Ignatius of Loyola

Today the Episcopal Church remembers Ignatius of Loyola, who was born in 1491 in Spain. He was a soldier who fought in one major battle, the defense of Pamplona against the French in 1521. The professional solders knew that their position was indefensible, and proposed to surrender. Ignatius had visions of military glory, and urged his comrades to fight. He was promptly hit in the leg by a cannon ball, but his leg was badly set and failed to heal properly. It was re-broken and reset, and again it healed crookedly and left him with a permanent limp. During his convalescence, he was bedridden for many months and spent the time reading. He was given a Life of Christ which was written by a Carthusian monk. He read it, and his life was transformed.

He went on pilgrimage to Montserrat, near Barcelona, where he hung up his sword over the altar, and then spent about a year at Manresa working as a nurse and orderly in a hospital. Thereafter, he retired to a cave to live as a hermit and study The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Ignatius probably wrote his Spiritual Exercises, a manual of Christian prayer and meditation where he directs the reader to begin with an event in the life of Christ, and to imagine the scene in detail, to replay the episode in his mind, to try to feel as if he had himself witnessed the event, and then to use this experience as a motive for love, gratitude, and dedication to the service of God.

In 1534, he and six fellow students formed a group who vowed to travel to Jerusalem and there preach the Gospel. This group later took the name, “The Society of Jesus,” and were nicknamed “the Jesuits.”

William Wilberforce

The Episcopal Church remembers William Wilberforce today, the day of his death in 1833. You may remember him as the main character in the film Amazing Grace.

Lesser Feasts and Fasts notes that Wilberforce was born into an affluent family in Hull, York, England, on 24 August 1759. He was educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1780 where he served until 1825.

Wilberforce was a child of the Evangelical movement within the Church of England which was started in large part by John Wesley, an Anglican clergyman and missionary to Georgia, who is credited with founding “Methodism.” Wilberforce converted to the Evangelical life within the Anglican Church in 1784, prior to his entry into public life in Parliament. The influence of his faith in his work within the political system is evident. Wilberforce was dedicated to his single-minded crusade for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade. The slave trade was accomplished in the United Kingdom in 1807, and slavery itself just one month before Wilberforce’s death.

Wilberforce gave himself to the promotion of overseas missions, education for all people, and the reformation of public manners and morals.

The Collect for the Day:

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, kindle in your Church the never failing gift of love, that, following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Martha, Martha ...

Today the Church remembers Mary and Martha of Bethany, Lazarus’ sisters. In today’s reading from the Gospel according to Luke (10:38-42), we hear about Jesus’ visit to their house:

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

You can just imagine the scene. Martha is running around the house making sure that the table is set, that everything tastes just right. She wants to make sure that everything is absolutely perfect after all, Jesus is the guest. Meanwhile, Mary is sitting there taking in everything that Jesus has to say. Martha is just a little upset. She is doing all of the work, and Mary is, well, just sitting there and not lifting a finger. Martha has had enough, and she decides to get Jesus involved. She gets a bit of a surprise. Jesus tells her that she is a little too distracted by trying to get things just right and that she is neglecting to feed her soul by spending some time with him.

To be sure, there is a little of Martha in all of us. There are those times when we are so distracted by trying to get things just perfect and by the tasks which need to be accomplished that we neglect to listen to Jesus. When we fail to listen to Jesus’ voice, we tend to be overwhelmed with what lies ahead of us.

Mary provides a good example; there is a time to work and there is a time to listen. Jesus invites us to spend a little time with him every day in prayer. When we spend that time with Jesus, the many tasks that we are called upon to do, from caring for our families, driving in Houston traffic, doing the grocery shopping, engaging in work to support those whom we love, become much easier. Jesus accompanies us on those tasks and keeps us focused on what is important.

The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath.

We have left Matthew’s Gospel, and now the Daily Office has moved into the Gospel according to Mark. Some scholars have described Mark’s Gospel as a long prelude to the Passion narrative. In Mark’s Gospel, we see the Pharisees always trying to trap Jesus, and what’s more, plotting to have him killed. Today’s reading, from the second chapter, is one of those moments:

One Sabbath he was going through the cornfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

The Pharisees were in the habit of placing man made law ahead of the true purpose of God’s Law. The purpose of the Sabbath law was to set aside time to honor and to worship God; to set aside a time for prayer. The Pharisees, however, lost sight of that purpose and made the Sabbath a time for following rules. The Pharisees would ask questions like: “How much can you work on the Sabbath?” “What happens if your ox falls in a ditch, can you pull the ox out?” In did not take long before they lost sight of what the Sabbath was truly about, setting aside time for God.

To be sure, rules are needed. However, at times we lose focus on what is really important. We can be like the Pharisees too when we allow our human made church practices and rules ahead of honoring and worshipping God through prayer as a faith community.

St. James the Apostle

Today the Episcopal Church remembers St. James the Apostle. He, and his brother John, were the sons of Zebedee, and were knick named “the Sons of Thunder.” They were among the twelve disciples of Jesus. James, John and Peter were at the Transfiguration, witnessed the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (P 1:29) and the raising of Jairus’ daughter.

In Mark’s Gospel (1:16-20), we hear how James was called and what his response was:

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

What a tremendous personal presence Jesus must have had while he walked this earth! When Jesus calls James, he leaves everything behind and follows. We should do the same in our lives leaving aside our fears.

The Acts of the Apostles (12:1-2) tells us the following about how James met his death: “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword…”

What a tremendous faith and love for Jesus James had. He followed Jesus’ example of giving His life in service to God.

Thomas á Kempis

Today the Episcopal Church remembers Thomas á Kempis who was born in the duchy of Cleves, Germany around 1380 and died on 25 July 1471. He was a priest and author who devoted his life to spiritual development and writing devotional works. His most famous book, The Imitation of Christ, urges us to follow Jesus’ example of following God’s will in all things.

Thomas opens The Imitation of Christ with the following words:

“He who follows Me, walks not in darkness,” says the Lord (John 8:12). By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.

The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.

What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.

This is the greatest wisdom—to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification.

One of the appointed readings for today is taken from chapter 14 of Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Paul writes:

Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Paul reminds us that how we act really matters, and he admonishes us not to hurt others within the Christian community by what we do, especially to those whose faith may be new or fragile. We should encourage others in the faith and not be a scandal to them by what we do. The same holds true to how we relate to others outside our church community. How do we act in our day to day lives with those whom we come into contact with at school, work, grocery shopping, driving on Houston’s mad roads? How many times have we shaken an angry fist at someone who has cut us off in traffic while the bumper sticker on our car says “God Listens”? Paul is right: “Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification.”

God's Plan Is Much Different Than Ours

Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 26) continues today in the readings for the Daily Office and we are moving ever closer to Jesus’ crucifixion. Today, Judas betrays Jesus, someone that he spent three years with as Jesus went about preaching, teaching and healing. Matthew writes:

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Judas wanted a Messiah that would restore Israel to its former glory as in the days of King David. Judas wanted a Messiah that would throw the Romans out of Israel. He wanted a Messiah on his terms. God had a much different plan. Jesus is the Messiah who says that if you want to be first, you must be last. Jesus said that he came not to be served, but to serve. His entire life of preaching, teaching and healing are based on servanthood. Jesus is the suffering servant; He is the one who gives all that He has to bring life to the world through the power of the resurrection.

Like Judas, we ran astray when we think we know better than God, when we put our plans ahead of His.

Jesus Shares Completely In Our Humanity

In today’s reading from the 26th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus prepares for what is to come:

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus shares in our humanity completely. He is afraid. He desires to avoid what is to come because He knows that not only will it not be easy, but it will cost Jesus His very life. Jesus asks His friends to be with Him in His hour of need, but they are not up to the task because they fail to understand what Jesus is about.

In the end, though, Jesus submits to the will of His Father, trusting in the Father’s plan for the salvation of the world. Jesus is the suffering servant who gives his all for us even though at times we fall short.

How Many Times Have We Betrayed Jesus?

Today’s reading from chapter 26 of Matthew’s Gospel is set during the Last Supper:

When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

How many times in our lives have we been like Judas? How many times have we betrayed Jesus by what we have done and by what we have failed to do? How many times have we said that we would never do such a thing?

Jesus invites us as His guests to the heavenly banquet table. Let’s be sure to live out our lives as people who have dined with Our Lord.

Bishop William White

Today, the Episcopal Church remembers William White, who was Bishop of Pennsylvania. He was a remarkable man of prayer who helped shape the Episcopal Church.

You might be surprised to learn that before the American Revolution, there were no Anglican (Church of England) bishops in the Colonies. After the American Revolution, it became extremely important to have American bishops. Samuel Seabury was the first American to be consecrated bishop in 1784, and in 1787 William White and Samuel Provoost, having been elected to the bishoprics of Pennsylvania and New York respectively, sailed to England and were consecrated bishops on February 14 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and the Bishop of Peterborough.

William White was born in Philadelphia in 1747. In 1770, he went to England to be ordained deacon and priest, and then returned in 1772 becoming an assistant at Christ Church and subsequently the rector of Saint Peter’s in Philadelphia. White served as Chaplain of the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1789, and then as Chaplain of the Senate.

White was largely responsible for the Constitution of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and he envisioned a system of church government that closely resembled that of the new nation. Bishop White wrote:

The power of electing a superior order of ministers ought to be in the clergy and laity together, they being both interested in the choice. In England, the bishops are appointed by the civil authority, which was a usurpation of the crown at the Norman conquest, but since confirmed by acts of parliament. The primitive churches were generally supplied by popular elections; even in the city of Rome, the privilege of electing the bishop continued with the people to the tenth or eleventh century, and near those times there are resolves of councils, that none should be promoted to ecclesiastical dignities, but by election of the clergy and people. It cannot be denied that this right vested in numerous bodies, occasioned great disorders; which it is expected will be avoided, when the people shall exercise the right by representation.

Let us next take a view of the grounds on which the authority of episcopacy is asserted. The advocates for this form maintain, that there having been an episcopal power originally lodged by Jesus Christ with his apostles, and by them generally exercised in person, but sometimes by delegation (as in the instances of Timothy and Titus) the same was conveyed by them before their decease to one pastor in each church, which generally comprehended all the Christians in a city and a convenient surrounding district. Thus were created the apostolic successors, who on account of their settled residence are called bishops by restraint; whereas the apostles themselves were bishops at large, exercising episcopal power over all the churches, except in the case of St James, who from the beginning was bishop of Jerusalem. From this time the word “episcopos,” used in the New Testament indiscriminately with the word “presbyteros” (particularly in the 20th chapter of the Acts where the same persons are called "episcopoi" and "presbyteroi"), became appropriated to the superior order of ministers. That the apostles were thus succeeded by an order of ministers superior to pastors in general, Episcopalians think they prove by the testimonies of the ancient fathers, and from the improbability that so great an innovation (as some conceive it) could have found general and peaceable possession in the 2d or 3d century, when episcopacy is on both sides acknowledged to have been prevalent. The argument is here concisely stated, but (as is believed) impartially.

White was Presiding Bishop of Episcopal Church at its first General Convention in 1789, and again from 1795 until his death on July 17, 1836.

Please remember in your prayers all of the bishops who are gathering at Lambeth during this time.

Lord, When Did We See You Hungry?

Today’s Gospel reading is taken from the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, and Jesus tells us about the final judgment:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Lord of the Streets, BIM, Hearts to Hands, Community of Hope and the other area ministries give us the opportunity to do what Jesus asks us to do, to feed the hungry, to clothe the poor and to visit the sick in our community today. Especially in what is becoming an ever increasingly difficult economy, contributing to these ministries provide us an opportunity to be Christ’s hands and feet in a world that is starving for God’s love. We know what Jesus will ask us, we know what to do, so let’s do it and we will hear his invitation: “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Well Done Good and Faithful Servant

The reading appointed for today is the parable of the talents from Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus tells the following story:

For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy servant! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless servant, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Which one of the three servants are we? God has given each of us our own unique set of talents, and he expects us to use what we have been gifted to do the work that he has given us to do. Let’s not hide the gifts that God has given us; rather, let’s put them to good use in building the Kingdom of God so that we will hear Jesus say to us: “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

Get Out There and Live Life to the Fullest

Today we hear the familiar parable of the unprepared bride’s maids from chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus reminds us that we should always be prepared for the day when we will meet Him face to face:

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

A friend of mine says, “You are not getting out of this alive.” He is indeed correct, death comes to us all. Jesus reminds us that we are to live everyday as if it will be the very day that He will call us. There is comfort in that. He invites us to live out our Christianity every day and in every way, to be like the wise bride’s maids, because in doing so, our lives will be fuller and richer. Jesus invites us to get the most out of every day.

So get out there and live!

St. Benedict

Today the Church remembers Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism. He was born in Nursia, Umbria, Italty around 480 A.D. Benedict went to Rome to study, but he was uncomfortable with the dissolute life of most of the populace, and he withdrew to a solitary life at Subiaco where he as asked by a group of men to be their abbot. Some of them found his rule (way of life) too strict, and Benedict returned alone to Subiaco. But Benedict could not keep people away, another group of monks called him to be their abbot, and once again he agreed, founding twelve communities over an interval of some years. His chief monastery was Monte Cassino, an abbey which is the mother house of the world-wide Benedictine order.

Benedict drew up a rule of life for his monks, a rule which he called "a school of the Lord's service, in which we hope to order nothing harsh or rigorous." The Rule gives instructions for how the monastic community is to be organized, and how the monks are to spend their time, including about four hours to be spent in liturgical prayer (called the the Divine Office where all of the Psalms are recited every week), some five hours in spiritual reading and study, six hours of labor, one hour for eating, and the remainder of the day for sleep.

A Benedictine monk (man) or nun (woman) takes vows of "obedience, stability, and conversion of life." The monastic vows to live in accordance with the Rule, not to leave his community without grave cause, and to seek to follow the teaching and example of Christ in all things.

The Rule of Benedict is a wonderful resource for Christians, and many use it as a daily guide for their spiritual discipline. For example, the Community of Hope uses the Rule as its guide.

Benedict’s impact on Western civilization cannot be underestimated. The Benedictines' prayer, scholarship and service have been a wonderful force in the building of the Kingdom of God.

Be Still

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. . . . But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world.”

Today’s reading, a continuation of Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 24: 3-8; 13), really speaks to the news of the day. We are surrounded by many voices who seek to replace the voice of Jesus; they tell us that they have the answers to all of life’s problems, of who is right and who is wrong. We hear daily news about a troubled economy. If you open the newspaper, listen to the radio or watch the television, you will no doubt hear about unrest, war, and now missile testing is certain parts of the world. Just as in today’s world, there was unrest in Jesus’ day as well.

But Jesus tells us quite emphatically that if we have faith in the good news of salvation all will be well. The good news is that we have been saved. Jesus has done the hard work; he died and rose for us. So, be still, and know that God is.

There Is No Summer Break from the Christian Life

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell?” (Mt. 23: 27-33)

My wife, Mary, and I just returned from a short Fourth of July break in a cooler clime, and I must admit that during that time I was rather remiss about reading the Daily Office readings and in writing a brief reflection on them. It was as if I said to myself, "I deserve some time off from Scripture."

Then I read today’s reading from Matthew. What a wake up call after a short summer slumber! Jesus reminds me that, using a common phrase, “if you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.” The problem with the scribes and Pharisees, according to Jesus, is that they were into the talk and the look of being God’s people, but their attitudes were not. They did not love God, neighbor and self as God would have them do; rather, they were self-righteous and quick to condemn others.

As Christians, we cannot take a summer break from walking the walk. Living life in, with and through Jesus means that we do it every day, in every thing that we say and do, and in all of our interactions with others.

The break is over, and I am back thankful for Jesus' reminder in Matthew's Gospel.