Monday - 12th Week of OT - You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

You’ve no doubt heard the sayings, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” or heard someone claim that they are “too old to change their ways”.

Abram was 75 years old when God called up to begin a new, and perhaps the most important, chapter in his life. Abram was called away from his accustomed surroundings, his homeland. He needed to be uprooted and to be transplanted to a new environment where he could become whom God made him to be. Even his name was even changed. Abram was not resigned to his old age but trusted God when he heard the call to something new.

Perhaps, it’s not even old age, but an old habit. Something, we’ve done for so long we don’t think we can change. If it is a sinful habit, then it’s definitely a change that we need to trust that God is calling us to. But perhaps, it’s a mode of prayer that has become stale, or type of prayer that was fruitful, but which we set aside, like the daily rosary or a weekly trip to the adoration chapel.

The Lord commands us to remove the wooden planks from our eyes.  Have we gotten in a habit of viewing the world with bitterness, grumpiness impatience?

How do we know what God is calling us to? How can we detect the planks that blind us? Before getting into bed at the end of the day, it is an indispensable spiritual practice to examine our conscience in light of God’s commandments and the virtues.  This involves questioning our motives, our actions, and interactions.

Did I treat the cashier at the supermarket with kindness? What was the reason I was so quick to gossip about the faults of my family members? Did I pray today as much as God is calling me to pray? Where was I selfish with my time today?

Sometimes we are hesitant to engage in this sort of thorough examination, because we are afraid to see just how big those planks really are, or we have a sense to the change that God is calling us to, and it frightens us.  Faithfully examining the conscience takes real humility, the humility to admit that I need to grow.  And without humility there can be no growth in the spiritual life.  And if we are not growing spiritually, it is likely that we are stagnating, or even dying.

The Lord is always challenging us to grow in holiness through the perfection of the virtues and our daily habits.  May we always be open to the new life God wishes to share with us, for His glory and the salvation of souls.
 
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That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and that our future bishop of the diocese of Cleveland may be a man of true faith and the Holy Spirit.

That this fortnight of prayer for religious freedom may help people of faith remain vigilant in defending their religious liberty and united in making their voice heard on behalf of the rights of the Church.

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.