What We Boast About

 

Readings  082926

Passion of St. John the Baptist

Speaking with a gentleman Thursday,  

he asked me what kind of minister I was.  

So I told him—plain and steady—  

the calling of a Catholic Deacon.

I preached a little.  

I shared God’s calling,  

and the abundance of His grace and mercy.

He didn’t argue.  

He didn’t question.  

He simply said,  

Jesus chose ordinary people. 

And ordinary people change  

when they get to know Jesus.

That truth settled deep.  

Because knowing Jesus  

rearranges the heart—  

it reshapes what we talk about,  

what we brag about,  

what we carry into the world.

I apologized for preaching.  

We were supposed to be working.

But he said to me:  

“I talk about those I love.  

I share the love and joy I receive  

from my family, my children,  

my grandchildren,  

and my wife.  

And if you love Jesus—  

you tell everyone about His love,  

His joy,  

His wisdom.”

Wise words of truth  

from a simple man of grace—  

unshaven, jeans, t‑shirt, safety vest—  

reminding me of a simple truth.

Scripture speaks:  

God didn’t choose the powerful or the polished.  

He chose the ordinary,

the lowly, the overlooked,  

the ones who count for nothing—  

so that no one may boast before God.

Christ became our wisdom,  

our righteousness,  

our sanctification,  

our redemption.

So if we boast—  

we boast in the Lord.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, 

settle my heart in Your mercy.  

Let Your wisdom 

guide my words today.  

Make me humble enough

to listen well.  

Make me bold enough 

to love well.  

And let all I do point to You.

Amen

St John the Baptist, pray for us

The Foolish & The Wise

 

Readings 082826

Memorial of St. Augustine

The Liturgy of the Hours 

gives us the quiet line:  

“Let the people’s praise, 

     the wisdom of the saints.” 

And we know this truth —  

wisdom rarely comes first.  

It comes after experience,  

after mistakes,  

after the long road of being  

foolish  

before becoming wise.

Today we honor St Augustine,  

a man who chased the world’s wisdom  

until the world nearly swallowed him whole.  

But when Christ broke into his restlessness,  

everything changed.  

The wandering heart  

finally found its home.

And I think of myself —  

thinking I knew everything,  

trying to control everything,  

doing foolish things  

because I trusted my foolishness.  

And it almost destroyed me too.  

Until God spoke into my chaos:  

“Listen to Me.  

Do what I ask.  

I am with you.”

Scripture tells us  

that God makes the world’s wisdom foolish,  

and Christ Himself is  

the power of God

and the wisdom of God.

The Wisdom of God 

who gives us the parable —  

ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom.  

Five foolish.  

Five wise.  

The wise kept their lamps burning.  

The foolish trusted their own timing,  

their own control,  

their own wisdom —  

and they missed grace  

standing right in front of them.

So today,  

on Augustine’s feast,  

let your heart learn from his journey  

and from your own:  

The world’s wisdom fades.  

God’s wisdom saves.  

Keep your lamp lit.  

Stay awake.  

And walk in the wisdom  

that never fails.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ

Let Your wisdom burn brighter

than the world’s foolishness.

Keep my heart awake,

my lamp steady in Your light.

Speak into my restlessness 

guide my wandering steps.

Stay with me, Lord, 

and make me wise 

in Your sight.

Amen