Variety is the spice of life ... you've heard that at least once in your lifetime. Today the Church celebrates the life of an extraordinary priest ... especially for the people of Poland. St. John Canty, a native of Krakow, Poland, was a very bright, scholarly priest. However, what made him so strong and so admired during his priesthood was his humility. Truly this John was a humble priest. And what made him such a model of humility? The answer is simple yet so very difficult for most people to live.
He realized what he was called to be.
That is the challenge for each one of us. The picture is part of the spice rack from a local Capitol Hill store. It reminds me of all of us ... we have a place, we have a role that has been given to us by God. The challenge, however, is for us to discover what seems to be among the greatest mysteries in each person's life.
When baptizing a newborn or even one that is a year or two old, I have this thought as I am pouring water -- and for me it is always a pitcher-full: what will this child become in his/her lifetime? Will he/she be famous or infamous or just a truly humble person? Remember this: true humility is not hiding in the corner. True humility is learning what it is that God has planned for you. True humility is accepting the vocation God wants you to follow and then living it to the fullest not just for yourself but for others as well.
So, on the day before we celebrate a day of national gratitude and the "official" beginning of the holiday season, you might consider St. John Canty and what he models for us: he knew what God wanted of him and desired nothing more. Does this resonate with me and my life? Can you see yourself on the shelf in the picture above? Do you recognize where you fit it God's plan?
When baptizing a newborn or even one that is a year or two old, I have this thought as I am pouring water -- and for me it is always a pitcher-full: what will this child become in his/her lifetime? Will he/she be famous or infamous or just a truly humble person? Remember this: true humility is not hiding in the corner. True humility is learning what it is that God has planned for you. True humility is accepting the vocation God wants you to follow and then living it to the fullest not just for yourself but for others as well.
So, on the day before we celebrate a day of national gratitude and the "official" beginning of the holiday season, you might consider St. John Canty and what he models for us: he knew what God wanted of him and desired nothing more. Does this resonate with me and my life? Can you see yourself on the shelf in the picture above? Do you recognize where you fit it God's plan?
