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We Can Always Gamble On God’s Mercy

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Today’s Gospel gives hope to the heart of any parent, to any of us really. Any creature who is desperately in distress, as this woman was, can gamble on the mercy of God and win. 

This woman walked from the Gentile district of Tyre to meet Jesus in order to submit to him her desperate need. This Canaanite woman had a daughter possessed by a demon, and she was pleading for his help. The depths of the despair of the human heart can be touched most easily in the frightened pleas of a parent begging God for a child’s life. This one mother’s anxiety for her child, as recounted in the Gospel of Mark, stands in stark contrast to the 23 verses that preceded it. In these earlier verses, the Pharisees also had come to Jesus, but their purpose was to gather around him and quibble about how the disciples kept the law. For them, Jesus was not their healer, their Savior. He was someone who had to prove his authority to them, to measure up to their expectations, to fit into their religious understanding. Theirs was a calculated relationship that held Jesus at arm’s length, a dance devoid of love and intimacy.

But this woman from the district of Tyre was not a Jew. She was not a believer. She was a Gentile, a pagan. Her story leaps from the pages of Scripture to assure us that Jesus’ heart is by nature, attuned to his creature’s cry of distress. He led this woman on a gentle journey toward a loving tryst. She searches for him and finds him even in the place where he was trying to escape notice. She risked rejection as she approached this Jewish healer whom she had probably heard stories about. She was willing to fall at his feet to beg him for help for her daughter. This anxious mother didn’t come with a demand or an argument why Jesus should help her. She simply threw herself on his mercy, trusting that a mother’s plea for her child would move this teacher who himself had a mother.

Jesus is moved by our humanity, a humanity that he took up when the Word became flesh. Everyone who makes desperate intercession for another can trust that the heart of Jesus will be moved as it was for this Canaanite mother. 

Even though she presented her request to Jesus with the audacious and visceral faith that seemed almost to twist God’s arm, she remained at his feet in humble homage, in submission. And it was by this confident humility that she won his heart. God wants to be overcome by us. He wants to say, “I can no longer resist you. Be it done as you say.” He desires that every intercessory prayer be a moment of greater intimacy with him. 

Take with you today this mother’s courage. Where do you need a miracle? Where do you or a loved one need saving? Where are you in complete dependence on God with no other recourse? Like her leave behind your fear, take up your heart’s courage, and cast your cares upon the Lord. Do not debate with yourself or doubt, but set out. Bow down before the One who is the center, who is God’s loving tenderness on earth seeking to make us truly and forever happy.

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Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, is the author of the newly released title: Reclaim Regret: How God Heals Life’s Disappointments, by Pauline Books and Media. An author and spiritual mentor, she offers spiritual accompaniment for the contemporary Christian’s journey towards spiritual growth and inner healing. She is the director of My Sisters, where people can find spiritual accompaniment from the Daughters of St. Paul on their journey.

Website: www.touchingthesunrise.com

Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srkathrynhermes/

For monthly spiritual journaling guides, weekly podcasts and over 50 conferences and retreat programs join my Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/srkathryn.

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Rooted in His Ways

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In Today’s Responsorial Psalm, we hear that if the law of God is in your heart, your steps do not falter. It states that the LORD helps them and delivers us from the wicked and saves us because we take refuge in him.

In Today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus say that “From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within, and they defile.” Jesus is calling it all out today, and it is good that He does! He is sharing with us the importance of reflecting and examining the depths of our hearts and minds; it is there that the evils He listed can live. We must be careful to guard our hearts against these things but also to remember the Psalm today. How can we make sure our hearts do not fall into these temptations? By setting the law of the Lord in our hearts.

Is your heart rooted in His ways? Do you make a regular examination of conscience? If not, do so today. May each of us look at His commandments and see where we may be failing. Perhaps you haven’t gone to confession in quite some time; maybe it is time to go and receive His mercy again. Let us remember that He helps and delivers us from evil; He saves us because we take refuge in Him. Be not afraid; He longs to give you His love and mercy today.

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Briana is the Pastoral Minister at St. Mark Church in Cleveland, OH. She is also a district manager at Arbonne. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Catechetics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH and is excited to use these skills to serve the Church. “My soul has been refined and I can raise my head like a flower after a storm.” -St. Therese

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May All Our Temples Be Sanctuaries

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In today’s First Reading, Solomon utters a beautiful, awe-filled prayer of blessing over the temple. He humbly realizes that this new structure cannot contain the God of heaven and earth, but does acknowledge that He will be honored there, and thus wishes it to be a holy sanctuary.

Perhaps we might feel similarly when we step foot inside an adoration chapel. We recognize that God is not contained in that room, or even in that monstrance, but we come to honor and adore him in that holy place. Churches and chapels and even designated areas of our homes are truly important because they raise our minds and hearts to God amid the chaos of our everyday lives.

But even more significant, our very bodies are important for that same reason. Jesus chastises the scribes and Pharisees for holding fast to so many unnecessary rules when their hearts were far from him. How often do we ourselves “nullify the word of God” in favor of our not so good habits?

Our overall health is important to our mission of being a light to the world. If I cannot temper my attachment to caffeine, fast food, and sugary treats in order to have more energy to give it all to my kids, am I reaching my full potential? If I cannot overcome my laziness to get some decent exercise a few times a week in order to relieve stress and obtain greater psychological health, is my light reaching as far as it could?

I remember thinking when I was 12 years old that I knew all there was to know about my faith and that I would quite possibly be bored the rest of my life simply living it out. Now, I realize more than ever how far I am from living it out to the fullest.

I have been convicted lately to make some major changes in 2020. I stopped reading compelling, page-turning novels and started reading spiritual and self-improvement books instead. I began drinking six glasses of water a day to keep my body awake and hydrated. I began seeking more concrete ways to provide for my family’s needs. But most of all, I have felt convicted to pour out more of myself, particularly to my kids.

It’s still so often all about me. I’m tired, I’m sick of the noise, I’m not in the mood to play chess, I’m waiting for you to brush your teeth so I can go to bed. My heart needs a dramatic change. I am not giving until it hurts. When it starts to hurt, I raise my voice or send them to their room. I am not listening to their stories. When they want to go on and on about their day, I tell them to hurry up because I’m tired.

Maybe if I were more respectful to my kids, they would be more respectful of others. Maybe if I listened to them better, they would listen to me. Maybe, just maybe, if I gave my all to them, a much more positive atmosphere would ensue.

So here’s to concrete changes in my own “temple” and my own heart. May I confirm instead of nullifying the Word of God so that I might be a light to others, beginning with the littles right under my nose (literally).

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Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.

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Who’s Your Superstar

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The day I started to think about this post was the day Donald Trump held one of his rallies in New Jersey. The news reported that people were lining up at the venue as much as 48 hours before the event, camping out trying to be the first into the arena. Think about it. Someone so popular with some folks that they go to great lengths to show their fandom.

In the summer, the Today show on NBC holds Friday concerts. People crowd Rockefeller center to be a part of the event, lining up days ahead of time. Thousands and thousands. It is mind-boggling to see the streets wall-to-wall with people, screaming in support of “their star.”

In Gennesaret, the people saw Jesus coming onshore and crowded around him. “They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplace and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on this cloak;”

Do you see any difference in these three scenarios?

In the Trump rally, one gets the satisfaction of supporting a favorite politician; in Rockefeller Center, people get emotionally frenzied at the thought of seeing a star and get caught up in the music; in Gennesaret, Jesus goes quietly around the countryside, gathering with the sick and healing them, and, as the Gospel tells us, “as many as touched it (the tassel)” were healed.

My question to you is:  who is your real superstar? I hope you will answer that it is Jesus. In Jesus’ day, he was very much like a famous politician or music star. His fame spread far and wide throughout the region, as folks looked for him and immediately responded, knowing that what they heard about his power to physically heal them, was true! Who else is going to do that for you? Who else, but Jesus who will also heal your soul and calm your spirit.

Do you ever participate in the Sacrament of Anointing for the healing of the sick when offered at your parish? I recall once, many years ago, I was experiencing a very emotionally trying time. While attending the daily Mass, Father decided to offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  I went forward with everyone else, praying that my burden be lifted. When I returned to my seat, my head bowed in prayer, and I felt the physical sensation of warmth starting at my feet and moving up my body to my chest. I swear this is true. At that moment, though my trouble was still there, I somehow knew that everything would be okay. I only had to believe and trust. And, eventually, it was okay. My trust in Jesus’ healing power saw me through. It will do the same for you! And as for physical healing, miracles have happened and will continue to happen. But it is also a miracle of healing to be given the strength to endure and acceptance of what is to be. That peace of mind is priceless.

Now, you may still rally around your favorite politician, music star, actor, or other famous people as you like. You should, and you should enjoy doing that. But you must remember that is only Jesus who will genuinely give you something of worth. In the end, rallies and concerts will leave you with only a ticket stub or a program book. But Jesus, alive to us in the Eucharist and Sacraments, will leave you with everlasting healing and peace. The eternal promise of the Greatest of the Superstars.

God Bless.

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Jeanne Penoyar, an Accounts Manager at Diocesan, is a Lector at St. Anthony of Padua parish in Grand Rapids, MI. Jeanne has worked in parish ministry as an RCIA director, in Liturgy, and as a Cantor. Working word puzzles and reading fill her spare time. Jeanne can be reached at jpenoyar@diocesan.com.

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A Light to the Whole World

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A sacrament is a visible sign of invisible grace, of the grace of God. When we receive the Eucharist in the Mass, we are physically receiving God’s love and have that love not only in our hearts, but we consume it. Then immediately we hear, “The Mass has ended, go in peace.” You would think that something so important would necessitate a lot of time to process and pray. So why does the Church immediately dismiss us?

Check out the Gospel from today. It’s all about the light that we can be to the world and not hiding that light but bringing it to all. The reality is that the most divine we will be on this earth is right after we receive our Lord. Why does the Church immediately send us out? Because it’s at this moment that we can evangelize better than ever. We have literally become little Christs to go out and be with others and share grace and love.

Thankfully, because we have received Jesus, it does not need to be all on us. We don’t have to worry about our faults or weaknesses. We don’t need to know the Catechism back to back or memorize all the right scripture verses. We need only to receive Jesus and share with others our experience of Him. Today, people put more stock into personal experience than they do in deductive reasoning. This would seem to be negative in sharing Christ with people, but I have found the opposite.

When sharing the love of Christ with others, if we share our own personal experience of Christ, nobody can argue with that. It’s our own experience. They can’t tell us we are wrong. At most, they can just say they don’t agree. But in a world where subjective experience has become king, it can be powerful to share our subjective experience of the Lord.

This means that we have to have an experience. This means that our religion must be more than rules and regulations and just something we do. I agree with G.K. Chesterton, who said, “Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” Let us all receive Christ, experience Christ, and bring Christ to all those we meet. God Bless!

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Tommy Shultz is Director of Marketing for Ablaze ministries as well as Director of Evangelization for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative. In these roles he is comitted to bringing all those he meets into a deeper relationship with Christ. Tommy has a heart and a flair for inspiring people to live their faith every day. He has worked in various youth ministry, adult ministry, and diocesan roles. He has been a featured speaker at retreats and events across the country. His mission and drive have been especially inspired by St. John Paul II’s teachings. Tommy is blessed to be able to learn from the numerous parishes he visits and pass that experience on in his presentations. Contact him at tshultz@diocesan.com.

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Rest A While

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The world is a busy place – fast paced, on-the-go, and often yielding a need for multitasking. It is hard to find time for rest and silence in the world today. There are so many demands, so much that needs to get done, and so little time to get it done.

How do we find the time and space to rest in Christ when the demands of daily life become too much? I am in the process of learning how to do this now. While working in full-time ministry the individuals served need very much love and support – the harvest is plentiful. One thing I find helps me amongst the busy days is to say “Jesus, I trust in You”. While the full schedules don’t go away a peace washes over me when I say His name.

It can be difficult to slip away from the world for a bit to rejuvenate. Maybe for you it is reading 5 minutes of scripture, praying the Divine Mercy chaplet, or even saying “Jesus, I trust in You”. Whatever draws you into the peace of Christ should be a priority in your life. Your relationship with Jesus comes first. In order to serve others we must remember the importance of our own faith and relationship with Christ. Be not afraid to take a few moments as needed to spend that time in a sacred place with Him.

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Nathalie Shultz is a joyful convert to the Catholic faith and a competitive swimmer with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  She loves to share her passion for Catholicism with others, including her conversion story and how God continues to work miracles in her life through her OCD. She is the Director of Religious Education for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative of parishes. Nathalie is married to her best friend, Tommy Shultz. Her favorite saints include St. Peter the Apostle, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John Paul II.  She is also a huge fan of C.S. Lewis. If you have any questions for Nathalie, or just want her to pray for you, you can email her at rodzinkaministry@gmail.com.

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Perspective

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I recently had a visit with my spiritual director. I look forward to this dedicated time (for where two or more are gathered in my name, Mt 18:20) because we talk about the situations in my life, how I see the world, and how that is linked to the relationship I have with the Lord. 

Part of our conversation concerned the topics of control (or power) along with acknowledgment, acceptance, and action, as I experience daily life. This process is illustrated in today’s readings.

The first readings for the last two weeks have focused on David’s life. We read of his accomplishments, sins, and his change of heart (metanoia). David acknowledged his mistakes, accepted his sinfulness, and found an abundance of ways to glorify the Lord. Today’s reading tells us that David has dedicated all the people (of Israel) to sing God’s praise and give Him thanks. Because of these efforts, the Lord forgave David’s sins and exalted his strength forever, giving David the rights of royalty in Israel. 

The Gospel tells the story of Herod’s hearing of Jesus and the beheading of John the Baptist. Herod had his own successes, troubles, mistakes, and vanities. History has not been kind in its descriptions of his life. 

Self-check: what would history make of my life story? 

I need to acknowledge my own mistakes and sinfulness (my pride, anger, envy, lust, greed, and laziness). I need to recognize that everyone I come in contact with is on a different path than I (even if the end goal is the same). My points of reference and memory-triggers while going through life can be very different from yours. 

I find myself needing to acknowledge the different perspectives and expectations I have going into any given situation and recognize that they may be a stark contrast to the person who is right in front of me. I need to accept the fact that our viewpoints and way of dealing with the world are not alike, and that is OK, especially when we continue to respect each other and work together on common goals. When I act, my focus should be on the Gospel acclamation, “keeping the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.” 

Like David, with acceptance and change of heart, I can be made new, and my sins are forgiven. Listen to this song by Matthew West. It can help remind you that you, too, can be made Brand New.

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Beth is part of the customer care team at Diocesan. She brings a unique depth of experience to the group due to her time spent in education, parish ministries, sales and the service industry over the last 25 yrs. She is a practicing spiritual director as well as a Secular Franciscan (OFS). Beth is quick to offer a laugh, a prayer or smile to all she comes in contact with. Reach her here bprice@diocesan.com.

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Disciples Making Disciples

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How often do we forget our call, our vocation, as Catholic Christians? We might get hung up on the word “vocation,” thinking that, “I’m living out my marriage/priesthood/religious life/single life, isn’t that enough?” No, it’s not enough. In fact, there’s so much more.

We all share a singular, universal mission: to go and make disciples of all nations. Today, on the Memorial of St. Paul Miki and his companions, we receive the very-needed reminder of our shared Baptismal call as we celebrate and honor one of the saints that best embraced this mission.

St. Paul Miki lived during a time of Christian persecution in Japan. A Jesuit known for his style of preaching, he was able to convert a great number of hearts to Catholicism. Meanwhile, the Japanese rulers became fearful of the growing influence of Catholicism and questioned their intentions, so beginning the widespread persecution. Paul Miki was eventually arrested, imprisoned, and sentenced to death for his “crimes.” Even hanging on a cross, he spent his final minutes preaching to those present for his execution. Once the time of persecution was over, missionaries arrived back in Japan during the late 1800s to find that Christians had hidden and preserved their faith. At the price of his life and knowing exactly his fate, St. Paul Miki truly embraced his Baptismal call as he made disciples all across Japan.

Thankfully, we here in the United States aren’t experiencing persecution like that seen in Japan during St. Paul Miki’s time, but that doesn’t mean our task of making disciples is any less difficult. We face different challenges, like those wanting and willing to discredit the Church for the sex abuse crisis, like the culture of death evident in abortion and like the suppression of all that is good and true in the media, especially when it comes to Christian values. I argue that this is when we need to be making disciples the most. And we may not be risking our lives but rather our reputation and wellbeing. How far are you willing to go to embrace the call to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”?

May we look to St. Paul Miki and his courage as we strive to live out our Baptismal call.

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Erin is a Cleveland native and graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Following graduation, she began volunteering in youth ministry at her home parish of Holy Family Church. Her first “big girl” job was in collegiate sports information where, after a busy two years in the profession on top of serving the youth, she took a leap of faith and followed the Lord’s call to full-time youth ministry at St. Peter Church. She still hopes to use her communication arts degree as a freelance writer and statistician, though. You can catch her on the Clarence & Peter Podcast on YouTube as well as follow her on Twitter @erinmadden2016.

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A Lack of Faith

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“Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.’ So he was not able to perform any might deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:4-6)

In today’s Gospel reading we hear about how those that Jesus preached to in Nazareth dismissed Him because of knowing His family and origins, with Nazareth being home for Him. While looking at this passage I had to ask myself: how often do I dismiss what Christ says? 

I may think I know everything about Him, I have heard the teachings over and over, I have been a Christian my entire life, so therefore I just take His teachings for granted. Furthermore, when I take His teachings for granted I take Him for granted. Christ is a great gift to us – He is love, the Word, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd.

Rather than being lukewarm about my faith Christ has infinite teachings and love to reveal to us in every moment of every day. How do we get out of a rut of being lukewarm in our faith? According to the video series The Wild Goose by 4PM Media and Franciscan Pathways, hosted by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, we can ask the Holy Spirit to breathe life into us whenever we need. Something that seems so basic is so profound and invites God into our lives right where we are at. Rather than shutting Him out and relying on our own understanding we submit to His greatness and the Spirit will open our eyes to Christ and all He has for us.

I challenge you to invite the Holy Spirit into your life. As Fr. Pivonka says in The Wild Goose ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart, for Jesus to enter the way He did for the disciples at Pentecost. God will answer your prayer.

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Nathalie Shultz is a joyful convert to the Catholic faith and a competitive swimmer with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  She loves to share her passion for Catholicism with others, including her conversion story and how God continues to work miracles in her life through her OCD. She is the Director of Religious Education for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative of parishes. Nathalie is married to her best friend, Tommy Shultz. Her favorite saints include St. Peter the Apostle, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John Paul II.  She is also a huge fan of C.S. Lewis. If you have any questions for Nathalie, or just want her to pray for you, you can email her at rodzinkaministry@gmail.com.

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Arise

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In the Gospel reading today, we hear of two miraculous occasions of healing. The story begins with a father seeking out Jesus for the healing of his daughter, who is at the point of death. Immediately, he falls at the feet of Jesus and states that if Jesus lays His hands on her, she will be healed and live. As Jesus goes with him, He travels among the crowds. A woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for 12 years had heard about Jesus and believed, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” She reached out and touched His cloak and immediately was healed. Jesus asked who had touched his clothes, and the woman fell down before His feet and told him the whole truth. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction”. A man comes to tell the father that his daughter has passed away. Jesus assured him, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He goes on to enter the house and tells his daughter, “Talitha Koum,” which means “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”. She arose immediately.

Throughout this Gospel, we encounter witnesses of great faith. The young girl’s father automatically proclaims great faith in seeking Jesus and believing He could heal his daughter. He most likely has never met Jesus before but has heard of him. He doesn’t come before Jesus with a lukewarm question of, “Can you try to heal my daughter?” No, He believes with his whole heart that He can do this. The same goes for the woman suffering from a hemorrhage, she had not met Jesus, but had heard of Him and believed in His power that even touching his cloak, she would be healed.

I was sharing with a friend about this Gospel, and we discussed, “Why doesn’t God do this still today?” We hear tons of tragedies that happen day in and day out. Why doesn’t Jesus just miraculously heal people now? Honestly, I’m sure there are many healings that have happened for people throughout the world, and it does still happen today. But why does God spare some and not others? I don’t know, but I believe we must hold to faith and trust like those in the Gospel today. Falling at the feet of Jesus with faith and trust, that those we have lost may arise too. That they arise to new life with Him, in the ultimate destination, life everlasting.

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Briana is the Pastoral Minister at St. Mark Church in Cleveland, OH. She is also a district manager at Arbonne. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Catechetics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH and is excited to use these skills to serve the Church. “My soul has been refined and I can raise my head like a flower after a storm.” -St. Therese

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Begging Jesus to Leave

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At first, today’s Gospel seems like a straightforward story of Jesus healing another person, freeing him from demonic possession and telling him to go and share his personal good news. But that’s just the surface. If we look deeper, we see the whole human drama of good and evil and freedom with Christ.

Let’s look first at the power of evil. The man is clearly possessed, and St. Mark describes the seriousness of his situation in some detail, so there is no doubt. And yet the devil does not have complete control, ever! In this case, the man is forced to prostrate himself before Jesus, the enemy begging to be left alone. When it is clear that Jesus means to free the man, the enemy is not then freed to roam at will; he must ask Jesus’ permission to enter the herd of swine! While the devil works with angelic intelligence and strength (which is greater than human intelligence and strength!), he is not all-powerful; the enemy can only operate within the parameters set by God Himself.

Let’s look next at how narrow the human perspective can be. The people of the town, who can see only the external details, are more concerned about the loss of the swine than the welfare of the previously suffering man. Hearing “what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine,” they see only the loss and not the gain, and they “began to beg him to leave their district.”

Let’s look at how Jesus operates within this struggle of good and evil. Jesus has supreme authority and power to free and heal and command demons. But Jesus also respects the gift of free will God has given to humanity, and never forces himself on anyone. When the Gerasenes beg him to leave, he gets into the boat and leaves. Free will is a powerful gift; we are always free to send him away.

What about the possessed man? He wanted to remain with Jesus, but Jesus gave him another task. He directed him to share his testimony, to be a witness. And he did, to the amazement of all who heard him. The Lord entrusts his work to us who have been blessed by Him!

What about us? An examination is always in order:

Are there areas in our lives in which we see only the surface, and are unable to see deeply and appreciate what God is doing?

Are there circumstances in which we are counting the cost but missing the deeper spiritual benefits?

Are there places within us that we have “fenced off” from Jesus because we are afraid of what he might demand of us, or ask us to change?

Are we ready and willing to share what God has done in our own lives so that others can know Him better?

Lord, give us light and strength so that we can SEE DEEPLY and remain open to Your saving power!

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Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including newly ordained Father Rob and seminarian Luke ;-), and two grandchildren. She is a Secular Discalced Carmelite and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 25 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE. Currently, she serves the Church as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio, by publishing and speaking, and by collaborating with the diocesan Office of Catechesis, various parishes, and other ministries to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is https://www.kathryntherese.com/.

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The Tempest of Envy

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“We fight one another, and envy arms us against one another…. If everyone strives to unsettle the Body of Christ, where shall we end up? We are engaged in making Christ’s Body a corpse. We declare ourselves members of one and the same organism, yet we devour one another like beasts.”
-St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 2 Cor. 27:3-4

In this month that has the Feast of St. Valentine, a celebration of love, we start the month reflecting on what happens when we allow envy into our lives. St. John Chrysostom doesn’t pull any punches. The Catechism tells us that envy can lead to the worst crimes. (CCC 2538) “Envy is a capital sin. It refers to the sadness at the sight of another’s goods and the immoderate desire to acquire them for oneself, even unjustly.”

In the first reading, David, who was so beloved of God that David says to God, “Keep me as the apple of your eye,” (Ps 17:8), this same David has messed up. Big time. It isn’t just that he took Uriah’s wife. (Although that is bad enough.) The taking of Uriah’s wife is the symptom of a graver evil happening in David’s heart.

David, who started life as the youngest son in a family of boys, shepherd of the family’s sheep, is called by God to be the king of the Jewish people. He is to be a king in God’s own image, the apple of God’s eye.

The God, who created all the world out of love and to love in return, created David to rule His chosen people. But King David, who already had multiple wives, looks upon another man’s wife. He forgets about love. He neglects to see her as God created her. He neglects to see her as a woman joined to another man. David sees her as an object to be desired. He wants her physically, brazenly, brokenly. Because he is the king, David uses his God-given role to bring her to his side. He indulges his desires, and she gets pregnant. David attempts to cover it up by calling home Uriah, and when that plan fails, he has Uriah killed.

In today’s readings, Nathan calls David out. David may think he has manipulated the situation and gotten what he desired, but he has forgotten the earlier desires of his heart, to serve God and to do God’s will, to be God’s beloved.

David has committed the same sin as Adam and Eve. He has given in to envy and tried to follow his own plan. Adam and Eve and then David lost trust in God’s benevolence. They thought they knew better. Seeing what they didn’t have and couldn’t have, they desired it. They experienced envy. “Through the devil’s envy death entered the world.” (Wisdom 2:24) St. Augustine saw envy as “the diabolical sin”. (CCC 2539) “From envy are born hatred, detraction, calumny, joy caused by the misfortune of a neighbor, and displeasure caused by his prosperity.” When we allow envy to take root in our life, we give hatred and all its dark companions the opportunity to take root in our hearts.

How do we strive to end this envy? How do we end the fighting and dismembering of the Body of Christ?

We can find one answer in the Gospel reading. Jesus asks the disciples to cross the sea, and then he goes to sleep in the boat. In the meantime, a squall comes up, and the disciples begin to fear for their lives. Were they envious of Jesus peacefully sleeping in the midst of the storm? They wake him up and ask if he even cares they are perishing! Jesus calms the sea and asks them if they do not yet have faith.

“The time of the Christian is that of the risen Christ who is with us always, no matter what tempests may arise.” (CCC 2743) Sometimes the tempests are literal storms that wreak havoc on our homes and carefully ordered lives. Sometimes the tempests are troubles that come upon us unbidden such an injury or loss. Sometimes the tempests are our own unbridled passions, as when we allow envy to have control of our thoughts and our hearts.

So what do we do? We persevere in love and prayer. As we persevere in prayer, we move into a position of trust, and we open ourselves up so that God can work miracles in our lives. The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew establishes Jesus as the Son of David, Son of Abraham. In a culture where family ties pass through the father, there are four women mentioned in Jesus’s family tree, and one of them is Uriah’s wife. When we have faith and trust that God is present even in the tempests, God can bring about great things. We can look at others and share in their joys and their sorrows without getting bogged down in comparisons.

Prayer and the Christian life are inseparable, for they concern the same love. Through prayer and living the Christian life, we cooperate with the Father’s plan of love and the Holy Spirit, who conforms us more and more to Jesus Christ until we have the same love for all men; the love with which Jesus loved us. (CCC 2745) So when you find envy creeping in, pray, pray, pray, and don’t stop.

Let’s end as we began, with St. John Chrysostom: “It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling along, or seated in your shop,… while buying and selling, …or even while cooking.”

Wherever you are today, here’s to prayer and trusting God’s presence in the tempest.

Amen.

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Sheryl delights in being the number 1 cheerleader and supporter for her husband, Tom who is a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. They are so grateful for the opportunity to grow together in this process whether it is studying for classes, deepening their prayer life or discovering new ways to serve together. Sheryl’s day job is serving her community as the principal for St. Therese Catholic School in Wayland, Michigan. Since every time she thinks she gets life all figured out, she realizes just how far she has to go, St. Rita of Cascia is her go-to Saint for intercession and help. Home includes Brea, a Bernese Mountain dog and Carlyn, a very, very goofy Golden Retriever.