Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

Stone polishing tumbler

Lectionary: 320


Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, 
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
We should not stay away from our assembly,
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another,
and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.


If you read current magazines and newspapers, spirituality seems to be the preserve of solipsistic individuals who cobble together messages and symbols from assorted religious traditions. They describe themselves as spiritual to avoid association with any particular fellowship or church.
But no spirituality can change a human being if it is not shared with others. It takes a fellowship that assembles. We were created as social beings and we are incapable of saving ourselves. We must rouse one another to love and good works to sustain our hope.
I think of community as a rock tumbler. A parish, monastery, friary or family is like that barrel container in which rocks tumble over one another for weeks and months at a time. All their sharp edges are knocked off and rough surfaces are polished smooth. It's dark in there, and difficult; but the end products are beautiful. 
These post-Christmas weeks are hard on the spirit. The days are dark and cold. There are no grand holidays to look forward to. There's a reason why Julius Caesar cut February short. We have to get through this next month, the sooner the better. 

Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

With every Mass we attend and prayer we recite and breath we breathe we must remind ourselves that God is Trustworthy and God is Good. If Jesus could still hope from the Cross, and his Mother Mary could still hope as she laid him in the tomb, we can still hope for great things to come.