Men's Rosary

It is easy to plow through life “doing”.  We work hard to support our families, and we even work hard to support our parishes and communities.  The thing to ponder, however, is how good things can be bad.  What I mean by this is that there is a point when doing things, even good things, can take our eye off of what is important.  Sometimes in doing I can miss the gifts that are all around me.  I would assume we all can.

The greatest gift we have is our faith.  There is nothing greater, for it is the foundation of a life well lived.  It is the bedrock of intentional living.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing,  it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8)  Knowing this we should drench our day in prayer.  This does not have to be sitting in silence, while that is very beneficial, but bringing God into every part of our daily life.  This gift allows us to do that.  God by our side at all times.  How incredible!  But we tend to get busy and wrapped up in our own efforts and doing, and forget all about God.

All that we will ever possess, all the successes we will ever have, all the knowledge and understanding that dwells in us, is all gift from God.  We are called to share these gifts with others.  True, most give their money, but it goes beyond that.  We are to share our time, our knowledge and wisdom, our possessions, a smile,  and most of all our love.  To share like this, one will be truly blessed.  “A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered” (Proverbs 11:25)

If we take the time, we will notice how much gift and blessing is all around us.  But we need to decide to do it.  All the things and people around us is an invitation to embrace the goodness of God.  It is an invitation to enter into that which is most important and remind us that temporal things are temporary.  Even the beauty of creation around us here is only for a while.  But the important thing is to let it lead us to that which is permanent, a place in God’s heavenly kingdom.  We need to take the bait!  Latch on to what God is presenting to us with praise, adoration and thanksgiving.  “Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

“All the things in the world are gifts of God, created for us, to be the means by which we can come to know him better, love him more surely, and serve him more faithfully.”  (St. Ignatius of Loyola)