Spiritual Thoughts for the week

October 10th

This weekend we celebrate Time & Talent Weekend. Our parish asks all members to think about their gifts and how the Lord is equipping EACH OF US for a special ministry to serve others in the Church. “According to Jesus, for Christians, service is not optional, something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life. If you’re not involved in any service or ministry, what excuse have you been using? Think about our ancestors in faith: Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses was a murderer and stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid. That is quite a variety of misfits, but God used each of them in his service. He will use you, too, if you stop making excuses! (from The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren)

St. Teresa of Avila (Oct. 15) is a Doctor of the Church and one of the patron saints of Europe. Her spiritual journey to union with Christ was full of ups and downs, mystical experiences, successes, failures and frustrations. Her down-to-earth spiritual wisdom can be seen in these quotes: “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!” and “Jesus has so many enemies and so few friends. It is really important that those few friends be good friends.” And finally, “Since it is true that God leads those whom He loves by the way of trials, it stands that those whom He especially loves will experience more trials.”