Gospel Reflections for October 4 2015
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis provides an answer about how to respond to events in the Middle East. I have learned a lot from him.
For many years I have supported Catholic parishes in the Holy Land by joining the Order of the Holy Sepulchre which is an international organization that raises funds for Catholic parishes, schools, and hospitals in the Middle East. I was away last weekend at our annual meeting for updates on Middle East events and the progress of our various charitable projects.
Since I lead an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land every year I can also see for myself the results of our efforts. I am glad that we are making a difference and that our donations are powerful and maintaining our Catholic presence there.
St. Francis also went to the Holy Land during the Crusades in 1219 when Christians and Muslims fought each other. He even met the Muslim leader, Sultan al-Kamil, and challenged him to remember that all people are created by God and that all must respect religious freedom. They had forgotten that and they needed to remember! The Sultan was so impressed by his courageous compassion that he almost converted to Christianity. Instead, the Sultan graciously gave all Christian sites in the Holy Land to St. Francis and his new Franciscan Order to administer. That remains the situation today. (Read the whole story in “The Saint & the Sultan” by Paul Moses)
Remembering who we are is also the theme of today’s Gospel about marriage. Over a thousand times I have seen couples say their wedding vows on a wonderful day filled with family, friends, and eloquent champagne toasts. I have also seen couples, often inadvertently, later forget those vows, perhaps from the hectic schedule of raising a family. No one plans on forgetting but it happens unless we pro-actively remember. Francis reminds us that the key to not forgetting is frequent remembering!
The vows given on your wedding day can be said again the very next day, and every day after, perhaps not as formally as the wedding ceremony, but in ways that are very personal to each couple. That way, as much as you change over the years, (and we change a lot!) you will remember your original promises.
I know that not every marriage lasts, and sometimes separation or divorce is necessary for safety or protection from danger, but we still encourage lasting commitment as a noble goal, and celebrate those who have kept their vows and console and encourage those who have not. (See my article “Divorce and Remarriage” under “More Articles” above)
Staying true to our original vows, even as we change over the years, is the key to lasting happiness, and perhaps even lasting peace in the Middle East.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thank you for this reminder!
“That Man is You” this session focuses on personal sanctity for the men. Our last meeting (yesterday) dealt with how men’s brains process temptation and self control. I think the program is one of those “remember frequently” opportunities.
Yes, the key to never forgetting is frequently remembering. Modern science verifies the words of Our Lord!
Fr. Dave,
Wonderful perspective and uncanny reflection about “remember frequently”. At our weekly visit to Barnes & Noble with my grand daughter this week, I’ll be looking for a hard copy of The Saint and Sultan – thank you.
Separately, owing to a last moment family crisis (that passed safely), Elaine and l had to cancel the EOHSJ annual meeting, and I was looking forward to your presentation – can I get a copy?
Wishing you and yours abundant blessings and times of joy, I remain
Deus Lo Vult!
I think you will enjoy the book about St. Francis and his trip to the Holy Land. My talk at the Annual meeting of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre went very well. I am going to turn it into a longer article for distribution to our membership. I am working on it now. I will publish it on this website as well, in the Holy Land Pilgrimage section. Deus lo vult!
Father Dave, How precious that you have celebrated soooooooooooooooooo many marriages, a beautiful sacrament of love!!! Our loving God instituted marriage as a sacrament so that He too could live in the heart of the couple!!! With every heart beat God, His loving Son Jesus, pour out more and more love into that precious couple’s heart and soul so that they could live out their beautiful marriage commitment!!! To live, to love, to bring children into the world, to give them faith and lead them to Heaven is such a beautiful commitment of love and joy!!! To touch the world with Jesus’ love is why we were born!! Each vocation is precious!!! To be a priest is to lead everyone to Heaven!!! How precious!!! We are touched by your beautiful words for couples to stay true to their beautiful vows of love!!!!
Love, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
We are also very touched by your beautiful words, and as you know, we certainly have stayed true to our vows, going on 62 years Monday, Columbus day.
Thank you Fr. Dave, you are such an amazing priest and really missed by us all !!
All our best regards,
Marie and Henry
Thank you!