Dec. 4.Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint’s feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church.Among Eastern Christians, St. John (676-749) is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. While the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still united during St. John’s life, the Byzantine Emperor Leo III broke radically from the ancient tradition of the church, charging that the veneration of Christian icons was a form of idolatry.John had grown up under Muslim rule in Damascus, as the child of strongly Christian parents. His excellent education – particularly in theology – prepared him well to defend the tradition of sacred iconography, against the heresy of the “iconoclasts,” so-called because they would enter churches and destroy the images therein.During the 720s, the upstart theologian began publicly opposing the emperor’s command against sacred images in a series of writings. The heart of his argument was twofold: first, that Christians did not actually worship images, but rather, through them they worshiped God, and honored the memory of the saints. Second, he asserted that by taking an incarnate physical form, Christ had given warrant to the Church’s depiction of him in images.By 730, the young public official’s persistent defense of Christian artwork had made him a permanent enemy of the emperor, who had a letter forged in John’s name offering to betray the Muslim government of Damascus. The ruling caliph of the city, taken in by the forgery, is said to have cut off John’s hand. The saint’s sole surviving biography states that the Virgin Mary acted to restore it miraculously. John eventually managed to convince the Muslim ruler of his innocence, before making the decision to become a monk and later a priest.Although a number of imperially-convened synods condemned John’s advocacy of Christian iconography, the Roman church always regarded his position as a defense of apostolic tradition. Years after the priest and monk died, the Seventh Ecumenical Council vindicated his orthodoxy, and ensured the permanent place of holy images in both Eastern and Western Christian piety.St. John of Damascus’ other notable achievements include the “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” a work in which he systematized the earlier Greek Fathers’ thinking about theological truths in light of philosophy. The work exerted a profound influence on St. Thomas Aquinas and subsequent scholastic theologians. Centuries later, St. John’s sermons on the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven were cited in Pope Pius XII’s dogmatic definition on the subject.The saint also contributed as an author and editor, to some of the liturgical hymns and poetry that Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics still use in their celebrations of the liturgy.“Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.” – Saint John of Damascus