“Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture…” The Lord sends us all a wake up call with the readings this week. First we hear from Jeremiah as he informs his listeners of the Lord’s faithfulness to his flock. Jeremiah warns the “bad shepherds” of the time by letting them know that the Good Shepherd is coming and the Good Shepherd will gather his flock and lead them to green pastures, as we read in the Psalms. In the Gospel, we hear about the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. And as the Good Shepherd, Jesus does not leave his flock when they need Him. He puts their needs before His own.
The Disciples had returned from their long journeys. They were tired and hungry. They were looking for a quiet place to rest when the crowds came to them. It is in this moment that Jesus taught his Disciples (and continues to teach us today) a valuable lesson. There are times when we want to take a break from ministry. We each have our own unique mission in life that the Lord calls us to—some are called to ministry by serving the sick as a doctor or a nurse. Others are called to educate as parents and teachers. Still others are called to provide jobs and financial support for people in the business world. However “ministry” takes shape in our lives, it can become tiresome. We grow weary and sometimes we would love to find a quiet place to rest. Jesus teaches us that even in those times, it is important to see the needs of others and give of ourselves even more.
While it is very important to find time for retreat, relaxation, and rest (even Jesus found time to go off by himself to pray) Jesus calls us to give ourselves to the service of others and when we feel like we cannot give anymore—give. Even though that seems like a lot ask, think of what happens when we choose to take for ourselves instead of giving. What example does that set for those who ask for our help and we turn them away because we are too tired or “not in the mood”? As Jeremiah exclaimed in the first reading, “Woe to the shepherds who mislead my flock”
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Life is Simple
Life is simple when we live simply! It is by this motto that I am trying to live my life and pave the way for my family. My wife and I do not make a lot of money in the eyes of the world, but over the past year we have experienced an unexplainable joy—a true joy that cannot come from a beautiful home, money in the bank, or even a dream job. From renting a one-bedroom apartment to now living with my in-laws, our living situation has been less than ideal, but through this time, we have grown closer to one another and our Lord. Our first year of marriage certainly has been a test of how “simple” life can be. Simple, of course, does not mean easy.
We have given up the search for the perfect house—simply because it does not exist and even if it did, it cannot bring us happiness. All too often we hear about how great the market is to buy a house. “It’s a buyer’s market...interest rates are at their lowest...why rent when you can own?” While the interest rates and house prices continue to drop, it is a BAD market—not a buyers market. The housing market is ugly and doesn’t look like it will be improving soon. My wife and I have gone from looking to invest in a house to buying a home. A home is not an investment—it’s a safe place for families to be nurtured and grow. A home is where my wife and I will develop our “Domestic Church” as Vatican II calls each family. The house, condo, or apartment does not produce this—the family does.
While we continue to search for a home, I can’t help but think of the homes in which Jesus lived and how Joseph and Mary prepared Jesus for His ministry by living simply. From Bethlehem to Egypt to Nazareth, the Holy Family lived simply. If we look at the Nativity scene, we find Jesus living amongst the animals in the manger. Shortly after, Joseph took the family to Egypt, where there was no job waiting for him—we can assume that he had to find work and a place to live for the time they spent there. Finally, in Nazareth, we know that Joseph was a carpenter. There is no mention of lavish living or palaces for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They lived simply.
This carries into Jesus’ public ministry, especially in when He sends his disciples out two by two. His instructions-live simply! “Take nothing with you but a walking stick.” He tells them. As Jesus himself traveled, that is how He lived. He and His disciples did not stay in luxurious hotels. Jesus did not build a 13 bedroom mansion for them to return to and retire in. Instead, they were constantly traveling, staying where they could rest their head—even if that meant around a campfire.
How simple of a lifestyle these men lived. The Disciples trusted completely in the Lord providing for them. They took their example from Jesus who took His example from his humble beginnings, being raised by a carpenter and his humble wife. We can learn from this example as well. For instance, when I look at all the “things” and “stuff” that I so desperately want to give my family I remember the words, “Take nothing with you for the journey, but a walking stick.” In that sentence, Jesus tells us that our life is a journey and the journey can be hard, but it can be even harder when you have to carry all these things on your back. The road may be steep and windy at times, but with a walking stick, the climb is a bit simpler. Jesus also lends us a hint as to what matters in life—obviously “things” and “stuff” are not important, but what’s more? THE JOURNEY is important. It is the journey that leads us home.
We have given up the search for the perfect house—simply because it does not exist and even if it did, it cannot bring us happiness. All too often we hear about how great the market is to buy a house. “It’s a buyer’s market...interest rates are at their lowest...why rent when you can own?” While the interest rates and house prices continue to drop, it is a BAD market—not a buyers market. The housing market is ugly and doesn’t look like it will be improving soon. My wife and I have gone from looking to invest in a house to buying a home. A home is not an investment—it’s a safe place for families to be nurtured and grow. A home is where my wife and I will develop our “Domestic Church” as Vatican II calls each family. The house, condo, or apartment does not produce this—the family does.
While we continue to search for a home, I can’t help but think of the homes in which Jesus lived and how Joseph and Mary prepared Jesus for His ministry by living simply. From Bethlehem to Egypt to Nazareth, the Holy Family lived simply. If we look at the Nativity scene, we find Jesus living amongst the animals in the manger. Shortly after, Joseph took the family to Egypt, where there was no job waiting for him—we can assume that he had to find work and a place to live for the time they spent there. Finally, in Nazareth, we know that Joseph was a carpenter. There is no mention of lavish living or palaces for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They lived simply.
This carries into Jesus’ public ministry, especially in when He sends his disciples out two by two. His instructions-live simply! “Take nothing with you but a walking stick.” He tells them. As Jesus himself traveled, that is how He lived. He and His disciples did not stay in luxurious hotels. Jesus did not build a 13 bedroom mansion for them to return to and retire in. Instead, they were constantly traveling, staying where they could rest their head—even if that meant around a campfire.
How simple of a lifestyle these men lived. The Disciples trusted completely in the Lord providing for them. They took their example from Jesus who took His example from his humble beginnings, being raised by a carpenter and his humble wife. We can learn from this example as well. For instance, when I look at all the “things” and “stuff” that I so desperately want to give my family I remember the words, “Take nothing with you for the journey, but a walking stick.” In that sentence, Jesus tells us that our life is a journey and the journey can be hard, but it can be even harder when you have to carry all these things on your back. The road may be steep and windy at times, but with a walking stick, the climb is a bit simpler. Jesus also lends us a hint as to what matters in life—obviously “things” and “stuff” are not important, but what’s more? THE JOURNEY is important. It is the journey that leads us home.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Take a Vacation...grow in your faith!
The picture above is from my honeymoon last year in Antigua. Yes, my wife and I are coming up on our 1st Anniversary-feel free to send us a gift! All joking aside, I cannot believe it has been a year since the last time I took a real vacation. After the non-stop planning and running around associated with the wedding, it was such a relaxing, wonderful experience. Between working a few jobs and completing my Master’s degree and my wife working about 50-60 hours per week, it was the first time we got to spend alone together; it was our first vacation.
Usually when we think of summer vacation, we think of unplugging and shutting ourselves off from the world. We go camping or head down the shore (I’m a Wildwood/Cape May kind of guy), fly to the Carolinas, or take a cruise. Whatever your vacation desires are, I bet “growing in holiness” isn’t on the top of many people’s priority lists. Vacation=taking a break from every day life. True, but it cannot = a break from faith.
I can’t think of a more perfect time to grow in our faith than when we are free from the noise and chaos of our everyday lives. Vacation can almost be a mini retreat experience. We do not have the distraction of work, school, or rush hour traffic. We make our own schedule and do what we want to do.
If you are like me, there are some must haves during my vacation. First, I enjoy walking on the beach first thing in the morning. If I am up for the walk, I can certainly find a local Church for daily Mass. (just go to masstimes.org and type in a zip code to find a church!) What better way to start the day than by giving thanks to God for the opportunity to have a vacation?
Second, I always bring a book or two. I have now made it a habit to bring at least two spiritual books with me when I travel, just in case I get bored with one. I am not saying that we all need to be reading the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas or the entire Catechism (Although, if your up to it go for it!). What I am saying is that by opening our minds to some spiritual reading during our vacations, the Lord can sometimes speak to us more clearly—especially without the many distractions of life. What we learn may even help us when we return home and take up our everyday tasks and occupations.
Finally, I need to pray. It is so easy to pray when we are at the beach or even on a hike. When we surround ourselves with God’s wonderful creation, how easy is it for us to say, “Wow, God is great,” or “Thanks for making this world so beautiful.” By doing this, we really begin to experience God’s presence everywhere. We may even begin to realize that we cannot escape Him and He truly is with us wherever we go. So go! Take a vacation!
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