Prepare the Way of the Lord

Published on: December 9, 2024 by Joe Galloway Comment

On this 2nd Sunday of Advent we read in Luke chapter 3 verses 1 through 11 how John the Baptist went around crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” How do we prepare the way of the Lord? How will you receive God and bring Him to your family and to the world? John the Baptist tells us in verse 8 that we pave the way for God by producing good fruit. In verse 11 he says we are to share what we have with those in need. Generosity lies at the core of how we receive Christ and bring Him to others.

Our intentional giving to the needs of the poor, then, is how we receive God in our lives. It is how we exercise our trust in Him to provide. Giving courageously and sacrificially is the loudest “Yes” we can shout, the most thunderous cry we can call out to make straight the pathway of the Lord in this desert of a world we live in. Giving is an act of worship. Giving alms is a way to praise God as we read in Sirach 35. It is one of the best expressions of gratitude we can make to God for all the blessings He gives to us.

December is the giving season. It was either R L Stevenson or Victor Hugo, but one of them is credited with saying. “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.” We give to who we love. Take a look at your giving budget this Advent. How will you use your resources as a tool to build God’s kingdom by loving and serving the poor? How can your spending and giving be a tool to help you grow closer in your relationship with Jesus now and into next year?

Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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Who is Jesus?

Published on: November 24, 2024 by Joe Galloway Comment

Don’t we struggle to figure out who Jesus is to us? On this last Sunday of the liturgical year we celebrate the Solemneity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you king of the Jews?” Jesus certainly didn’t look or act like who we’d expect a king to be. It’s another great paradox of our faith. The “world” so often gives us wrong ideas of what leadership should look like, and what should be most important in our life.

Reflect for a moment on who the kings are in your life. Who and what rules you? Is it people whose opinions matter to you? Your spouse? Your boss? Is it a political party? Your favorite sports team? A time clock? Expectations of others and of yourself? There are many things that compete for our allegiance.

Marketing and advertising on social media will tell us that if we do all the “right” things, be on the correct side of issues, and if we are connected to the right people, then we’ll be successful. If we acquire more stuff and have more exciting outings, then we’ll be happy. And when we gain these relationships and acquire and do these things, then what?

Future Expectations

I think it comes down to what we want and expect for our future and how Jesus shapes those expectations. Who is Jesus to me? Can I trust Him with my future? So I ask myself, “What is most important?” What is it – deep down – that I truly desire? In my heart of hearts, what do I want more than anything else? Peace of mind? Sure. Less stress? Yes. And a sense of joy and satisfaction in my life. And maybe even to make an impact for the good of my community. The good news is all of these things are possible – not by anything I do on my own. But with God, all things are possible.

Jesus is King of the Universe. He is our King. He invites us into relationship with Him. He wants to rule our hearts. When we put Him first, when we give and serve the needs of those most vulnerable amongst us, then we find the peace, joy, and contentment we truly seek. Let Him reign!

Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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Hold Nothing Back

Published on: November 11, 2024 by Joe Galloway Comment

There may be no better example of trust and generosity than the poor widow in Chapter 12 of Mark’s Gospel. You know the story of how Jesus praised her meager offering of 2 coins. But it was all she had. She held nothing back. She models a mature discipleship for all of us. St. Paul taught in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians that if the eagerness is there, if your attitude is gratitude, then your gift is acceptable according to what we have–not what we don’t have (2Cor8:12). This widow shows us that it is not the amount that matters, but rather our intention.

This is who we are as Catholics. We are to give generous support—time, prayers, personal service, and money according to our circumstances—to our parish, our schools, diocesan ministries, and to the universal Church. We’re to do so in return for God’s blessings and in loving trust that He provides. And we are to do so gladly. God loves a cheerful giver (2Cor9:6-7)

How many of us give from our surplus? I confess that for too many years, I didn’t truly feel the impact on my budget of the $20 to $25 a week that I put into the offertory. However, I did continue to stress about my financial condition. But, when I finally gathered up my courage and took the step of faith to give intentionally, sacrificially, like this widow, that is when God gave me His peace about my finances and my station in life.

It is not the size of the gift that matters, but what it costs you. King David said in 2Sam 24:24 that he could not bring a gift to the altar that cost him nothing.

Generosity is not measured in how much you give, but by how much you hold back. Think about how much you give to the church and charities. Does your giving accurately reflect how truly grateful you are for the blessings and benefits God gives to you? Does it reflect how much you trust God to provide? What are you holding back? I encourage you, I implore you, take that step of faith – take courage, give sacrificially – and see if God doesn’t bless you with a sense of peace and joy.

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The One Thing We Must Do

Published on: November 6, 2024 by Joe Galloway Comment

Wouldn’t it be great to have a straight-forward plan to follow Jesus right into heaven? I think that is what the scribe was asking for in chapter 12 of Mark’s Gospel when he asked Jesus which was the first of all the commandments. Considering that by Jesus’ time, the Jewish leaders had hundreds of laws on the books, the scribe’s question was probably his seeking overarching instructions on how to simplify everyday life. He just wanted to know the one thing he must do. Isn’t that how we are, too? Don’t we want a simple plan? “Jesus, just tell me what I have to do.” So, He does. He gives us the one thing we must do to enter heaven. Love. That’s it. Love. Love God and love your neighbor.

We know that love is a verb. It is action. It is the one thing we must do. To love God, we go to Mass, we participate in the Sacraments, we spend time in adoration, we read the scriptures, we pray, and we do for others. Jesus tells us in Mt. 25 that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him.

Living stewardship gives us the perfect action plan. Stewardship is faith in action. It is doing for others in love and thanksgiving to God. As stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, manage them to the best of our abilities, and return them with increase to the Lord. This returning them is our love in action. It is taking the gifts and blessings that God gives us and turning them into something beautiful by serving others, giving alms to help the poor, and helping our most vulnerable neighbors. Give time to the elderly. Give help to the young pregnant woman so that she can confidently choose life. Give money to supplement tuition for children in families of limited means. How else can you give?

Giving is loving. Give in love to your neighbors in need. Give in humble gratitude for God’s blessings.

Mark 12:28-31 One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

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He’s Calling You

Published on: October 28, 2024 by Joe Galloway Comment

Mark 10:49 Take courage; get up, he is calling you.

He’s calling you…

To what is Jesus calling you? To love more actively. To pray more persistently. To praise more enthusiastically. To give more generously. To a deeper and closer relationship with Him. In other words, to holiness. Here are a handful of Bible verses that tell us what God’s call is to us:

1 Cor. 1:2 Called to be holy.
2 Tim. 1:9 He saved us and called us to a holy life.
1 Pet. 1:15 As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.
1 Thes. 4:7 For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.

Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exultate, says that holiness is the mission of every Christian. To walk the path of holiness requires prayer and contemplation alongside action. Prayer is talking to, and maybe more important, listening to God. The actions of holiness are the works of mercy we find in Matthew 25: feeding, clothing, housing, educating, and helping those most in need, the least of our brothers and sisters.

Pope Francis goes on to say, “Be holy by living your lives with love…the path to holiness is almost always gradual, made up of small steps in prayer, in sacrifice, and in service to others. Jesus explained with great simplicity what it means to be holy – living simply, and putting God first, trusting in Him and not earthly power or wealth, being humble, mourning and consoling others, being merciful and forgiving, working for justice, and seeking peace with all.” (see footnote 17 in the book INYM)

So take courage. Be stouthearted (Ps. 27:14). Like Bartimaeus, call out to Jesus. Have faith that He knows you, hears you, and loves you. Then, step out in that faith and give and serve.

Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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