Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A - The Language of God_081323

Deacon Tom Writes,

The Language of God

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Elijah is awestruck to realize that God presented himself in the “tiny whispering sound.” After hearing this sound Elijah “hid his face in his cloak.” Perhaps this is why so many of us struggle with our spirituality today. It is so difficult for us to find quiet space and idle time in our busy lives. We have so much coming at us during our waking hours. We feel “bombarded at times. Technology has delivered so many devices to entertain us 24/7. There is no “free” time; there is no shortage of things to do. More than ever before, we have to make a conscious decision to seek out a quiet place and set ourselves apart from the rapid pace of life. I don’t see any other way of being able to hear that “tiny whispering sound” through which God reaches out to us so he can be a part of our lives. We have to make a conscious decision to let him into our lives. 

In his autobiography, Seven Story Mountain, Thomas Merton tells how he was able to find true freedom not in the world but rather within the confines of the four walls of a monastic cell. It was there in the silence of the Trappist Monastery that he experienced the “tiny whispering sound” that enabled him to find himself and to find God. 

Now we all aren’t as fortunate as Thomas Merton to be able to head off to the solitude of a Cistercian Monastery. But, as fate would have it, Covid-19 has caused us to break out of our daily routine and subject ourselves to a self-imposed isolation to various degrees. This is our chance to imitate Merton in finding that quiet place and setting aside some of that freed up time to hear the “tiny whispering sound” of God piercing through the din of the world to make his presence known to us. For it is only in this silence, this strange language of God, that we are able to hear his voice. 

God bless and keep you always!

Deacon Tom 

Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacs engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those thinking of coming into or leaving it.

 

OTHER RESOURCE

 

Recommended Reading: American Catholics: A History of the Roman Catholic Community in the United States by James Hennesey, S.J. Written by one of the foremost historians of American Catholicism, this book presents a comprehensive history of the Roman Catholic Church in America from colonial times to the present. Hennesey examines, in particular, minority Catholics and developments in the western part of the United States, a region often overlooked in religious histories.

 

 

Recommended YouTube Video: Catholics in America by Ryan Reeves Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Here he gives a brief summary of the Catholic experience in the early days of America.

 

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Three Ingredients for a Happy Life_080722

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Three Ingredients for a Happy Life”

 

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The readings today give us a practical guide to good living. First, there’s the matter of faith. You need it! Without it there is nowhere to turn, no one to trust, no shelter from the storms and rocky roads of life. Like the ancient people that God called out of bondage in Egypt, we need faith to get us through the hardships and the adversities we all experience at one or more times in our lives. Let’s face it, we’re fine as long as things are going our way. We enjoy the good times, the happy moments when we celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings and anniversaries. We delight when we are successful in moving up the corporate ladder and get the big promotion. But those days of disappointment when things don’t work our right, when relationships fall apart or end, when we lose loved ones, that’s when faith, if we have fostered and nourished it, enables us to endure and eventually to heal. Faith, a faith built upon a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus, is a lifelong friend and companion, that enables us to live life to the fullest, in good times and in bad.

The Responsorial Psalm provides the second ingredient to a happy life inviting us to recognize the blessings we have received and to give thanks and praise to God. He has called us into an intimate relationship with him to share in his love and goodness. In doing so he fills the deepest longings and desires of our hearts that helps us grow in faith in him and trust in his works.

The gospel completes the list of essentials reminding us of what we should bring into this relationship, namely…. attentiveness and faithfulness. God requires that we be diligent servants… Always mindful of what the master wants done; always faithful to do what is required.

Some say that life is a mystery and there is a lot of truth in that statement. The same can be said about faith. There is a mysterious element to it that awakens our need to praise and give thanks to God, and moves us to be faithful and attentive servants. Like essential nutrients, these ingredients aid us in living good spiritual lives. They enable us to give mature and effective witness to the world that we are Disciples of Christ.

Jesus knows how difficult it will be to live according to the high standards He has set. So, once again He reassures us and tells not to be afraid. Words to comfort us and encourage us to persevere in our efforts to live good lives of faithfulness, praise and service.


Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Visit my Blog at: www.deacontomwrites.blogspot.com

And tune into the www.deaconspod.com to hear a contemporary Catholic conversation exploring the treasures our faith has to offer.

Recommended Reading: A Sunlit Absence by Fr. Martin Laird O.S.A. takes us into the world of contemplative prayer in his second of three books on Contemplation.

Recommended Podcast: The Commonweal Magazine Podcast presents engaging conversations at the intersection of politics, religion, and culture: