Jan 23
It Ain’t Heavy – It’s Just a Cross
A typical commercial plane can carry about 1.3 times its own weight in passengers and luggage. But aerodynamically speaking, a dragonfly is superior; it can easily flight-lift seven times its own weight. When the burdens of life weigh us down, we may at times feel that we are carrying far more than our weight. From the time of Christ, society has given a name to these burdens-they’re called crosses.
Even before Jesus carried and died on his own cross, he told his followers, “If anyone would come after he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23).
In citing that classic passage, often overlooked is the word “daily.” For most, it is not too hard to put up with even a heavy burden for a short while. But on our long “transcontinental” flight from here to eternity, long-term hardships-that is, the “daily,” ongoing troubles-can be truly wearisome. And yet, the heavy weight seems to decrease as one’s strength increases with daily perseverance.
Every burden-wearied person can find strength-restoring rest in loving intimacy with Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, … and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt 11:28-30).
“One-Minute Meditations for Busy People” by Fr. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F.
Jan 20
Stick-to-it-iveness in a Teflon World
Every culture has its own particular gestures for specific meanings-some of which may seem strange to us. But one of the few body language gestures that anthropologists recognize as being common to all nationalities and tribes on earth is the tossing upward of the hands as an expression of frustration. It’s a sign of letting go, giving up-a ”what’s-the-use?” sort of gesture.
While globally common to all cultures, this simple shrug of defeat is never used by persons with an ironjaw character who are always determined to persevere against all odds.
Authentic perseverance is a virtue, not to be confused with stubbornness, which is merely unreasonable intransigence. “Do not harden your hearts,” God’s word advises (see Hebrews 3:8,15). George Santayana observed that: “A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he loses sight of his goal.” Christian (God-focused) perseverance is a derivative of the virtue of fortitude, and will be especially important for the end times. “He who stands firm to the end will be saved,” Jesus reminds us in all the synoptic gospels. “By standing firm you will gain life” (Lk 21:19).
Let us practice perseverance in all its forms: in faith (Col 1:23), in confidence (Heb 3:6, 14), in doctrine (2 Thes 2:15), in unity (Phil 1:27), in tribulation (Rom 12:12), and in love (1 Cor 13:7).
“One-Minute Meditations for Busy People” by Fr. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F.
Jan 17
Say, Can You See?”
Did you hear about the nearsighted porcupine who was hospitalized when he mistook a cactus for his sweetheart?
Except as joke material, myopic porcupines are a rarity. But among humans, myopia is not uncommon – especially spiritual myopia. A surprising number of things we observe every day are distorted in our mind; our more “farsighted” outlook is impeded by what psychologists call “selective perceptivity.” When this happens, we subconsciously filter out some of the discomfiting elements of reality, such as many aspects of God’s providence, and also distasteful aspects of our failures.
Thus, an escape from a near disaster may not be for what it is – an intervention of divine providence-but simply as a “close call” or “stroke of luck” Or a breathtaking scene of a colorful sunset or ‘Capped mountain may be admired without “seeing its source-a loving Creator. Like toddlers at Christmas, we may “myopically” focus on the gift while ignoring the giver.
Evil, too, may be distorted. Abortion may be euphemized as a mere “termination of pregnancy” rather than as a heinous act of infanticide. Adultery regarded as a merely innocuous “affair.” “The eye is the lamp of the body,” said Jesus. “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Mt 6:22-23). Let our prayer be that of the blind man. “Lord, I want to see!”
“One-Minute Meditations for Busy People” by Fr. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F.
Jan 12
Why Racetracks Run Counterclockwise
Clocks move clockwise because they were modeled after the shadow movement of the gnomon on sundials. (You knew that, didn’t you?) But did you ever wonder why horse races, dog races, auto races, and human track races all run counterclockwise, as well as skating rinks and carousels? Dance pupils told to take a ”warm-up walk around the room” tend to circle counterclockwise. This “time-reversal instinct,” according to some psychologists, is simply a subconscious desire to run back away from the oncoming locomotive-death.
Job saw time as “but a shadow” (Jb 8:9). Time and time again, God’s word reminds us that time is lent to be spent, directly or indirectly, in the Lord’s service. “Be very careful, then, how you live,” says Paul, “not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” (Eph 5:15-16). Ralph Waldo Emerson echoed that thought: “Any time is a good time if you know what to do with it.”
The Bible affirms that our lifetime (not just the time of our life) is short and uncertain. And we must “render an account of our stewardship” of that time loan. Above all, time is precious. In Ben Franklin’s words, “If time be of all things most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.” Think about it!
“One-Minute Meditations for Busy People” by Fr. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F.
Jan 09
Singing in the Dark
John H. Hampsch, C.M.F.
Imitative pet birds, like bullfinches, have been taught to sing delightful piano melodies—not just typical bird chirping—by being repeatedly forced to hear, and thus learn to imitate, such beautiful music. But the learning process is enormously enhanced when the pianist plays for the birds in total darkness, so that the birds’ attention is not diverted by visible surroundings and movements.
That fascinating factoid encompasses a subtle analogy. The darkness that surrounds us in our times of adversity and misfortune is often the very ambience chosen by our Divine Musician to teach us the most beautiful soul music this side of heaven; the Holy Spirit enables us to “make melody in our hearts” as Paul reminds us (Eph. 5:18-19). Mysteriously, it is often in the darkest periods of our life, when distracting frivolities no longer divert our attention from more serious matters of the soul, that grace works its refining wonders. It is in the undistracting chamber of our darkest trials that we are strengthened by hardships that would otherwise weaken us. Truly, as Elihu reminded Job, “God gives strength in the night” (Job 35:10). That’s one of the most elusive parts of that “silver lining” at the hems of our clouds of misery.
Jan 08
With All Your Heart – Art of the Big-Hearted
The heart of a blue whale, caught in 1947, was hoisted onto a giant scale. It registered an amazing 1,540 pounds! The heart of this world’s largest animal seems awesome to us, but the really big-hearted are the human love champions that love their enemies.
Jesus spells out his command (not option) for us to love our enemies, not just our friends. “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Lk 6:27-28). He even says we must “lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great” (v. 35).
Such “hard sayings” of Jesus, like “forgive from your heart” (Mt 18:35), are scales that measure how big our heart is, and also whether we can truly call ourselves Christians: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (In 8:31). And, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (In 13:35).
It’s hard enough to love an irksome fellow worker or a neighbor who lets his barking dog annoy you. Even in cases of serious hurts and injustices, it is possible to love, but only if we realize that we are not required to like our enemies, but to have “benevolent” love for them-that is, to desire good for them. That big-heartedness is mega-Christianity!
“One-Minute Meditations for Busy People” by Fr. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F
Jan 06
GO TO: www.claretiantapeministry.org or do a Google search on “hampsch” There is also a link to the CTM website here (right hand side) See: Links You can also see his 2008 speaking calendar. email me at rmsanders27@mac.com if you have any comments or questions.
Jan 02
That astute wordsmith, Samuel Johnson, wisely advised, “Keep your friendships in good repair.” There’s hardly any conceivable life situation in which a close friend is not an asset. In the anguish of bereavement or in the exulting joy of celebration, the presence of a loyal and loving friend is a treasure, while the absence of a friend at such events is an unthinkable privation.
“You are my friends,” Jesus joyfully proclaimed. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business …. I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (In 15: 14-15).
It’s easy to overlook the tremendous implications of this privilege of having Jesus for a personal friend to whom we can turn with total confidence for this divine guidance and security in our every undertaking’ as he “makes known to us everything he has learned from his Father.” And to think he is only a whisper away!
His friendship becomes more meaningful if we cultivate it. We can do this by opening ourselves to the very thoughts of God through the Spirit of Jesus, “that we may understand what God has freely given us” (see 1 Corinthians 2:11-12). With this precious “knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col 1:9-10), we can daily grow in the knowledge of God. Let us listen more than speak to our friend. He has so much to tell us!
“One-Minute Meditations for Busy People” by Fr. John H. Hampsch, CMF
