His Word Today: Listen for the call

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint Andrew, the apostle.  Today's gospel passage tells us that Saint Andrew was the brother of Saint Peter (cf Mt 4:18).  While he was walking on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw them casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  It was the practice at the time that Teachers (who were known as Rabbis) would choose their own disciples.  Jesus saw these two fishermen - not only with human eyes, but also with the eyes of his heart - and called them to follow after him: Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men (Mt 4:19).

Many centuries after this meeting, Jesus still sees our hearts.  He knows what we are capable of and calls us to follow him.  Some of us, he inspires to become teachers in schools, others he calls to be examples of faith in their own workplaces, and he still calls some of us to serve the community as priests, religious men and women and as consecrated virgins.

Neither Saint Andrew nor his brother could have known what Jesus would ask of them.  All they heard that day was an invitation: Follow me ... Have we heard these words spoken to us?  Have we resisted the impulse to answer?  Are we still curious about what Jesus might want of us?  Have we witnessed others who have heard this call?  Pray today for the courage to answer, to follow, to encourage others to do the same and to trust that Jesus will lead us to the places and situations where he needs us to be.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the work of disciples

Good morning everyone,

Today's scripture readings remind us that everyone who is called to be a disciple of Jesus has to face the hard truth that following in his footsteps means that we must put our own interests aside and concentrate on others.  The work of a disciple is not about personal gain; rather, it is about proclaiming the Kingdom and sharing the good news of a truth that we have come to know but one that we have not yet experienced in its fullness.

King Balshazzar thought that he could rest in the assurance that his physical possessions would gain him prestige, but when he placed himself on par with God and disrespected the vessels used for worshipping the Lord, God sent him a warning (cf Dan 5:1-6).  It is the same with us.  When we get too close to losing sight of the fact that our work is about praising God and calling others to do the same, God sends us warnings.  You may have experienced such warnings if you've ever encountered the sense of guilt that is the result of sin.

Jesus went further in his teaching, telling the crowds that those who choose to follow in his footsteps should be prepared to face persecution (cf Lk 21:12-18) but even if all manner of physical harm should be threatened, God will never leave us alone (cf Lk 21:19).  We can dare to be Jesus' disciples today, knowing that we are never alone, that it is he that we serve and that he will always love us and care for us.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Stand still in prayer

Good morning everyone,

It seems to me that both the scripture passages suggested for today's reflection speak about various ways that people sought the approval of others.  In the first reading (Dn 2:31-45), the king is seeking an interpretation for a dream he has had.  The prophet Daniel, who has been granted the gift of interpretation is able to provide the answer, and to translate it into language that can be understood by the king.  In the gospel passage, the people who encounter Jesus are also curious, seeking confirmation that what Jesus says is true (Lk 21:5-6).

Like the individuals mentioned in these stories, there is a part of us too that is curious about what we have heard - either from others or from Jesus.  Is there truth to these words or is what we have heard merely rumour and fodder for good story telling?  Other people can try to give us answers to these questions, but it is only when we are able to kneel in prayer, to stand alone in God's presence and to struggle with the questions that are roused in the holy place where reason meets faith that we will know for sure that what Jesus says is worth listening to.

Pray for the grace today to stand still, even when the storms of this world threaten to shake the faith that has been planted in your heart.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: the widow's mite

Good morning everyone,

We have just celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King and now we are preparing for Advent - which begins this coming Sunday.  I always love this time of year: we are looking back at the year that has been and looking ahead to the promise of something new.

Perhaps it is fitting that the gospel passage for today places us with Jesus inside the temple where he is watching people coming and going.  As they enter, they are putting money into the temple treasury.  Some of them are making a big deal of this simple gesture so that others can see them being generous but Jesus has a very sharp eye.  He sees a woman, probably dressed in rags, making her way toward the treasury box.  Her outward appearance already tells everyone around her that she is probably a widow, someone who has to struggle to live, yet she is intent on doing her part.  She drops two small coins (Lk 21:2) into the treasury - did they make a sound as they dropped?

What can we offer to God today?  Perhaps we have little to give, but regardless of how much we may think of its worth, Jesus welcomes our meagre efforts as though they are the greatest of treasures because giving out of our poverty is much more treasured than giving out of our abundance.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: A house of prayer

Good morning everyone.

For the second time this week, we are commemorating one of the Church's martyrs today.  This time, our attention turns to Vietnam and the object of our attention is a Roman Catholic priest who we know as Andrew Dung-Lac.  He was born Trần An Dũng in 1795, taking the name Andrew at his baptism (Anrê Dũng) and was ordained a priest on 15 March 1823.  Due to prolonged persecution of Catholics, Andrew Dũng changed his name to Lạc to avoid capture, and thus he is memorialised as Andrew Dũng-Lạc (Anrê Dũng Lạc).  Today we remember Andrew and all the other Vietnamese Martyrs of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries (1625–1886).  Andrew was beheaded by order of Emperor Minh Mang and was canonized on June 19, 1988.

Examples of such dedication to faith have been a part of the Church's history from its earliest days.  Even our shared history with the Jewish people includes the stories of such people as Judas Maccabeus (whose story is told in today's readings - 1 Mac 4:36-37, 52-59).  The most memorable life of faith was of course lived by Jesus himself.  In today's gospel passage, he is in the Temple in Jerusalem reminding those he encountered there (and us as well) that his house will be a house of prayer (Lk 19:46).

Even today, Jesus' disciples need to remember always to keep a special place in our hearts for prayer.  Sometimes that means having a place in our homes that is dedicated to prayer, other times, it means that we have a regular routine of stopping everything else in order to spend time listening for God's guidance in our lives.  However often we can find time for Jesus, he will always find time for us.

Have a great weekend.

His Word Today: before it's too late

Good morning everyone,

Last year, I had the wonderful privilege to visit Jerusalem (and a few of the other sites in the Holy Land).  When we arrived in Jerusalem, our first stop was a lookout point that opens onto a panoramic view of the city.  It is breathtaking.

I can't help thinking that this might have been the place where Jesus was standing (or another similar place somewhere on the outskirts of the city) when he uttered the words we hear in today's gospel.

Even back then, Jerusalem was a bustling city, filled with people going and coming in all directions.  It must have looked like utter confusion.  The problem was (and is) that people are so often in a rush to get from one place to another, or to attend to any number of tasks, that we seldom pause to hear Jesus speaking to us.

Let's try today to find even a moment to listen for his voice, otherwise, we too may hear those woeful words: If only today you knew what made for peace ... you might recognize the time of your own visitation (Lk 19:42, 44).

Today, I wish you God's peace.

His Word Today: celebrating Saint Cecilia

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast day of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians.  This feast day has been observed since the fourth century - and always on this day.

Who was Saint Cecilia?  The story about her is somewhat unclear.  One story that is told is that she was a noble Roman woman who had taken a vow of virginity.  Despite this vow, her parents forced her to marry a pagan nobleman named Valarian.  During the wedding, Cecilia sat apart singing to God in her heart, and for that she was later declared the saint of musicians. When the time came for her marriage to be consummated, Cecilia told Valerian that watching over her was an angel of the Lord, who would punish him if he sexually violated her but would love him if he respected her virginity. When Valerian asked to see the angel, Cecilia replied that he could if he would go to the third milestone on the Via Appia and be baptized by Pope Urban I.  After following Cecilia's advice, he saw the angel standing beside her and crowning her with a chaplet of roses and lilies.

Cecilia and her husband were both martyred in Sicily sometime between 176 and 180AD.

Cecilia is one of a long line of Christians who perished because they would not renounce their faith.  The second Book of Maccabees recounts another story of a woman who suffered greatly because of her faith (cf 2 Mac 7:20-23).  Even today, there are many who are suffering and giving their lives as testimony to their faith.  Let us give thanks today for the witness that Saint Cecilia gave, for the gift of those who are witnesses to faith for us, and let us try our best today to be witnesses of our faith for others.

Have a great day.