Podcasts

the Presentation

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

This Sunday we celebrated the Presentation of the Lord. We read about it in chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel where Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem for the presentation, to consecrate their first born to God. Good Jews, they were being obedient to the Mosaic law. 

Can you envision the scene? I think of a place like St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Cavernous. Beautiful. The aroma of incense floating in the air. People milling about while others are kneeling and praying. Here comes this young couple with their infant approaching the altar, probably a bit awestruck. An old man rushes up to them and grabs the baby. Mary’s in shock. Joseph is about to punch the man. Of course, baby Jesus is unphased. But Simeon cradles Jesus in his arms as his eyes follow the smoke of the incense rise to the highest arch above the altar. He blesses God and shares his prophecy. He tells them of Jesus’s destiny and of Mary’s calling to care for God’s gift to her of this baby, and how she herself will be pierced by a sword. I imagine Mary and Joseph standing there, agape, asking, “What did you say?” Verse 33 says they were amazed.

Are you amazed at God’s call on you? God calls all of us. He gives each of us unique talents and abilities. As obedient disciples, we are to receive them gratefully, develop and manage them well, and use them to serve others and build His kingdom. Do you acknowledge God for all your gifts and talents? Do you strive to use them in ways that honor Him? When you do, you are building your legacy. You are making a difference in the lives of your loved ones for the good of the community. You are being the disciple God calls you to be. 

Praise God for all the blessings and benefits He gives to you. Give in return out of gratitude and love to honor God for His gifts to you. 

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When One Suffers – All Suffer

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

This past Sunday we read in 1 Corinthians 12: 26 that when one part of our body suffers, all of the body suffers. Am I living that out now. I’m suffering from a sinus infection. My nasal passages are jammed up. My eyes are puffy. And so my entire body drags through the day. This has been going on for three weeks now. I went to see the doctor and he tells me, “Mr Joe, at your age…” He obviously flunked the class on bedside manners in Medical School.

Isn’t it interesting how a tiny ailment – a hangnail for example – can affect us. It seems our entire body is in pain. In this cold weather season, I get little fissures at my fingernails. Man they hurt. How can something so small and seemingly insignificant cause such aggravation and distraction? 

We know from practical experience that if one part suffers, all parts suffer with it. If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, You know what I mean. This is true for our bodies, and it is Biblically true for the Body of Christ. 

The Great Commandment – Love

Jesus gives us the great commandment to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When a neighbor suffers, we suffer. When someone suffers homelessness and unemployment, our community suffers. Those suffering addictions, our community suffers with them. Young women struggling to figure out how to have and keep that baby, only to find no help – we all suffer. How can we, as good stewards, alleviate their suffering? How can we disciples of Jesus step up and make a difference in the lives of those suffering? How can our stewardship of all the blessings God gives to us, in turn, be a blessing to those in need?

Let’s pray about how we, as good stewards, as disciples, can make an impact on our families and our community for the good of God’s kingdom, “Lord, give me the wisdom to know how to serve, and the courage to do it.” Amen.

 

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Filled with Expectation

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

People had high expectations of John as he baptized them. We read in Luke 3:15, “Now the people were filled with expectation.” What are your expectations of God, the church, yourself? What are your hopes for this new year? May I suggest – transformation. 

We see in that passage in Luke 3 how the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to us constantly, relentlessly. We have only to receive it. The Spirit has the power to transform us even now if we let Him. Let us pray, Come Holy Spirit!

Because we are baptized, we become members of God’s family. As family, we are called to love each other as Jesus loves. When we do that, when we love others as Jesus loves us, we transform the world. It is all about God’s love of us. When we bring God’s love to others, we give them the hope that this world so desperately needs.

I love the reflections of Dn. Arthur Miller on the USCCB site. He tells us of how he wakes up each morning and prays, “Lord, what are we gonna do today? What do you want to do through me today?” To that, I add, “Lord, give the wisdom to know what that is, and the courage to do it.” 

Let’s add that morning prayer to our NY resolutions. Every morning let’s ask God to show us who to love and how to engage the works of mercy – feeding, clothing, housing, visiting the most vulnerable amongst us. By trusting the Spirit, acting courageously, and giving generously of our Time, Talent, and Treasure, God’s love will flow through us. We will bring forth justice and transform the lives of those most in need. We will change the world.

                                                                                                                                                                   Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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All is Gift!

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

God is outrageously generous. As God owns everything (1Chron 29:11-14, Col 1:16), then everything we have is a gift to us from God (Dt 8:18, Acts 17:25). Truly, what do you have that God has not given to you? He gives us everything – every moment of time, every ounce of talent and ability, and every dime of treasure we earn by employing our talents in the time allotted to us. All is gift. Everything! How blessed are we?!

Acknowledging this truth forms the proper mindset that who you are as a person and all that you have is from God. This overwhelming truth invites a response. Our best response is in humble praise, we receive His gifts gratefully, manage and develop them to the best of our abilities, and we return them to God by using them for the good of others. That is what St. Paul is telling us in Ephesians 3:2, “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit.”

This is the essence of stewardship. When we embrace the astonishing truth of God’s lavish gifts to us and how blessed we are, it is awe-inspiring. We must respond. What will your response be? How will you be a better steward this year? 

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Rejoice Always!

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:4-7)

Divisive politics. Systemic racism. Inequitable economic opportunity. War and global instability. Hunger and homelessness. All this we hear on the nightly news. This on top of what might be going on in our own little worlds at home: health issues, relationship and job challenges. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in light of the turmoil in our world. We are tempted to put our Scrooge on and just say ‘bah’ to it all. 

But, that’s not the way of a Christian. Paul tells the Phillipians, and so us, to rejoice always and have no anxiety at all. Paul told this to the Thessalonians, too, saying to give thanks in all circumstances. Sure, no sweat! But, how are we to be joyful in the midst of the strife and turmoil that twirl around us? 

I think it comes down to trust. Paul goes on to instruct us to make our requests known to God in prayer and thanksgiving. We can trust God that He will guard our hearts and minds and give us His peace. Joy comes of trust. We can trust God to provide and follow John the Baptist’s advice to give generously, act justly, and be satisfied with what we have (Luke 3:10-14).

So yes, be joyful! Gaudete! Let us rejoice and give thanks to God for all the blessings and opportunities He gives us. Let us show kindness to all. Ian MacLaren is credited with saying, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Trust God, give courageously, and have His peace and joy this Advent and always. Trust that He wants the best for you. Let us pray without ceasing, lifting our hearts and thoughts to God, and asking for the wisdom to know His will and the courage to do it. This is who we are as Disciples of Jesus. 

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