The term, “devout Catholic” has been bandied about a lot recently; it is often thought to refer to external expressions of piety, such as going to Sunday Mass on a weekly basis, or thumbing the beads of one’s Rosary while offering the requisite prayers.  Yet the word “devout” is much richer and more nuanced than is commonly surmised.  Its origin is found in the Latin word “devotion,” meaning total dedication.  “Devotion,” then, is the external expression of our internal disposition toward God.  To be totally dedicated to God means we offer our will to Him, realizing that “In God’s will is our peace.”  Our will must align with God’s will if we are to be really and truly devout.

​Offering our will to God is often a challenging choice because we have the tendency, as a result of Original Sin, to want things our way.  We come up with all sorts of justifications for our desires and positions on matters, expecting God to agree with us rather than us having to agree with Him.  Fostering a real and true devotion to God requires us to meditate on God’s goodness and love, and to admit our shortcomings and sinfulness.

Offering our will to God, then, is not a matter of how we feel; it is about looking into the truth of things and choosing to align our desires with the truth.  Thankfully, we are not alone in this daunting endeavor.  The Catholic Church is the pillar and bulwark of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).  The terms pillar and bulwark refer to structural supports that hold up a building. The Church is set in place to support the edifice of gospel truth. The Holy Spirit makes this possible by enabling the successors of the apostles - our present-day bishops - to preserve the apostolic faith from corruption and distortion as the centuries pass and show us its continued relevance for our time.  Thus if we really want to live a life of devotion - offering our will to God - let us conform ourselves to the apostolic faith.  Otherwise, what we will see is a disconnect between internal disposition and external expression.  And God, who can read the heart, is not impressed if acclamation to Him is on the lips alone.

David J. Conrad

Today in the First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, the Responsorial Psalm (#95), and in the Gospel of Mark, all the readings refer to “speaking with authority.” A prophet will be raised up, “to him you will listen” and I will “put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him” (Dt.18:15, 17). “He taught them as one having authority…He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him” (Mk. 1:21-28). In the Psalm it says: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” The past two weekends of readings have been all about being called by God—a quiet voice in the night, an invitation to come and see and the willingness to respond. We hear the Word and it is spoken with authority; but today it is up to us to listen with an open heart and to respond. How do we answer?

​I believe there are times when it becomes necessary to state deliberately and unequivocally the basis for one’s belief. A person, an organization, a Church, a nation, or people must make a ‘Declaration’ so that all people know exactly where we stand in relation to all others. In doing so it must be acknowledged and accepted that some will offer affirmation and others will not. This is what happened when our forefathers wrote The Declaration of Independence. Our Catholic “Declaration” is our Creed: our core beliefs. When you truly believe what you ‘declare’ you will speak with authority to those around you. A more convincing way of ‘speaking’ or declaring with authority though, is to actually live what you say you believe… (I’d rather see a sermon than hear one…)

I often wonder at times what things people see in me, what my actions and my statements say about who I am and what I believe. Does my behavior “speak with authority” about being Christian? Do I live and speak my faith with authority, declaring it in the many communities in which I live and work and play? Jesus was a surprise to the people around Him in His teaching and His works because He shined with the light of truth in every way. Do my words and actions proclaim me a true Christian? We have our Creed; but maybe a declaration from each of us would help us stand stronger in our faith. A friend sent this to me and I would like to share with you a: “Declaration of Dependence.”

​I believe in one God, His son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit, who since before time began offered His creation an avenue to be made worthy to be with Him forever. I believe that God is Creator and we are His creations; that Jesus is Messiah, our Savior; and our dependence is completely upon them. I believe that it is God’s task to add to His church and determine who goes to Heaven or Hell, not mine. I believe that God’s directions are in His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that being Christ-like begins with understanding that by ourselves we are unworthy; That all must be treated with love, mercy and compassion; that repenting of our sin is both attitude and action; that baptism is the acknowledgement of obedience to God and that telling others of Jesus is an opportunity and responsibility. I believe that Baptism is the beginning of the journey and not the end. This Declaration of Dependence is the continuation of my journey and not the end.

Sometimes making a declaration in the midst of our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers is scary and uncomfortable—and all of us do tend to gravitate towards the comfortable. We all get into patterns and routines and before long we don't like to vary from them, or think about them, or shake the boat we ride in together. We know though, that nothing with worth or value is ever easy, and that we all seem to learn best through the hard stuff…We all get into habits and find it hard to break from that habit (habits of not standing up to injustice, unkindness, apathy…). There are studies that tell us that doing something wrong twice may form a wrong habit; but that you have to do things correctly seventy times to make a good habit. (Geez, God, really?) So, what is it that others see in us through our habits and patterns? What is it that you see in yourself because of these habits and patterns? Have you ever taken the time to reflect upon the messages you send because of your habits and patterns in life?

My advice: Awake to righteousness! Except for a few New Year resolutions and maybe an occasional reconciliation, many of us don't really take the time to evaluate our life behaviors. This is definitely not a new problem, it is rooted in human nature. As we continue on in these first few weeks of this New Year it is a good, opportune time to “awake to righteousness” and notice the messages our patterns and habits proclaim to others. How about we take a look at what our life proclaims and tune it to God's will and purposes? How about letting our life and decisions speak with authority for those around us?

Every day is a new day, a new opportunity for our lives to proclaim God’s saving love and grace. We are called: to hear God’s Word (spoken with authority), and to respond—so harden not your hearts! We are called: to answer and witness our life in Christ with authority for those around you—to declare our dependence on God. Keep singing in your hearts!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a note: An interesting musical link: https://www.pcchoirs.org

Last weekend, the readings were all about being called—to baptism, to be a member of Christ, to “come and see.” This weekend (The Third Sunday of Ordinary Time), the readings continue God’s message of ‘The Call’: to repentance (like in Nineveh); to be guided (Psalm 25: “Teach me your ways, O Lord”); to the Kingdom of God (St. Paul: “Time is running out”); and finally, in the Gospel: to conversion by Jesus: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of people.” What did they see and what did they hear, those simple men on that seashore to make them follow Jesus along the way? I believe it’s the same thing that makes us decide to follow him. They, too, were living in a land of violence, fear, corruption, greed and injustice; but they listened to Jesus and understood His way as Godly: a promise of hope and new life; a new path, a different kind of existence. It was this promise that led them to drop everything and try to live the way He taught; to follow in His path.

​This path is not always easy. Like Samuel last weekend in that First Reading, we may hear God’s call to live a different existence but not recognize it. We may need someone like Eli or John the Baptist to cause us to stop and listen, or we may need some personal experience to open our eyes and ears to what’s going on around us and to God’s presence in our midst. We may need to experience our own moment of conversion—a personal epiphany—about what it means to answer the call to holiness and the ways of God. Since God can speak to us anywhere, in any form, ‘The Call’ doesn’t have to be a lightning bolt or a ghostly apparition or a descending dove. It may be something we see in the news, someone we meet in our day, some cross that enters our lives unexpectedly. I think it is mostly, however, about our own willingness to stop, listen and discern in order to follow the right path—God’s path.

When that moment speaks to us, in whatever form it may take, we begin to see the moral imperative—the moral necessity—to respect the rights and dignity of all human persons (no exceptions), and God’s Creation and His plan for all His children. That is when we know that our only choice really, is to live a different way: in holiness, in a new life in Christ which sometimes—mostly—is counter-cultural in our society. This is not an easy path to choose and live...

Fr. Kevin suggested a simple prayer at night before sleeping in his homily last weekend, but maybe at the start of any given day it is not a bad idea to pray for a fresh touch of God's grace to keep you sane and at peace for whatever crosses may lie ahead. Or maybe pray not to live in the past, licking old wounds, or nursing grudges. (Those things will drive you crazy and steal your peace!) Or pray instead for the ability to focus on the positive, honorable, and upright; for discernment to recognize these attributes in all situations we encounter.

Jesus continues to speak to us today, asking us to “come and see;” to leave behind our nets of sin made of our prejudices, fears, greed and lusts—and to follow His path unencumbered by them. When we truly listen we will find that life-giving powerful love of God in the actions of ordinary people doing good for each other every chance they get to do so. In the Gospel today we hear another story of Jesus’ call to all, and the response of those Disciples. Our own reply to God’s call is to imitate them and to also follow the Lord: to repent and turn from sin to salvation; to be wholly God’s in all things, and to live the Kingdom here on earth every day. In allowing God to teach us to live in His way you will reflect the image of our God into the world. You will think sane thoughts about your own worth and dignity. You will treat others as you would like to be treated. Be true to your commitments. Give your best to every task, and try to spread some joy in our world. That is a path worth following…

Keep singing in your hearts!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: As I write this article it is Martin Luther King Day. In reflecting on King’s message for peaceful protest and justice for all, I thought these hymns appropriate for listening and reflecting on our historical crosses and our current ones. These two hymns are also contained in our St. Aidan Journeysongs hymnal.

Lift Every Voice and Sing: https://youtu.be/3ef_76FK4PM

Precious Lord, Take My Hand: https://youtu.be/iuhUPjuIi70