Where's Your Loyalty

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Where’s Our Loyalty”

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

“If it is displeasing to you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve.”

 (Jos 24:15).  Joshua poses this demanding question to all the Israelites gathered at Shechem many years after they had entered the promised land. The people responded,  “We will serve the Lord, our God, and will listen to his voice.” (Jos 24:24) Today as we listen to this scripture passage, we are asked the same question basically, “Where’s your loyalty.” And what is our response?

No generation has had an easy time answering this question. Life has always been hard. Finding God in the midst of all that life presents challenges all of us and eludes even those who strive to do so. Who is God? What is my relationship with God? What is my purpose in life? What does the Almighty ask of me so that I can answer this question honestly and with resolve? These thoughtful questions are ones people have been asking themselves throughout the ages; questions, perhaps, we have been asking ourselves too over the course of our spiritual journey. 

I find it helpful to reflect on a passage from St. John’s gospel to get a better understanding on “how to” serve God in the way that God desires. It is the passage where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and when he has finished, he asked them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?” Not certain how they, the apostles, should respond, Jesus continues… “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do”. (John 13:15)

Jesus, ever the teacher, gives us throughout His ministry a very simple example of how we are to serve the Lord, Our God… by placing ourselves at the service of one another. That’s the true measure of our loyalty to God ways. St. Paul gives us some further guidance when he instructs the Corinthians, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ”. (1COR 11:1)  Imitation is the greatest form of loyalty there is, seeking to imitate Jesus, our role model.

This question about deciding whom we should serve is so very important today. There are many activities competing for our time, our attention, money, and loyalty. Our own individual choices we make in pursuit of happiness and the lure of the myriad of technological advances that fill every waking hour leave very little time for crucial activities such as spending quality family time together, engaging in meaningful reflection, finding time for solitude and reflection…

Scripture asks us today to decide, “Whom we will serve. May God’s grace lead us so we may come to know, love, and serve Him in this life in order to share eternal life with Him and in the life to come.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Decision Time

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Decision Time.”

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Not surprisingly, the Wisdom passage we read today gives us good, sound advice, a “word to the wise”, you might say. It tells us, “to forsake foolishness that you may live” and “to advance in the way of understanding”. Surely this is practical advice, yet easier said than done! St. Paul carries this theme even further in his letter to the Ephesians telling them, “to watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons, but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil”.

Scripture often portrays this theme that there are two very different approaches to life. On one hand, we have the way of the wise and virtuous person who chooses to do what is right and just. The other is the way of the fool, whose life is anything but virtuous. The author of this wisdom passage encourages us to choose wisely and make the most of the opportunity we have been given. 

Wisdom, we are told, enables us to grow in understanding so that we make the most of every opportunity. What a thought! Choices lead to results that have good or bad outcomes. In other words, Wisdom holds the secret to the quality of our life. Good decisions, good outcomes, good life. Bad choices... we know too well, from our own experiences, perhaps, where that path leads, don’t we?

Many today complain that our world is troubled and they fear that it will get worse. We have problems, to be sure. But fear and worry will do little to change that. On the other hand, Wisdom invites us today to embrace her and follow her advice to make most of the opportunity that we have been given. What opportunity? The opportunity, “to live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received”. (Eph 4:1) Yes, we live in troubled times; yes, there are plenty of problems, so much divisiveness, and the lack of civility. How are we to respond? By relying on Wisdom to lead us through these troubled waters and direct our efforts so we can help make this world a better place and advance the Kingdom of God on earth.

Scripture proclaims a “word to the wise” today. May God give us the grace and the wisdom to listen.

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

Help For Troubled Hearts And Minds

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Help For Troubled Heart And Minds”

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Today’s Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 34 which encourages us to “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord”. Is this just a nice little expression, or is the psalmist serious…? Can we really taste and see God’s goodness? I’m willing to bet that if you are reading this article you probably have a number of such experiences where God’s presence is so real you can feel it.  As we listen to the 6th chapter of John’s gospel this summer, we Catholic have this wonderful opportunity to reflect upon this essential teaching of our faith that maintains Christ makes Himself present to us in the Eucharist. We call this experience the "Real Presence". We really can taste and see God’s presence and experience Him within our being. How remarkable is this! Yet, sadly, I am afraid that our minds are on other matters as we come forward to receive Christ fully present in the Eucharist. It’s understandable... I get it! People are busy; they have their minds cluttered with things to do, places to go; they have problems at work, at home, with the in-laws, with their kids. O Lord, are we distracted!!!

I recall one of the early lessons in my life, the one about problem solving. It goes like this, “The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that you have one”. It sounds simple, doesn’t it? And, you’re right; it is, at first glance. How many people do we know who aren’t dealing with their problems because they refuse to recognize them? And the most likely reason is because they don’t know where to turn, where to find help.

The psalmist today tells us where we can find help. Here, at the table of the Lord is where we find the solution to all of life’s challenges and difficulties. For if we are able to center our lives around this physically, emotionally, and spiritually complete meal, we will have the strength, courage, and mindset that will allow us to face our problem and find solutions to them.

The reason for this is simple: once we get our relationship with the Son of God on proper footing, we will then in turn be able to get all of our relationships on a solid basis also. Once the Eucharist becomes our staple meal, and the indwelling of the Spirit is effectuated in us, we are able to confront our problems with a new strength and awareness that leads us to new solutions.

These few words from today’s readings provide immense insight into God’s overwhelming love for us. His desire is for our complete happiness and for our fulfilling our destiny of being One with Him forever. The Eucharist truly allows us to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. With our eyes wide open by this sacred meal we are able to see God’s goodness in the many kind acts we see around us…in the beauty of the next flower we see or the next full moon. Look into the eyes of a child or a young woman planning her wedding. Look in the mirror! The psalmist tells us to stop for a moment and take in the goodness of the Lord that surrounds us…. Don’t miss out on it! If we do, it’s because, like Martha perhaps, our hearts and minds are in the wrong place and so we miss out on God’s presence in everything and everyone around us.

What does God’s goodness taste like? It tastes like the feeling you get when someone says “I love you” or “your forgiven” or when you wake up energized and refreshed from a good night’s sleep and are greeted by the sunrise. God’s goodness lingers within us and moves us in a way that only grace can or like that special person in our life who can get our spirits to soar. 

We taste and see the goodness of the Lord most clearly, of course, in the Eucharist, food for the hungry and sight for sore eyes. 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom