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Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Art by Brie Schulze

The beatitude of the poor is one of the more difficult both to understand and to live well. The temptation to hold on to one’s wealth as though it were something necessary that we can’t part with hides cleverly behind the guise of false prudence. I don’t want to give any money to this beggar because they will not use it well: they will buy drugs or alcohol. I will hold on to my money instead so that some day I can use it for something important. St Paul gives us the example of living both in poverty and in abundance. read more

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Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Sketch by Brie Schulze

We have departed in many ways from the ancient thought that pronouncing a name was a way to wield power.  In an age where privacy is a tenuous and uncertain good, the power of a name should begin to strike us in a new way.  When we give our name out, we give a certain power over ourselves to others.  Most of the time we are ok with this because we expect some kind of service in return.  To be identified as somebody in particular by our name makes relationships with others possible, makes us vulnerable and our activity or behavior can be linked back to our concrete self.  You only have a past, you only have a history in the eyes of others, because you can be identified.  Change your name, change what identifies you, and your history disappears. read more

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Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Drawing by Brie Schulze

We know how important humility is, but sometimes the only way we know of to grow in humility is by accepting humiliations. There is actually a much more evangelical way to grow in humility shown by the Virgin Mary and recommended by Jesus Himself: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord”, “Whoever would be greatest among you must become the servant of all.” Service is the evangelical way of humility.

As with everything in the Christian life however, it is not so much what we do as how we do what we do. The one who truly becomes a servant becomes the friend of Jesus: “I no longer call you servants, but friends.” The one condition of friendship, the how of our service, is the commandment of Christ, “…you are my friends if you do what I command you… this is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” How do we serve authentically? By serving with Christlike love. read more