Friends in Christ, today St. Paul speaks about life in the Spirit. In other places he contrasts life in the Spirit with living in the flesh. So what is his idea of living in the Spirit?
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We are hylomorphic beings: body and soul composites. Jesus says, don’t be afraid of the one who can kill the body, but rather of the one who can cast the soul into hell.
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So, we are body and soul, but St. Paul says, that the Christian has a 3rd aspect to himself:[i] Body, Soul, and – Life of the Spirit. The spiritual life. In his Greek, this spirit is pneuma. It is a supernatural change to the human person, which happens in baptism.
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In chapter 3 he says, there are some people who are ‘of the flesh,’ (1 Cor 3:1) the word is sarx. They are sensual, people, dominated by their lower nature or passions: sarkikos people.
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Then there are people whom he calls the ‘natural man,’ also translated: the ‘unspiritual man.’ The Greek word here is psychikos, from where we get the word ‘psyche.’ This is the person caught up in the ‘soulish’ realm, where is the intellect and will. The gifts of God are foolish to him. St. Paul may have in mind those Greek thinkers, who saw the mind as very superior, like proud, intellectual-types today, who are not open to God.
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But here’s the point: whether you are a fleshly man, sarkikos – caught up in your passions – or a man of the psyche, a thinker, an intellectual, you are still not of the pneuma. You are still not of the Spirit, you are walking in the flesh.
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Neither the fleshly man nor the intellectual man is anything, unless he receives the Holy Spirit. This ‘Spirit’ is the ‘God-consciousness’ in us, it is grace, which separates us from the ordinary, unbaptized person walking around today. It is a real difference in our person.
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Other people, non-Christians, have sarks and psyche, but not pneuma. They live a natural life, but they have no supernatural life.
This makes more sense then, when we read St. Paul: He says, ‘The natural man does not perceive the things that are of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him. ‘In the past’, he says, ‘you were carnal – fleshly. But the spiritual man judges all things, because we have received the Spirit that is from God.
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We are body and soul just like everybody else on the planet. But the Christian is also a New Creation, because he walks in the Spirit.
[i] This subject is explored in an article by Tim Staples, Soul, body, Spirit.
Friends in the Lord, Today is Labor Day, and at a time when many suffer from unemployment and worry, let us consider today a few things about work.
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For the world, work is about producing things, the end-result is all that matters. But for we Christians, we look at work in a much different way. Work is the means during our day, by which we offer praise to God. In fact we should praise God in all our activities: in rising, dressing, cooking, playing, and in – working.
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Work is such a part of us, that we often identify our very self with our work. I am a mechanic. I am a nurse. I am a homemaker, we say. It’s often a large expression of ourself. For this reason, if we feel little valued at work, we are sad. If we lose our job, we take it personally. Sometimes too personally. But work is important to us.
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Fr. Francis Fernandez says,[i] ‘we win heaven by our ordinary work.’
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Jesus spent 30 years of his life working, and nothing is written about it. We too, with Christ living in us, offer our daily work to God, and so to that end, we should do only honest forms of work, and do it with the greatest perfection possible.
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Human work done in this manner, no matter how humble or insignificant it may seem, helps to shape the world in a Christian way.
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Enduring with patience those demanding customers; at the job site, returning anger with a kind word – Every act of goodness that we do and offer, especially the hard ones, makes our work holy, and brings supernatural grace to daily life.
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The most mundane tasks offered to God, suddenly become valuable. A man cutting grass may decide that the front lawn he will offer for his son, who is going through a difficult time. And so the man cuts the front yard with perfection. Grace is brought down to his son, and to himself. And his work is not done with boredom, but with love.
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Even the unemployed man should rise on time, and map out a day of work for himself. His main work: looking for a job. Sometimes children come to know their father best when he is out of work, because he has a little more time. All of these daily offerings are ultimately brought here, to Mass, to be offered to our Father.
For Christians, work is not just about results, because work is OUR way, by which we praise God.
[i] In Conversation with God, Vol 1, p. 344. Info in this homily is from here.
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Beloved in the Lord Jesus,
the inability to make commitments, unwillingness to live up to responsibilities, this is common in today’s world. Marriage is delayed, people living together, because no one can make a commitment; fathers of families continue carrying-on like the bachelors they still wish to be; many other features of modern life are driven by a lack of Christian maturity.
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Maturity has been described as a balance between a person’s own desires and the needs of others. In his book, Psychology of the Cross,[i] Father Emmett Carter says that in each of us is the ‘Will to Power,’ this instinct to get what we want, to do what we want; little children can only think of what they want; but there are childish adults as well, who are focused only on their own desires, unable to adjust themselves to the needs of others in their life.
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But for the mature, well-adjusted person, he has learned that his own desires must sometimes be set aside, for the good of others – or for what is noble.
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Today in the Gospel, St. Peter shows some immaturity. When Jesus speaks of the Passion that he must go through, Peter says: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” But he is not thinking of the greater good of everyone else; of the very mission and purpose of Our Lord’s Life, Peter wants the easy way.
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In the comfort-seeking world of today, there is a lot of focus on ourselves, and “Our Needs;” but when the needs of others press upon us, there is often irresponsible behavior, an avoidance of duty, an avoidance of the cross.
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I’m sure everyone here knows some people who are irresponsible, who neglect their duties.
I saw a mother with her teenage son at a restaurant, that’s good right? Except that she said hardly a word to him, she was texting on her phone the whole time. I felt sad for that child. This is not responsible.
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There are people at work who pretend not to see their voicemail message; or they avoid their boss who might have work for them, or pretend to be sick to avoid a difficult presentation – We’ve seen more and more today, terrible service by people in stores – who seem uninterested in a job well done, or in their customers. A lack of responsibility.
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Recall the story Jesus tells of the Good Samaritan where this man is injured. And those various people who have excuses of why they must avoid helping the man. These are not responsible persons. The Lord is telling us, we have to step up to our duties.
Psychologists say that the time of immaturity in youth is a time for experimental play, without serious consequences, a time to explore. But this is what many wish to continue doing, keeping all their options open, just having fun. Being responsible can come later. For many, college has become an extension of adolescence; 4 more years until we get serious.
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It’s true, many of the saints led irresponsible lives for a while. St. Augustine took 33 years to get serious. It took St. John of God 42 years to become responsible. At least they did. But it is not the first part of their life that we admire.
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James Stenson[ii] who writes about raising children says that a child’s moral development comes down to this: moving from self to others. Children are self-centered, mature adults are other-centered.
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Because other people have rights, this leads to our obligations. We have a duty to drive safely because people on the highway have a right to safety. Parents who gave us life and raised us, have a right to be honored. Because God created us and saved us, we have the duty to love, obey, and even praise him. We have duties toward other people.
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Mature people center their lives on their responsibility toward others, not on their own desires. Immature people avoid responsibility and focus on their own wants. A mature government official thinks of what is good for his country, not himself. A responsible wife thinks of her husbands needs, a husband – his wife’s needs; and both sacrifice for their children.
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You know, St. Peter is an example of someone who was not ready to accept responsibility, he feared hardship, the cross. When he had a chance to die with Christ, he instead denied him 3 times – to a girl.
But see later the mature Peter; the St. Peter who leads the others, who teaches the people regardless of danger. And dies a martyr.
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Responsible people carry out their duties no matter how they feel. A man who is mature, who is a father of a family, carries out his obligations even if he is tired.
And, the responsible person lives with the consequences of his actions. He does not play the victim, or blame others, or shirk his duties.
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And perhaps the key feature of a mature person, is that he keeps his promises, come what may – no matter what. People today skip appointments if something better comes along they do not even call. It is God’s will that we be mature, responsible, Christians. But how can we help others be responsible? How can we help our children?
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One way is to let children see examples. They should see their parents being responsible, not living a life of entertainment, but focused on duty, sacrificing for each other, and above all, trying to please Jesus Christ.
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There is something else that has a strong effect on inspiring people to be responsible. It is affirmation, encouragement. Dr. Conrad Baars says, people ‘are incapable of being emotionally mature adults unless they first have received authentic affirmation from another person'[iii]
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James Stenson[iv] says that parents should encourage and praise their children. ‘Don’t give up yet, try it again.’ ‘You’re almost there, try one more time.’ ‘You did your best, I’m proud of you.’
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‘How much this phrase means to children, ‘I’m proud of you.’ Children need encouragement and praise. But this goes for everyone. Most people flourish when they feel the respect and confidence of others.[v]
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When that store clerk is apathetic and uninterested in his customer, it might be a good guess that he does not feel appreciated by his boss; has not been praised or encouraged for anything. St. Paul says, encourage one another and build each other up.
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How often, parents see their child who seems to have no initiative; but then he obtains a part-time job and is entrusted with real responsibility, it can instantly change him.
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St. Peter became a responsible and great disciple; it was because Jesus showed confidence in him. Peter, ‘Feed my sheep.’ ‘But Lord, I’ve failed you a lot…. ‘Feed my sheep!’ ‘You can do it!’
Showing a person that he is valued and trusted, and given responsibility – this affirmation can help a person mature overnight.
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St. John Bosco, who reformed thousands of problem boys, he used to say: ‘Trust a boy even if he does not deserve it; then you will make him trustworthy.
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May the Blessed Virgin encourage us, to praise the Lord by embracing the duties of daily life, as worthy children of God.
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[Entrusted to the prayers of St. Luke]
[i] Psych. of the cross, 80
[ii] Lifeline, James B. Stenson, p. 93
[iii] Dr. Conrad W. Baars. See Healing the Unaffirmed.
[iv] Lifeline, p. 97-98
[v] Psych. of the Cross, 27
Beloved in Christ, today we celebrate the Passion of John the Baptist, when he was beheaded. In ancient liturgical art, we see interestingly, that the head of John the Baptist is depicted as if on the paten at Mass. In those days, instead of the small flat plate we use for the Host, the paten was more of a dish or a platter. So there are these paintings of John’s head on this paten at Mass, why?
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As we know, the Old Testament is full of symbols or types, which point to the coming Savior. John the Baptist becomes the greatest ‘type’ or image of Christ.
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Of the figures of the Old Testament who symbolized Jesus, they all seemed to have died a natural death. None of them paid the ultimate price. In the Old Law, the idea of sacrificing oneself for the other was not known.
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But in the New Law, Jesus will say, ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ John the Baptist did this. John pointed out the Savior: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ And no sooner did he do this, than Herod arrested him. We read today what happened then: Herod’s daughter did a dance to entertain Herod’s guests; King Herod promised her anything, and she asks for John’s head – on a platter! And so it is done. He gave his life for the Truth, he becomes the greatest and final Type, pointing to Jesus. So let us see the interesting meaning of this gruesome head on a dish.
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John is an image of Christ, for sure. If this is the case, then his body is an image of the Body of Christ. St. Paul says, that we are all members of his Body, and Christ is the Head. So that Head on the dish, represents Jesus, the Head of the Mystical Body, on a platter – or at least on a paten.
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As I mentioned, in liturgical art, we see that this head of John is depicted as if on the paten at Mass, which once was more like a dish.[i] One ancient writer says: “The head of John on a dish signifies the body of Christ by which we are fed at the holy altar.”[ii]
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So when the priest offers up the paten, with the Sacred Host on it, we see our Head there, the Head of the Mystical Body. In a remarkable symbol then, John’s Head on the dish, is an image of the Holy Eucharist,[iii] and this is seen in the Prayer after Communion for today’s Mass.
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John was an excellent witness for the Lord. We are to be witnesses as well, even if it means giving our life.
[i] “The severed head of Saint John the Baptist, executed at the request of Salome, King Herod’s stepdaughter, rests on a charger. In later interpretations of the story….. the charger, passed around the table with John’s head, becomes a precedent for the ceremony of the Eucharist.” – http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=1511
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[ii] [i] Breviarum ad usum insignis Eccelsie Eboracensis, ed. S.W. Lawley, 2 vols. (Durham: Andrews & Co., 1880-3), “In festo decollationis sancti johannis baptiste,” Lectio v, 2.817. This and other meanings of the Baptist’s head are surveyed in Janes, Losing Our Heads, 97-138. Note: The Use of York, Eboracum in Latin, was a variant of the Roman Rite practised in part of northern England, prior to the reign of Henry VIII. During Henry’s reign the Use of York was suppressed in favour of the Sarum rite, followed by the Book of Common Prayer.
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[iii] Today’s Prayer after Communion for this day says: ‘Grant, O Lord, as we celebrate the heavenly birth of St. John the Baptist, that we may revere, for what it signifies, the saving Sacrament we have received…’
Friends in the Lord, yesterday was the Feast of St. Monica. Today is that of her son, Augustine. St. Augustine was born in 354 in Tagaste, North Africa, present day Algeria. His mother was a devout Catholic, but his father was a pagan.
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Augustine was very bright, and he went off to studies, to school, in the city of Carthage. He studied Rhetoric, which was great speaking and the mastering of oratory skills. Such talents were very useful in Rome and in the halls of the Senate, perhaps he would one day have such a career.
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But he also was like many young people today. He was searching. Searching for answers to the great questions of life: why do I exist, what happens after death, what is my purpose, is there nothing more?
Like many today, he couldn’t possibly believe that the pious religion of his mother actually held the answers to these great questions. He joined a religion called Manichaeism. It was the New Age religion of its day, borrowing dualistic ideas from the East.
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But he still had questions. Those in this religion promised him, ‘Once you meet Mani (their founder), his wisdom will answer your questions, you’ll see’ Finally he did meet Mani – but Mani had no clue about his questions. Augustine found him to be rather over-rated.
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Loaded with talent, but lacking wisdom, Augustine followed a lifestyle which plunged him deeper into sin and moral evil He moved in with a woman that he was not married to. They had a child out of wedlock, and he felt more and more empty without God. Grace was luring him, pulling him, but he resisted.
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For all his worldly and professional successes, he was restless. Later he would write: ‘Our hearts are restless O Lord, until they rest in Thee.’
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His mother kept praying, and grace kept pulling. Having gone to Rome, and while visiting Milan, curiosity brought Augustine into the Cathedral.
Walking in, he heard the chanting of the psalms. He said, ‘those chanting voices of Christians overflowed into my ears; truth entered my heart and tears gushed forth.” There he met Bishop Ambrose. Talking with him, he found that the answers to his great questions were answered in Jesus Christ. As it turned out, the religion of his pious mother had the answers all along.
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In 387 on Easter night, he was baptized. It was his mother’s dream. He would become a priest, and a bishop, and one of the greatest minds the Church has ever had.
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If you have not read his book, the Confessions, go out today and buy it. There he writes these words, from one who spent many years running away from God: Late have I loved you, O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new. Late have I loved you.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees. You cleanse the outside of cup, but inside you are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
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Friends in Christ, The failings of the Pharisees were not just 2000 years ago, but can easily creep into our own spiritual life. We, daily Mass-goers, hope that we are taking our spiritual life seriously, I think this is why we are here.
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But we must keep careful watch that the devil does not try to corrupt our life of devotion. For people seriously trying to do the Lord’s will: praying daily; trying to keep God’s presence during the day – for such persons, the devil does not do a frontal-attack, rather, he tries to corrupt what we already have.
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One must really wonder what the saints would think of our modern spiritual lives today. What would they think of those who seem to be religious, but are always buying luxury items, living in pleasure – a life of ease? Can we really say that we have a serious spiritual life, if vast amounts of our day are spent being entertained?
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Of course leisure is part of a balanced life; but would not St. Philomena laugh at a person who prays the Rosary, goes to daily Mass, then watches 5 hours of tv a day and parties every night?
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We can’t claim to have a serious spiritual life if we waste away our time in frivolous activity. There must be consistency, there must be what we call ‘unity of life.’ We can’t do our prayers and devotions in the morning, then be an unbearable complainer that our food is not just the way we like it at the restaurant.
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If we are followers of Christ, simplicity, an element of sacrifice, must be part of life. Our piety cannot simply be reduced to familiarity with sacred things, or reading prayers – but some sacrificial acts, sometimes saying ‘no’ to luxuries, being satisfied with what we have, not buying the latest fashion all the time.
If our life is not unified, so that it ALL looks like that of a Christian disciple, we will end up being a Pharisee.
Latin Mass: 11th Sunday after Pentecost
‘And he said: Ephpheta, that is, Be thou opened: and his ears were opened, his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.’
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Friends in the Lord, in the Gospel today, it seems that this man healed by Jesus, was not entirely unable to speak,[i] but rather, after being healed, his tongue was loosed so that he would speak rightly.
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A spiritual interpretation of this text points us to our own use of the tongue. There are times when we almost need such a healing miracle from Christ, in order to speak rightly.
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There is a little-known Commandment of God called the 2nd commandment: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain. We are commanded to keep respect for God’s holy name.
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One day, driving down North Ave, I happened to notice a billboard, that had on it an acronym, OMG. I thought nothing of it – some acronym that I don’t know. But one day it dawned on me what this was. ‘Oh my God.’
Apparently ‘OMG’ is also an abbreviation being used today in texting. Friends in Christ, how far have we come, that the Lord’s name would be used in vain on billboards, in texting.
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A very good lady I know, in conversation, kept using the Lord’s name as a throw-away phrase. OMG I said, hold on a minute, why don’t you say ‘Oh brother,’ or Oh my word, or something, we can’t say this, the Lord’s name. ‘Oh, its just a habit, she said – Yeah, a sinful habit.
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All sins are hateful to God, but dishonoring his name directly insults the Lord. St. John Chrysostom[ii] says that no sin exasperates the Lord so much as blaspheming his adorable name.
But living the 2nd Commandment according to the Law of Christ, is more than just avoiding OMG. The Christian fulfillment of the commandments means an entirely new way of life.
St. Paul says, ‘You must put to death that part of you that is earthly: cursing and obscene language that comes out of your mouth.’ We must put to death that part of us, that is crude and base; we must always be fighting against the animal-side of ourselves, and seek the angelic, godly side.
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This Commandment of God: ‘Thou shalt not use the name of the Lord in vain,’ is for us, speaking with reverence of God, and also keeping the words from our lips worthy and pure – this makes us more like God, and less like animals.
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There was a radio program[iii] a while back, it said: ‘If your child ate his breakfast cereal like a dog, with his face down in the bowl, you would say, ‘stop eating like an animal.’ Even unbelievers would agree that this style of eating is inappropriate, why?
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Well, when your dog eats with his face down in a bowl, we don’t think anything of it. But when a person mimics an animal’s behavior, it is repulsive.
There is something about human life, that makes us want to act in a way different from animals. There is something in us, that is different, that is higher, and we call that the soul, the image of God.
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Animals don’t wear clothes, and no one is surprised; but when people wish to be vulgar or shocking, they go without clothes. The more that one acts like an animal, the further we are from holiness.
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So: if you met someone who was using vulgar speech and indecent words, they may be an ethical person, who knows – but you would know one thing for sure: they are not close to God. They are not holy.
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St. John Vianney says that the person who tries to tell you something by using God’s Name or vulgarity, he thinks his vulgarities make himself more convincing; but they are not convincing; because someone who has no religion can’t be believed or trusted.
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The world will ask: ‘If I am obscene in my words, or indecent in my dress, who is hurt by it? Well this is the standard today. Anything goes, as long as no one is hurt.
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But the trouble is, the higher part of ourself is hurt. The higher part of you and me is wounded. ‘But there is no higher part, there is no soul, ‘we are just animals’, they say. Yes. And that’s what holiness fights against. That is what the 2nd Commandment fights against.
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When I see a car with a bumper sticker that has an obscene word on it, I don’t know if the person in the car is immoral or evil, but I know one thing: They are not holy.
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Vulgar language or behavior leads people away from God, leads them to become more like an animal; but using God’s name with reverence, speaking with polite and pure language – this helps us remain close to God.
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St. Augustine says, those who speak obscenely are the ministers of Lucifer; their tongue is fired in hell, and is used to burn themselves and others.[iv]
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St. John Vianney says, alas, how many parents there are with so little religion, that bad words are always on their lips; many little children are weak and sour and even vicious because of the tongues of parents.
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Father Sabatino[v] tells of a 15 year old boy who having heard an obscene word began to indulge in impure thoughts, and died that night. A priest started to say Mass for him, but the boy appeared and told him that he was already damned.
Obscene words lead to the ruin of others.
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We don’t eat with our faces in a bowl like an animal, because even in today’s society, it is still felt that we are different from animals. But as you will notice, routine insults to God: OMG, vulgar language on tv and the movies, routinely – people are losing their godliness as they seek to be an animal.
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St. Paul says, ‘seek what is above. ‘Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For your life is now hidden with Christ.’ St. Paul is urging us to live a ‘higher’ life, and he means holiness.
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Some people feel very bad when they have used God’s name, Jesus’ name badly, they confess it. well, thank goodness that they at least recognize their fault, at least they are hearing their conscience.
St. Josemaria[vi] says that the deaf and dumb man in the scriptures, represents the person who is deaf to his conscience, and who is unable to confess his sins.’
‘Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things others need to hear, things that will really help them.'[vii]
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‘We are just animals’, they say.’ Yes. And that’s what the 2nd commandment fights against. Keeping God’s name holy, pure words – this is to fight for the higher, godly nature in Man.
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O Mary, our Mother. Mary, pray for us, that by honoring God’s Holy name, and keeping our words innocent and pure, we will fight to live that higher, godly life, the life of Jesus Christ.
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[Entrusted to the prayers of little Audrey Santo]
[i] Sermons of St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 301.
[ii] Sermons …, p. 401.
[iii] Dennis Prager radio show.
[iv] Sermons …, p. 301
[v] Sermons …, p. 304.
[vi] Christ is Passing By, p. 300.
[vii] Eph 4:29
Friends in Christ, today is the feast of Pope St. Pius X.
Born Joseph Sarto in Venice, he was the second of ten children in a poor family. He was educated at the village school, then ordained a priest, then bishop, then Cardinal of Venice. He was elected Pope in 1903.
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From his simple upbringings, he was a bit uncomfortable with all the pomp of Rome in those days. He said to a friend: “Look at how they have dressed me up,” “It is a penance.”
At his installation as Pope, his mother kissed his papal ring. Then she held out her hand, with her wedding ring, and said, “Son, you kiss my ring, because without it, you would not have yours.’
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Pius X is perhaps best known for having lowered the age for 1st Communion. But he did other things too; he promoted the use of sacred music in Church, principally, Gregorian Chant. He encouraged the daily reading of the Holy Scriptures, called for reform of the clergy and seminaries, and he had terrible struggles with the anti-religious government of France.
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In many ways, he was a prophet. He identified the seeds of what he called ‘the heresy of Modernism.’ He wrote two important encyclicals on this subject, explaining the errors which were infecting the world:
1. The idea that religion is just a product of human feelings and imagination, instead of true revelation from God.
2. The idea that miracles in the bible are myths, or that Jesus was just a good man, not God.
3. The idea that all religions are really the same.
4. The idea that doctrines of the Church can be changed as needed by society.
5. The idea that the teachings of the Church are not good for the well-being of society.
6. The idea that marriage can be dissolved by the will of man.
7. The idea that science is superior to religion in all things.
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These were errors that were just starting then. He saw that the root, is the rejection of the supernatural, the unwillingness to accept that God acts in the world, and that he is real. These ideas are found everywhere today. We might call it Liberalism. But 100 years ago, Pius X saw it all coming.
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Pope Pius X had one last dream: to prevent World War I. It was his sadness, that he was unable to prevent it. He died brokenhearted, a few weeks after the war began.
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The historian Ludwig Pastor said of Pius X: ‘He was one of those few people whose personality is irresistible. Everyone was moved by his angelic kindness. In his presence, there was a deep conviction of being face to face with a saint”
Beloved in the Lord, today is the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
St. Bernard has been called the most influential theologian of the 12th century. He was a religious, a monk, yet he became a crucial public figure in many affairs of the Church.
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Europe in the 12th century was a rapidly changing world, with increasing population, the development of universities, growth in art, literature, and government – it was also a time of an increase of secularization.
At that time, nearly half a million religious monks and sisters lived in Europe, yet the monasteries were becoming more enmeshed in worldly affairs. For this reason, some men and women sought to recover the true spirit of religious life, and this led to the founding of new orders.
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There was also anxiety in those days; Islam was on the march, conquering Jerusalem in 1079, and preparing to conquer Constantinople; therefore, thousands of ordinary people volunteered to defend against the armies of Islam by forming the first crusade. St. Bernard watched all this happening when he was 9 years old. So it was a time of spiritual zeal, when the survival of countries was at stake.
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St. Bernard was born in 1090; one of seven children; At age 17, his mother, with whom he was very close, passed away. As he was very intelligent and from an influential family, any career would have been possible for him. Nevertheless, he decided to become a monk at age twenty-two. He chose the Cistercians. The Cistercians lived a very strict life of prayer and penance, and they were part of the new reforms of religious life.
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St. Bernard was a leader from the beginning. In fact, when he first came and knocked on the door of the monastery for admittance, he brought with him 30 other young men! He founded the famous abbey at Clairvaux, France, and there he perfected his monastic rule which would be the model for 163 other Cistercian monasteries.
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St. Bernard was called upon to preach the 2nd crusade, he advised popes and kings, and wrote important books on theology; His writings soar to the heights of joy and love, and he is perhaps best known for his love for Mother Mary. He believed that above all, our goal must be to conform our life to God’s will, in every detail of our daily life. To do God’s will in all things, no matter the cost.
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He is the patron saint of candle makers and beekeepers.
Friends in Christ, many today believe what is called, ‘the prosperity gospel.’ This is the ‘health and wealth gospel preached by mega-churches around the country. The most well-known is Joel Osteen at his mega-church in Houston. He says: ‘you should trust that God will give you the house that you desire and the job that you deserve, Christianity will make you prosperous!’
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Polls show that 61 percent of Christians think that God wants them to be rich, and that if you give your money to God, God will bless you with more money.
This prosperity gospel is a belief of millions of so-called Christians. They teach that the more a person has faith, the more they will have success and material blessings. These ideas run through Pentecostal and evangelical churches.
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This idea originated with Oral Roberts who says: “expect miracles” and be confident that God will reward you materially and financially.
Assemblies of God churches export this idea to poor areas of the world; poor people find it attractive.
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So, is this idea in the bible? Actually, it is. It is in the Old Testament. Before Christ, there was the idea that if you are faithful to God, God will bless you with many sheep, and children, and property.
But people also wondered – because it seemed that sometimes wicked people got pretty rich. The Book of Job wonders about this too. Job tries to be righteous, but everything seems to go wrong for him. The Psalmist often cries out, ‘Why do the evil people prosper?!’
Before Christ, people thought that faithfulness to God means that everything will go your way in life.
Our Lord, however, shows us that material prosperity, perfect health, and no problems – is not the promise of the kingdom of heaven. Tell the Christian man who is dying of cancer, that he will have great health if he follows Christ – Tell the devout Christian woman who loves the Lord, whose home has been destroyed by a hurricane, that nothing bad will ever happen to her –
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Jesus teaches us that in this life, the Christian must sometimes carry the cross, this is how he becomes a real Christian. ‘Unless you take up your cross, you cannot be my disciple. ‘Blessed are the poor, the kingdom of heaven is theirs. ‘Sell what you have and follow me, and you will have riches in heaven. This is the Gospel.
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Jesus calls us to RENOUNCE riches, and by a simpler life, set our heart on the riches of heaven.
Many protestant preachers who claim to follow Christ, have actually returned to the dead letter of the Old Testament. ‘Woe to you preachers says the Lord. You have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves have not entered, and you have prevented others from entering.
‘How hard it is for the rich, to enter the kingdom of heaven.’
