A Knight's Walk in the Kingdom

theophilus November 30th, 2007

Imagine being the first to do something great – being on the ground floor of something that lasts way beyond our lifetime.

Today is the Feast of St. Andrew, one of the Twelve Apostles.

He was also the brother of St. Peter, the original “Rock”. 

And he was one of the first to be called and to follow Christ.  He was one of the first “Fishers of Men” (see Matthew 4:18 and Mark 1:16).

Both St. Matthew and St. Mark have him being the first to be called along with St. Peter.  While St. Luke doesn’t mention him until all of the twelve are named (see Luke 6:14).

But, it’s St. John’s description that gets me.  He has St. Andrew as THE first to be called (see John 1:40) and the one who brought St. Peter to Christ proclaiming “[w]e have found the Messiah.” (John 1:41).

Think about this incredible fact for a minute and let it sink into our soul.  St. Andrew was one of the first if not THE first among the thousands of generations of the faithful who have followed.  He may even be the one who brought to Christ the Rock of the Church from whom all else has been built.

All because he believed immediately and followed without question or delay.

Often, we do not realize the consequences of our choices and actions – especially those made on the spur of the moment.  Often we just can’t see how events will turn out.

This unforeseeability is why we need to listen to our (hopefully) well-formed conscience and the voice of the Holy Spirit that speaks within us all.  We must know right from wrong and what’s important.  We must treat everyone well and make the right choice every, single time.

We must be ready to listen to, obey, and follow Christ’s will for us – immediately, without delay and without question.  He has great plans for each of us – but we must be like St. Andrew and follow him – even if (and especially if) no one else seems to be.

So, when we hear Christ say to us, “Venite post me, faciam vos fieri piscatores hominum” or “Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” – and we will hear something like this at some point in our life – we need to be ready to respond “Yes, Lord” and get our butts moving.

Who knows, our decision to do so may lead to something great – something that lasts way beyond our lifetime.

Painting: “St. Andrew” – El Greco (1541-1614)

• Faith , God's Call , Holy Spirit , Jesus , Liturgy , Role Models , Saints
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theophilus November 27th, 2007

Americans can be so arrogant and complacent. 

No, this post isn’t some political diatribe from the U.N., Europe or the “Hate America” crowd.  It’s coming from a red-blooded, patriotic America-is-the-best American.

It’s coming from an American who has read today’s reading from Daniel 2 and today’s gospel from Luke 21.  Both allude to nations rising and nations falling – civilizations thriving and civilizations disintegrating.

The history of the world is littered with stories of peoples who achieved heights of greatness – only to find themselves looking up under the weight of another’s power – whether it be good or bad.

I am an unabashedly patriotic American because I believe we truly use our power for good – to liberate, make free, improve, enrich and empower other peoples.  We go in, do our job, leave, and – 9 times out of 10 – another nation’s people are better off because we cared enough to get involved.

But have we grown too complacent – too arrogant – too afraid – too comfortable – too timid? Have we stopped believing in our goodness, our mission, our purpose? 

We have always believed that God has a special purpose for us as a people.  This sentiment is embodied so well in the Declaration of Independence.  President Reagan summed it up when he referred to a description made of America by John Winthrop, an early Pilgrim.  They described America as the “Shining City on the Hill”alluding to Matthew 5. 

In his farewell address, President Reagan described what he saw when he had talked about this Shining City throughout his service to our nation -

“[I]n my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it and see it still.”

So, how do we see it – our Shining City?  Do we have the optimism of our forefathers?  Do we have the strength and the will to do the right thing?  Do we still believe in the American Dream and the American Ideal?  Are we willing “to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty”(President Kennedy’s Inaugural Address)?

I believe that civilizations fall either because they are evil or have out-lived their usefulness in the eyes of God.

We are not evil – but are we in danger of outliving our usefulness?

Daniel alludes to such when he interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in today’s reading:

“[I]t shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them . . .”

And, Christ referred to the same when he said -

“All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

As Americans, let us never forget how good we have it – and how quickly it can be taken away.  If we fail to continue to live up to our potential and purpose - generation after generation – without fail - we will find ourselves lamenting how much we have lost.

President Lincoln understood this very real scenario on the eve of the Civil War, when he said in his 1st Inaugural Address -

“I am loth to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stre[t]ching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Let us reflect today – are we living up to the covenant that God has made with us?  Are we doing the very best we can to build that “Shining City on the Hill”, to live by the “better angels of our nature”, and to do all we can to “assure the survival and success of liberty”?

Or, are we losing our way? Giving up?  Not really caring?  Not really believing anymore in why we are here as a nation – as a people?

Nations come and go – nothing is guaranteed – let us never forget this simple truth.

Let us never stop showing the rest of the world our generosity, our courage, and our firm conviction that all peoples should live in liberty and freedom. 

Let us never stop showing our gratitude and our willingness to sacrifice for the common good of our fellow man - whether they be American or not. 

Let us never stop believing that we are here for a greater good and a higher calling - we are here to be that “Shining City on the Hill”.

Our forefathers and foremothers, and God himself, expect as much from us.  Shouldn’t we expect the same of ourselves?

• Culture , Faith , God's Call , Liturgy , U.S.A.
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theophilus November 26th, 2007

Imagine that you are the best at something – anything.  There is none better – you have no equal.  It may be something great – it may be something seemingly minor.  But nevertheless, you are the best at it.

And for each one of us – that something exists – and it’s not insignificant.  God made each one of us unique, with a special gift enjoyed by no other.  And it’s up to us to find that gift in ourselves and help others find their gift in themselves.

Today’s reading is from the beginning of the Book of the Prophet Daniel.  Most of us know Daniel as the guy who survived a night in the lion’s den unscathed.  But Daniel was also a very important person in the Babylonian king’s court – one of Nebuchadnezzar’s chief advisors – even though he was a Jew in captivity. Continue Reading »

• God's Call , Liturgy
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theophilus November 25th, 2007

The life mission of us all can be summed up in today’s gospel (Luke 23:35-43) by the condemned man being crucified next to Christ – “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” he said.  And it’s Christ’s response that should be what we long to hear - “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

And how do we join Christ in paradise?  Ultimately, it’s by believing in Christ – having faith in him.  That is what the condemned man did.

But if we truly believe, we will lead a life that shows that faith.  And we’re told how to live this life throughout the gospels, through the lives and writings of the saints, and through the Catechism.  It’s by being the best servant we can be - by serving Christ and our fellow man each and every day. Continue Reading »

• Faith , Jesus , Liturgy , Mercy & Forgiveness
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theophilus November 22nd, 2007

Every Thanksgiving growing up, I was responsible for saying grace at Thanksgiving dinner.  I would sit and really reflect on what to say because I wanted it to be perfect.  For some reason, we’ve gotten away from this little tradition (I really don’t know why or when.)

In any case, I still like to reflect on what I would say if I were to be called upon to say a Thanksgiving prayer. 

This year, it’s thus . . .

“Thank you, Lord, for so many wonderful blessings this past year. Continue Reading »

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theophilus November 17th, 2007

Yesterday morning, I pulled out of my driveway and turned up the radio.  Within seconds, I knew that Joe Nuxhall had died.  The guys on the radio hadn’t said it yet, but I knew by the way they were talking that Joe was gone.

Joe was a Cincinnati Reds radio announcer for pretty much my entire life.  He paired with Marty Brennaman (who is in the Hall-of-Fame) for 31 years before finally going to part-time announcing after the 2004 season.  This past season he only did a handful of games.

Joe was absolutely, totally, completely beloved throughout the Greater Cincinnati area.  He and Marty were the voice of the Reds – and intertwined so completely with the magical moments of this storied franchise that we cannot visualize or remember those moments without their voices being a part of the memory.  Continue Reading »

• Role Models
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theophilus November 16th, 2007

I’ve remarked in the past how few saints are known for being mothers.  And it’s a shame because our wives – our children’s mothers – and thousands of generations of mothers who have come before them – perform such a sanctifying role in our children’s lives and our lives that we do them an unforgivable disservice if we do not recognize their greatness.

Today, the Church celebrates such a mother – St. Margaret of Scotland.  Born in 1046, she was a descendant of a English king and married a Scottish king.  She was queen of Scotland for 30 some years.  Yet, she is not just known for being a queen – she is known for being a mother of eight children and a virtuous woman whose vocation was to raise her children, care for the poor and devoutly pray to our Lord.

And she performed her vocation so well that we now celebrate her life almost a thousand years later.

Today, if we have children, let us commemorate St. Margaret by taking an extra long look at our wives and recognize who they are and what they do.  They perform the work of God each and every day.  Without them, our ability to be good fathers would be seriously jeopardized. Continue Reading »

• Catholic Men , Gratitude , Marriage , Relationships , Saints
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theophilus November 15th, 2007

Wow, I got depressed reading the Cincinnati Enquirer website today.

These are the headlines . . .

“Food Pantries Face Hard Times”

“Verdict Reached in Beheading Case”

“Slaying, Then Credit Card Spree”

“Lure a Kid, Go to Prison”

“Deputy Convicted of Sex Offense”

“Crooks Rob Oakley BP Station”

“UDF Robbed in Norwood”

“Man Shot at Martin’s Bar”

“Two Slain in Home Invasion”

“Gunman Robs Liquor Store”

“Double Slaying a Mystery”

“17 Nabbed in Drug Sweep”

“Barry Bonds Indicted”

“Ricky Williams to Rejoin Dolphins”

These headlines are especially poignant in light of today’s Gospel (Luke 17: 20-25) in which Christ proclaims that “the Kingdom of God is among you.” Continue Reading »

• Jesus , Liturgy , Stewardship
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theophilus November 14th, 2007

Are we the head of a company, department, division, team or organization?

Do we have a leadership position in a company, nonprofit agency or governmental body?

Are we a coach or team captain?

Are we the head of our household, our family?

Then we need to read the Mass reading from today from Wisdom 6: 1-11 and take it to heart because God is speaking to us. Continue Reading »

• Catholic Men , God's Call , Stewardship
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theophilus November 13th, 2007

Today the American Church celebrates the life of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – the first canonized American citizen – and what an incredible life she led.

Born a poor Italian farmgirl in 1850, she went on to found the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart – establishing schools, orphanages, hospitals and similar institutions.  In 1889, she found herself in New York City at the request of Pope Leo XIII to help the poor Italian immigrants settling in the U.S. at the end of the 19th Century.

She was so successful and unrelenting in caring for the poor that, at her death, there were 5,000 children under the care of her order, which had 500 members in 70 houses in the U.S., South American and Europe.  Her death itself greatly exemplifed her life – she died just before Christmas 1917 – alone in a chair in one of her hospitals, suffering from malaria, making dolls for orphans for Christmas.  Serving the orphans to the end.  Living the gospel to the end. Continue Reading »

• God's Call , Sacrifice , Saints
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