Ordinary Time

Words and actions without love are only clanging cymbals. We live in a time where there are a lot of strong opinions and convictions that are often expressed in a very noisy way that's more like cymbals than it is like love. St. Paul defines that "love" as patient, kind, not jealous, not rude, not quick-tempered. It's relatively easy to have those qualities in our conversations with those who agree with us. It's difficult to live St. Paul's definition of love when we're in conflict or disagreement with someone - and even more so when you or the other is so entrenched in a way of thinking that there is no possibility of dialogue at all. That's when the clanging cymbals become noisier and noisier.
Our challenge is to be attentive to our conversations - at work, at home, at school, and elsewhere - and avoid being a clanging cymbal. Differences will always exist, but let's allow our words and actions to hold true to the Word of God so we can continue to build His kingdom on earth without caving in to the negativity and clanging of cymbals.

God has given each one of us gifts to be used for each other and in service to Him (and the rest of His family). No matter how old or young you are, there are times when you may feel you don't have any value or use. The truth is, God loves, values, and treasures each of us. Even if you do not know what your gifts are right now, that does not mean God wants to get along without you or that you're not important to him.

The attitude with which we approach all that life dishes out makes a huge difference. Inviting Jesus into our lives is key to maintaining a positive attitude, and He is constantly whispering to each of us, "Let me in." 

Everything we have is a gift from God. The best response we can make to that is to live in a spirit of gratitude: to live our lives with sufficient depth that we ponder the blessings of each day and give thanks to God for those blessings — to not let them bounce off the surface of our thoughts and take them for granted.

There's a lot of misunderstanding about judgement, hell, and purgatory. So many of us hold an unhealthy guilt and fear of what judgement is going to be; that all the sins you've confessed will be held against you at the end. But God's mercy is everlasting and directed at each of us. Holding firm to that; understanding what hell and purgatory are, as defined by our faith, and practicing now the language and values of the Kingdom of God is the key.

We don't have to look far beyond the visible reality in which we live to find God and the hidden truths contained in day-to-day life. What's important is to adopt the practice of thinking about our life and experiences with the conviction that God is present, somehow, in all of it.

As you encounter the little (and the big) things of brokenness in life, remind yourself: This is not heaven. . . but heaven is going to blow my socks off.

How many of us can really see, spiritually speaking? In one sense, we're all blind beggars like Bartimaeus; we're blind to the light of faith. Like Bartimaeus, we need to ask the Lord for the gift of faith - not just for ourselves and our families, but for the world and all who walk in the darkness of not knowing who Jesus is.