Reflection for Thursday, February 12: Speak Up

Mass Readings: Genesis 2:18-25/Mark 7:24-30

Jesus was beyond his home territory and reaching beyond his mission to his Jewish brethren. Why limit his efforts to the Jews? Were the Gentiles just not ready? The Chosen People, after all, had been waiting for the Messiah for 2000 years.

The Syrophoenician woman seems to have understood the difference. She seemed to grasp better than most her place in God’s plan of salvation and was better prepared to receive the Messiah. Perhaps Jesus’ challenge was to get her to confess her faith out loud. Spoken out loud and received by Jesus and others, her faith was made real to all.

How often are we challenged to express out loud our faith in Jesus? As a sacramental people, if it is not said out loud or otherwise made tangible, then how real is it?

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust you enough to make you known in the world.

Challenged by The Joy of the Gospel

I have been reading Pope Francis’ Joy of the Gospel.  I wish I had read it a year ago. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. You can find it at the Vatican website. If you are the type that prefers to read an actual book, you can order it from Amazon or other retailers. For a papal document it is fairly easy to read.

The pope has been pretty good at making us feel good, but if we are really listening he is challenging us too. He should be making us a little uncomfortable. I am only about a third of the way into the text and the pope has already motivated me to change a few things.

First, I have started journaling again. The reason I journal is to hold myself accountable for how I pray and how my prayer affects the way I live out my vocation as a husband, father, and teacher.

Secondly, he challenges the way I and everyone looks at our free time. Am I so worried about “free time” that I use it as an excuse to be stingy or selfish with my time? Do I use it as an excuse not to do more at my parish or even play with my kids?

Finally, I am challenged once again to be patient with the plan God has for me, my family, his Church, and the world. I need to do my part, but that doesn't mean I get to decide what my part is.

I don’t doubt I will have more to say as I read further. If you happen to read it let me know what your “take aways” have been.