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Friday, September 09, 2005

Meditation
Luke 6:39-42

Ever since Adam pointed the finger at Eve, humans have struggled with the all-too-common tendency to criticize, blame, and judge one another. Since we all struggle at times with being critical of others, let’s use today’s gospel to examine ourselves and get right with the Lord. Take a sheet of paper and try to answer the following questions as honestly as you can:

Am I too critical of others? Are my critical thoughts aimed at a particular group of people—such as my spouse and children, my co-workers, or my friends and neighbors? Do I find myself categorizing others according to their looks, their talents, their intelligence, or their financial situation?

Now take a few moments to review your answers, and then continue:

Do I use negative humor to raise myself and lower others in my mind? Do I blame others for my problems? Am I hard to please? Do I think my life would be so much easier if certain people would just change their bad habits?

Look honestly at your answers and see if the Holy Spirit shows you any ways that you have been pointing out specks in eyes of others, all the while remaining blind to the plank in your own eye.

This kind of examination can be very freeing. Rather than causing guilt, an open and honest dialogue with yourself and with the Holy Spirit can help you see how you have wronged a loved one by your critical judgments—and it can give you great hope in the Spirit’s promise of transformation. You will find yourself inspired to stop these critical thoughts, and you may even feel led to seek out that person and ask his or her forgiveness. Such an act of humility can bring a world of healing to strained relationships and can restore unity to our homes, communities, and workplaces. You also may go a long way toward freeing the other person to change, because our negative thoughts about others can be like a chain holding them bound in the patterns we are critical of.

“Jesus, please forgive me for any ways I have been critical and judgmental toward others—especially those who are closest to me. Teach me to love others as you have loved me. Help me to remove the plank from my own eyes, so that my words will be uplifting and kind to everyone I meet today.”

1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14; Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-8,11

One Bread, One Body

<< Friday, September 9, 2005 >>

St. Peter Claver

1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14

Psalm 16

Luke 6:39-42

View Readings

“WE ARE NOT WORTHY”

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who has strengthened me, that He has made me His servant and judged me faithful.” —1 Timothy 1:12

At the time this is being written, it has been nearly a year since Fr. Al Lauer, the long-time author of One Bread, One Body, passed away. When the task of continuing this ministry fell to me, I was filled with an acute awareness of my own unworthiness. Nonetheless, when the Lord calls someone to a ministry or task, He provides special “graces of state that accompany the exercise of the responsibilities of the Christian life and of the ministries within the Church” (Catechism, 2004). Our unworthiness is no excuse to not serve Him, for His grace is sufficient (2 Cor 12:9).

No one is worthy to serve Almighty God. Yet He Who calls us to serve Him has judged us worthy (1 Tm 1:12). So if God is for us, no one can be against us (Rm 8:31). We cannot be against ourselves either. We can no longer use the excuse that we are too weak, sinful, or limited to serve Him. Such a claim insults the power of God’s grace and His ability to choose His servants. In His unique wisdom, God delights in calling those who are seemingly unqualified (1 Cor 1:26ff) and “of no standing” (Acts 4:13), such as the twelve apostles.

Servants of God, focus not on yourselves but on Jesus (Heb 3:1). “Whatever you do” for Him, “work at it with your whole being” (Col 3:23). “Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord” (Rm 12:11).

Prayer: Father, You choose me to be Your servant! (Jn 15:16) I give You my life. May I bear much fruit for You.

Promise: “You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in Your presence, the delights at Your right hand forever.” —Ps 16:11

Praise: For love of Jesus, St. Peter Claver served those the world treated worse than animals. He instructed and baptized over 300,000 slaves, providing them food and medicine.