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January 13, 2005 Edition

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Living the Scriptures
Faith Alive!
This week's readings
Pope's Prayer Intentions

Called to be holy: God will help us

photo of Kiley Hackl
Living the Scriptures 

with St. Paul University 
Catholic Center 

Kiley Hackl 

When I first read the second reading for this Sunday, I thought it kind of silly. The reading is only two verses long and most of it is Paul's greeting to the church of Corinth.

I thought to myself, now why would the church choose this short reading to be read on a Sunday? But, when I read it again, it hit me - BAM - right between the eyes. Paul says "to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy . . ." Right there it is, called to be holy! Holy! I am called to be holy! And sometimes that can be hard.

I have been married for just three months. Before we were married, my husband and I heard a talk that mentioned that spouses are called to lead one another to heaven.

Second Sunday
in Ordinary Time
(Jan. 16, 2005)
Is 49:3, 5-6
Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
1 Cor 1:1-3
Jn 1:29-34

What a beautiful way to look at marriage. But I also thought what an awesome responsibility that was. Not only must we help to make one another better people, but with that we must do our best to lead one another to heaven!

Most of the time our marriage is great, but there are those times when we argue and disagree. And sometimes we argue about things that we see in each other that we need to work on ourselves.

And, boy, does my pride get in the way when my husband tells me something about myself that I already know, but do not like to admit. Recently my husband pointed something out to me - the way I don't always communicate in a loving way.

I immediately became defensive. Instead of really thinking about what he said, and thanking him for making me aware of my actions, I make matters worse by not wanting to talk about an issue that I know is true. I didn't want to admit to it.

My defensiveness did not make the situation any better, but only led to anger and annoyance. The situation could easily have been resolved if I put my pride aside and took a moment to reflect on what my husband said, and admitted he is right. (Okay, it does eventually happen, but it takes me time to let my pride be broken and tell him I will try to work on how I communicate with him.)

Reflection questions

• Do I refuse to listen to advice from those who might draw me closer to holiness?

• Do I take on the responsibility of helping those I love grow in holiness?

• Who, in my life, is leading me to heaven?

The reason my husband points things out to me is because he loves me and he wants me to be a better person, a holier person. It's the same thing with Christ. Christ has sanctified us and called us to be holy.

It's tough to change and admit our faults, but as Paul also writes, "grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." God will give us the grace we need each day to become holier, so that we may become closer to him.


Kiley Hackl is a 2004 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she was active in several ministries at St. Paul University Catholic Center. She now works as an registered nurse in the Cincinnati area, where she recently moved to live with her new husband.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org


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Faith Alive!

Faith Alive! logo

In a Nutshell

  • No matter how many human qualities we ascribe to God, we know that God transcends them all.

  • Second Isaiah exhorted people to think that God is much greater and more innovative than they had imagined.

  • Scripture writers remind us that we cannot fully grasp God. But the biblical authors are certain of God's love for us.


    Catholic News Service
    3211 Fourth St NE
    Washington DC 20017
    202.541.3250
    cns@catholicnews.com
  •  Food for Thought
     
    What don't we know about God? What kind of question is that?!

    Revelation says much about God. But those known to history for their spirituality often testify that what they couldn't fully grasp about God was a real source of concern to them.

    "We cannot arrive at the perfect possession of God in this life," Trappist Father Thomas Merton once wrote. But, he said, "we already possess [God] by grace, and therefore in that sense we have arrived." He then added: "But oh! How far have I to go to find you in whom I have already arrived."

    What people don't know about God can generate an intellectual quest to understand God or a spiritual quest to experience the intimacy with God that spirituality by nature seems to point toward.

    full story

     
    Grappling With What We Still Don't Know About God
    By Father Dale Launderville, OSB

    Catholic News Service

    The God we search for exceeds the capacity of our imagination.

    The prophet called Second Isaiah, who preached to an audience of despairing exiles in Babylonia around 540 B.C., challenged his listeners this way: "To whom can you liken God? With what equal can you confront him?" (Isaiah 40:18).

    full story 


    What We Don't Know About God Impels Us Forward
    By Father Robert L. Kinast

    Catholic News Service

    More than 35 years after his death Trappist Father Thomas Merton (1915-1968) remains a dominant figure and guide for contemporary spirituality. There are several reasons why.

    First, Father Merton's spiritual writings have a strong autobiographical style. Beginning with "The Seven Storey Mountain," the account of his conversion and entry into monasticism, he shared his questions, insights, failures, hopes and achievements in a personal way. By drawing on his own experience, he encourages all of us to look within for the starting point of our spiritual development rather than depending on the latest technique.

    full story 


    If We Can't Know God Completely,
    Why Bother?
    By Marcellino D'Ambrosio

    Catholic News Service

    When you press questions far enough about doctrines such as the Trinity or the Eucharist, you inevitably come up against the same response: "It's a mystery."

    "Foul!" cry many critics. "This 'mystery' stuff," they say, "is just a smokescreen."

    full story


    Faith Alive! logo
     Faith in the Marketplace
     
    This Week's Discussion Point:

    If someone asked who God is for you, how would you respond?

     
      Selected Response From Readers:  
     
    Copyright © 2004 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops



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    This week's readings

    Week of January 16 - 22, 2005

    Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005
    Reading I: Is 49:3, 5-6
    Reading II: 1 Cor 1:1-3
    Gospel: Jn 1:29-34

    Monday, Jan. 17, 2005
    Reading I: Heb 5:1-10
    Gospel: Mk 2:18-22

    Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005
    Reading I: Heb 6:10-20
    Gospel: Mk 2:23-28

    Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005
    Reading I: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17
    Gospel: Mk 3:1-6

    Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005
    Reading I: Heb 7:25--8:6
    Gospel: Mk 3:7-12

    Friday, Jan. 21, 2005
    Reading I: Heb 8:6-13
    Gospel: Mk 3:13-19

    Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005
    Reading I: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14
    Gospel: Mk 3:20-21


    Pope's Prayer Intentions

    January General Intention

    Lasting peace in the Middle East: That all those working in the Middle East may intensify their efforts for peace.

    January Mission Intention

    Missionary apostles: That in mission lands, holy and generous apostles may be raised up, eager to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to everyone.



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