Wednesday, January 16, 2019

“Holding Firm with Softened Hearts” by Beth DeCristofaro

“Holding Firm with Softened Hearts” by Beth DeCristofaro


Encourage yourselves daily while it is still "today," so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end. (Hebrews 3:14)

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean."  (Mark 1:40-

Piety
Brother Jesus, assist me to see and to respond with a soft heart to the graces of this day which will allow me to be charitable and loving as you were to an outcast leper.  St. Anthony, you who gave up everything for God, help me give up what keeps me from God.  I cannot envision myself giving away my worldly possessions so urge me by your model of persistence to give my heart and my love.  Amen

Study
Jesus’ heart, never hard, never deceitful, never self-serving responded immediately with charity and brotherly love to the leper.  It is said of St. Anthony, who gave up wealth and family to live as an ascetic in the desert, that his life was dedicated to reverence for God.  He shared his wisdom.  His blazing faith was reported to heal those who came to him.  In our cultural terms, Anthony had “nothing to give” yet he gave from a heart softened, enlivened, guided by the abundance of God’s love.

Outcast by his disease, distressed and probably homeless, Jesus healed the man’s leprous body, his isolation, and his destitution.  He told the healed man to go to the synagogue in accord with Mosaic law and be welcomed back into the community.  On that “today” a man was transformed by charity and grace.  The result was a softened heart which needed to assert the saving power of Jesus publicly to all.

Action
January has been declared Poverty Awareness month by the USCCB which challenges us to accept Pope Francis’ challenge to live in solidarity with the poor, mirroring the charity of Jesus.  “Search for a local organization you can join and learn about the current policies affecting persons in poverty.” http://www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/povertyusa/upload/poverty-awareness-month-calendar.pdf

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