A Universal Preoccupation?

-
As a Catholic husband, father, and minister, there is one area of my life over which I nearly constantly worry: money.  I suppose that most average adults can attest to the fact that "there never seems to be enough," or that some unexpected financial obligation always interferes with the grandiose plans.  After more than two years of marriage and nearly one year of fatherhood, I have gained infinitely greater respect for the tough financial decisions that adults face; and I have struggled over and over again with becoming a good steward rather than indulgin my own selfish desires.

As I continually gain new experiences in this area, I seem to be in prayer continually: asking the Provider to help stretch those last few dollars until the end of the month and for the grace to place my family's needs above my own.  The Mass readings for today, as well as a short passage from the Divine Office, offered emotional and spiritual reinforcement that was much-needed.

The first chapter of the letter of St. James reminds me to view "various trials" (among which are certainly financial worries) as joyful because they bring about perseverance in faith (vv. 2-3).  That same letter goes on to offer an image of withering fruitfulness: "For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass...and the beauty of its appearance vanishes.  So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits" (v. 11).  Further, the Responsorial Psalm acclaims God's bountiful blessings; the benefits of affliction; and the kind and comforting reward brought by such faithfulness to His Divine Will (vv. 68, 71, 76).  Finally, one of the petitions in the midst of Evening Prayer requests that the Lord lead me into a life of "peaceful security."

Such words and phrases resonate in my mind and heart.  They offer immense hope for my (and my family's) future.  They offer simple, yet profound assurance that struggles are temporal; diligence is rewarded in great measure; happiness and fulfillment are found not in "gold and silver pieces" but in the "law of your [God's] mouth" (Ps. 119:72).

I pray that God will continue to pour out His abundant grace on me and my family as well as all Christian families who work diligently to honor Him by taking proper care of His gifts.  May we build the City of God by becoming faithful stewards!

God bless!

Popular posts from this blog

Learning Virtue from St. Martin de Porres

-
Image
[This post appeared originally on my full site, which is now no longer in operation, in November 2012.] It seems that more should be written about a saint from whom we can learn so many lessons in virtue.  Yet that is not the case with St. Martin de Porres, from whom we have much to learn about humility, detachment, fasting, justice, and charity.  The website of the St. Martin de Porres Shrine and Institute (located in my own diocese; a wonderful initiative with a beautiful chapel) offers a mere four paragraphs of biographical information, while other sites ( here , here , and here ) devote no more than 10 sentences to this exemplar of heroic virtue.  Surely, Brother Martin, who was so humble in this life, finds that to be a fitting scenario even after his death. From the very earliest days of his life, he embraced his lowly situation.  He desired to do nothing more than glorify the Creator by serving creatures.  He reached out to slaves, orphan...
Read more

St. Cyril of Jerusalem on the Eucharist

-
Image
Although the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was not the first thing that convinced me I needed to become Catholic, it was of prime importance in my journey home. Now that I am home, the Eucharist is what sustains and strengthens me on my perpetual search for holiness. Indeed, it is the "source and summit" of my Christian life. Thus, I always enjoy taking time to read what Christians in the first centuries had to say about "the breaking of the bread." My findings are such: there is clear evidence that, from the time Christ instituted the Eucharistic meal on Holy Thursday, Christians believed Christ's body, blood, soul, and divinity to be TRULY present. They never considered that it might be "just a symbol." Only within the last five centuries has the "just a symbol" argument taken form, no doubt to the detriment of the true Faith and otherwise faithful Christians. To prove my argument, I have provided two quotes from St. Cyril of Jer...
Read more

Gratitude: Foundation of Our Spiritual Growth

-
Image
Gratitude is not simply a quaint idea to which we should tip our caps during a few short weeks in November each fall.  It is important that we move beyond a trite understanding and application, and come to understand the real place of gratitude in the spiritual life.  It is nothing less than a virtue and disposition that is at the foundation of our potential spiritual growth.  (In a corresponding way, its absence is at the “foundation” of spiritual stagnation.) Before we ever begin to speak of spiritual realities, gratitude simply helps us to get by more efficiently, effectively, and happily than the opposite alternative.  Grateful people grow and flourish, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, in ways that ungrateful people do not.  Still, we must resist the temptation to deal with gratitude simply on the natural level.  We must bring these principles to the supernatural level and grasp them there. We must come to understand that gratitude...
Read more