November 22nd, Wednesday
Potential
Living up to ones potential is a two-way street. Is someone asking more than can be achieved? Is someone giving their all? The job and athletics are two areas where one can be sure of receiving critique. Who gives 100 or 90 per cent, who demonstrates true zeal? Who knows the limits and what’s possible? Remember the three-minute mile was an impossibility.
Only the One knows us better than ourselves. The servant whose proceeds were less the other was not punished for failure to produce more. Is it possible that his achievement was measured by his own capability? Each to their own level. Only the servant who didn’t try is punished. Be not wary of what others do, but of one self. Would punishment ensue is drought caused failure? If one tried, hopefully not.
Lord, may I judge others well, and be more knowledgeable of my own capabilities.
November 23rd, Thursday. Thanksgiving
Just a Little
On this holiday we are bombarded with more consumerism and misstatements about history. I am told what to be grateful for and what to do. Sure there are great “things” that make my life pleasurable, but in my heart, where no one else can see, are moments and gifts not embellished by our culture. Secrets to treasure between the Lord and I.
In moments of our lives, there is some part of us, where someone touched and made us a better. From a soldiers’ grave in a forgotten field, to the muckrakers, social workers and teachers who care, we have been blessed.
Remember, our lives could have gone down a different road for better or worse. We are here now, temporarily, for something magnificent awaits. Be thankful for that truth, too. Especially now and always.
Forgive me, Lord, when my thanks and appreciations are not as they should be.
November 24, Friday
The Word and the World
How different can the world of Saint Andrew Ding-Lac be from the world of Jesus and the New Testament? Ones culture could be a boundary against faith, but Christ’s Word was not like any other. The spread of The Word in such varied cultures and climates shows the strength of his teachings. It shows the desire of the human spirit in search of the Truth.
For their beliefs, between 100,000 and 300,000 faithful were either killed or suffered great hardships in Southeast Asia, between 1820 and 1860. In another time or place our own beliefs could also be seen as traitorous.
Do not take our delicate political system for granted. Do not take our faith for granted. So many believed without witnessing. They believed in something so different and wonderful.
May my faith, Lord be as strong as that as the Martyrs of Christ.
November 25th, Saturday
The Endurance of The Word
How often things change from generation to generation. Just glance at some of the advertisements from the 50’s and 60’ and see the cultural differences. Television likes to display these with comical satire.
Some aspects of the Old and New Testaments are very foreign to us. In Jesus’ Time, like in many societies, women were considered more like a possession. Even after death, a woman was believed to belong to her husband. Fortunately, today we live in a more open and equal community.
The powers of His words are so evident that they still maintain relevance after 2,000 years. Even though His words were for the priestly caste, today they tell us that after our resurrection we shall be individuals belonging only to God. His teachings were and still are revolutionary.
Lord, help me to understand the power and relevance of Your Words.
November 26th, Sunday
Questions of Choice and Free Will
Did Pontius Pilate have a choice and was he a prisoner of his own making? Can one truly ‘wash their hands’ from all responsibility? These questions can never truly be answered.
There was a choice to be made to fulfill the scriptures and prepare for the resurrection. Pilate was representative of the Empire. His training and position already determined the outcome; he could think of no other solution and never thought further. Free will was handed over to Satan a long time prior to his posting Jerusalem. Are we too caught up in our environment?
Is free will a curse or a blessing? We have it and must take responsibility for actions and most importantly our inaction and the limits of responsibility. Be aware, use your voice, inquire.
Lord, may I see clearly what is needed and is to be done.
November 27th, Monday
True Values
The life of the widow may show contentment, dependence and acceptance of God, satisfaction from the basics life has to offer. For some reason I picture my grandparents. Learning the truths of life from wars and depression. As time and culture proceeded, they stayed fixed on their personal values and not engrained by consumerism where more leads to the want of more Spirituality, today, can be drowned out by material values and respect is based on ones material possessions. A hunger to possess that is never satisfied.
It seems to me that those with the least can be the most satisfied if they chose not to be encumbered by our culture’s commercial values. I admire individuals like Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day. They chose a life of dependence on God and freedom from its tapestries.
Lord, let me not be overwhelmed by these values based on things.
November 28th, Tuesday
Words for His time, Our Time
Like so many of His Words, what Jesus says here pertains to the future of the Temple and the City of Jerusalem, as well as our world and our children’s. It also pertains to the centuries following His Death and the centuries to follow our deaths. He was and is speaking to cultures, nations and peoples not yet imagined.
We should not be concerned with the ornaments of life, the condition of our jewelry and other items displaying our status. They are temporary symbols, and like nations they too fade with time. What we cannot touch is where the importance of our lives lay – the soul. The human race will continue to fight amongst themselves and He will always be watching. We shall continue our follies of pride and self-centeredness.
Lord, keep me from getting caught up with misplaced values and pride.
November 29th, Wednesday
Hardships and Personal Trials
Again, Jesus speaks for all generations and the trials to be faced. We know the road then was abundant with hardships and ordeals. Our travels too will also be full of “potholes”. Whether we are preachers, leaders or just the sheep we shall all face our individual trials.
The best way, I once heard, to face life is with you head up. You set examples to many of those we do not even know and leave a legacy of respect to those who follow. We are examples of our faith.
We cannot all follow the courage as Fr. Maximillan Kolbe displayed in the concentration camp, but our daily faith will lead the way. There will be trails as long at the earth rotates. Like him, we must accept proudly.
Give me the courage, Lord, to follow the examples of my forbears.
November 30th, Thursday St Andrew, Apostle
Review
Who’s Who
One of my more ‘interesting’ pastimes is reading the NY Times Obituary. No, it’s not to see if I’m there, but to see how these individuals contributed to our lives. Some may call it a gruesome habit, however I note so many who dedicated their lives to a particular task. They may not have made the history books, per see, but they were influential.
On St Andrew’s feast day, we recall the apostle, but we really know very little about him. Like the others, he must have sacrificed, suffered and doubted tremendously. We will never know the accomplishments of so many until our time comes.
I would have enjoyed being written about, but is that my main objective. Look to all the others who influenced our lives and go ‘unnoticed’.
Let me not forget, Lord, those who dedicate and go unheralded.
Glenn Slaby Blog