Podcasts

How do You Acknowledge Jesus?

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

When I see and hear people on a street corner, waving a Bible and screaming out their message of hellfire and damnation, I think that they’re… well let’s just say my thoughts are less than charitable. But you know what? They’re bold. They’re out there publicly acknowledging Jesus. How do you acknowledge Jesus?

In Mt 10:32 Jesus tells us that, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.” Hmm… Do I have to stand on the corner and thump my Bible and yell at people like those street evangelists?  I don’t know about you, but that makes me a little nervous.

Of course we want Jesus to acknowledge us before God. What are some of the ways we can acknowledge our faith and trust in Jesus to others? Here are a few:

  • We can go to Mass and join with others in the celebration of the Eucharist. The Mass is a public celebration. But does this meet the spirit of what Jesus is asking for? I don’t know.
  • We can speak kind and be generous to everyone we meet; at the grocery, in the marketplace, at restaurants.
  • Speaking of restaurants, we can pray before the meals comes. One of my friends even asks the waiter if they have anything to be prayed for. I love that.

Not many of us are called, much less comfortable, in proclaiming the Word of God publicly. But, we each can show by our deeds and how we interact with one another that we are motivated by Jesus to love God and to love our neighbor.

This is living stewardship. Stewards acknowledge that God is the source of all we are and all we have. Thus, as stewards, we strive to live as Jesus lived, in humble obedience to God in all things, leaving a legacy of kindness and generosity. How does the way you live, the way you use your Time, Talents, and Treasure acknowledge Jesus before others?

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The Giving is Easy

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

∼Summertime…and the giving is easy∼

Doesn’t it seem that we are constantly asked to give? Every organization, every good cause, and yes, the Church are always in need of funds. And being asked to give is good. Because giving is part and parcel to who we are as Christians. Giving is easy.

Our giving is not to be solely from our excess. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:40 that if someone asks for our tunic, we should give them our cloak as well. Back in those days, tunics and cloaks weren’t luxuries. They were necessities, important for one’s wellbeing in everyday life. And the story of the widow’s mite is well known; she gave from her very sustenance. Not so easy.

We read this past Sunday in Matthew 10:8 where He tells us, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” This connects so well to a fundamental truth we believe as Catholics, that God gives us everything. Every single thing we have is a gift from Him. Every moment of Time. Every ounce of Talent. And every dime of Treasure. Oh my goodness, God is so good!

How do we respond to God’s lavish generosity? He tells us plainly—we are to give. We receive His gifts of time, talent, and treasure at no cost. In gratitude for all of these blessings and benefits, we freely give. We give back from our time, talent, and treasure to those who need it most, the most vulnerable amongst us.

So take courage. Be stouthearted. Give courageously, trusting in God’s love and care for you. That makes the giving easy. St. Francis of Assisi said, “Remember that when you leave his earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received—only what you have given.”

                                                                                                                                                   Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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The Crux of our Faith

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

John 6 especially verses 51 and 53 are the very crux of our faith—the astoundingly beautiful truth of what we believe as Catholics. Unless we eat the flesh of Christ, unless we partake of the Eucharist at Mass, only then do we have life within us. In other words, we must eat the body and blood of Christ to have eternal life.

Oh WOW! How extraordinary a gift! God’s amazing generosity showers us with the abundance of His economy. God’s kingdom is an economy of boundless gift. He gives us everything. His gift of eternal life is greater than anything the world’s economy offers.

Our economy, on the other hand, is one of scarcity. There is only so much to go around – or so we’re told. The world bombards us with messages that cause us to worry that we won’t have enough, that if we are too generous, we might not have enough for our retirement or have anything left to leave for our family. Hmm… Wouldn’t you rather live in God’s economy of lavish abundance?

We participate in God’s economy when we practice the pillars of our faith; prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Start every day in prayer and thanksgiving, asking God to make His will known to you and to give you the courage to live it out. Fast every day by living a simple life and by preferring the good of others more than your own. Give alms generously. Give to support those ministries that serve the poor. Be courageous in this.

Here’s the thing – put God first in everything, including your spending, and trust in His promises that He will provide, that He will turn scarcity into daily sufficiency. Seek first God’s kingdom and know that all else will be given you besides (Mt 6:33). Celebrate the Eucharist often and have eternal life, the crux of our faith. St. John Vianney said that “If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.”

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He Gives

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

This Most Holy Trinity Sunday we read what is probably the most famous verse in the Bible – John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gives his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” How awesome the gift of eternal life!  I can’t hardly wrap my mind around that – eternal life – can you?

But when you think about who God is, He gives. He gives us Himself. He gives us His Son Jesus. And He gives us the Holy Spirit – the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit. He gives us Himself in the Eucharist.

God gives so lavishly. He gives us the gifts of His Spirit – Wisdom, Understanding, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, Piety, Counsel, Knowledge. And His fruits –  love, joy, self-control, kindness, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, generosity, thankfulness – all we need. He gives us everything! His generosity is boundless. It is overwhelming.

As disciples, we strive to be like Him. When we give, we are like Him. When our giving is sacrificial, when it causes us to stretch—is a bit uncomfortable and for the benefit of others—then in our small-scale way we approach the sacrificial self-giving of Jesus on the cross.

I love what St. Teresa of Calcutta has to say about it, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”

                                                                                                                                                              Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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Come Holy Ghost

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blessed… I heard that song on Sunday – Pentecost Sunday when we read in Acts 2 how we are all, each of us, filled with the Holy Spirit. This happens by virtue of our Baptism. We are sealed with the Spirit at our Confirmation. And for what? Not just for our own selfish joy and aggrandizement. No, the Spirit is given to us for some benefit for the good of others (1 Cor 12:7).

But do you really believe that? Do you embrace that truth deep down in our soul? What would your life look like if you did embrace that truth and surrendered to the Holy Spirit with boldness and courage?

Consider a couple of the fruits of the Spirit you receive when you accept this truth: generosity and kindness (Gal 5:22). An attitude of generosity is the heart of being a disciple. God gives us everything. He gives lavishly. Generosity is one of our best responses to Him. We gratefully receive God’s gifts. We manage them faithfully. And out of kindness, we share with others. We care about what is best for our neighbor. Our trust in God to provide and our obedience to His word drives us to generously and courageously share our material resources to make sure our most vulnerable neighbors are fed, clothed, housed, educated – in other words – loved. Their lives change for the good. This is the Spirit in action for the good of others! (1 Cor 12:7)

Oh Wow! What if we all responded this way? What would our world look like if we stepped out in faith, heeded the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and gave to the needs of the poor, we would change the world. We would literally renew the face of the earth as we read in Ps 104:30.

So, Come Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful. May you and I be counted as one of those. Let us pray with St Augustine, “O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.” Give us the wisdom to know and the courage to do what you want us to do to build Your kingdom, so that You renew the face of the earth. Let us find peace and joy in being obedient to your will. Amen.

                                                                                                                                                               Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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