About the Author

Thomas McIntyre is a 2012 graduate of Georgia Southern University. He has recently returned to his alma mater to pursue a Master’s Degree in History, and is in his first semester as a graduate student. In addition to classical and ecclesiastical history, his interests include theology, philosophy, dead languages and classic rock music. 

You do not know what you are asking

You do not know what you are asking.

In the Gospel today James and John have mommy ask their Rabbi, whom they are pretty sure is the Messiah, if they can be his favorites once He gets what’s His.  Likely, their vision of what this would be involves them sitting in splendor and glory at Jesus’ side looking and feeling pretty awesome.  James and John have already seen the Transfiguration (though they’re not allowed to tell anyone), so they had a sense of what that glory will be like.

Only Jesus knows perfectly what their motives were for asking this: whether it was pride, excessive zeal and excitement, or something better like a desire to be near him, to be closest to him. 

Whatever it was, his answer applies: “You do not know what you are asking:”  In spite of the fact that back in their days at Capernaum, he had illustrated true greatness by showing them a child (Matt 18:4), they haven’t caught on. They’re asking him to give them things according to their ideas, according to their perception of the way things should be.  So he warns them: you don’t see the whole picture, you don’t really know what that means: it means something different in your vision than it means in mine (which is the truth, since I’m God).

Are you able to drink the Chalice that I am to drink?

Jesus’ answer doesn't end there: he finishes it with a question: “Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?”

Looking forward to the next time Jesus talks about a cup or chalice he is going to drink (Matt 26:39) we see Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying to the Father.  And the way he thinks about that chalice teaches us something about how we should ask things of God: not my will, but yours be done.

When we pray, we model after Jesus.  We should ask God for what our hearts desire.  Jesus did this, even asking to be spared the Crucifixion.   But the words he finished that prayer with made all the difference.  They should be part of our every prayer: not my will, but yours be done.

This not my will, but yours shouldn't be just a caveat we add to our prayers so that we’re “doing it right”, or even just display of deference to God.  It should well up from a disposition of our heart, an attitude brought about by the realization that no matter what we want, what God wants is best, and if what God wants is best, then what’s to keep us from praying for it with all our heart? 

So we come to him asking for all the things on our heart, but we move in the direction of trust and dependence, saying:

You know infinitely, so you know what I want even better than I do; you love infinitely, so you want what’s best for me; you are infinitely powerful, so you can do it: so what could I ever want except that your will be done?

-Tony Visintainer

He will exalt us!

By human nature, we all want to be liked. We want to be acknowledged for things we accomplish. This notion is ingrained within us as youngsters. My nephew, Luke, will be two at the end of this week, and I can’t tell you how many times we praise him for something new he learns. Within the past month or so, if we make a big deal out of a new word he has said, he gets shy and buries his face in his mom or dad’s shoulder. I think this tells us something else, demonstrated by an almost-two-year-old. While in and of itself, the desire to please is not evil, it can become a hindrance to what needs to be our ultimate desire--love of God.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us the scribes and the Pharisees perform their works to be seen. They like to be out and about in places that others will notice them and what they do. They want to receive praise and to be spoken to with high titles. Jesus tells us not to follow their example, but to be humble and strip ourselves of our pride. It’s easy for us to forget our place here on earth. We’re so preoccupied with our possessions, our to-do lists and making sure we’re as successful as possible, that we forget to submit to our Master who is Jesus Christ. If we humble ourselves and let our eyes shine on Christ, we will be rewarded!

Matthew’s gospel ties into the first reading from Isaiah. Our Lord tells us that although our “sins are like scarlet, they may become white as snow.” We are to wash ourselves clean in the Blood of Christ Jesus! Pride is a tremendously common sin in this generation. We have so much stuff, and status is such an idol that we show-off what we have or accomplish in order to receive praise from others. During this Lenten Season, let us focus on humbling ourselves and washing ourselves clean. Do our works without expecting anything in return. Like my little nephew, let’s not do things for praise, but show humility. We do good works because it’s what’s right, for the good of another and the glory of God. If we seek this humility God asks, He promises we will be exalted! 

-Amanda Kepshire

About the Author

Amanda has started her first semester of the Masters of Public Administration program at Georgia Southern.  She enjoys reading, staying active and all things Disney! 

Me Me Christianity

(Luke 6:36-38)

My Christianity is all about ME! It makes ME feel good. It makes ME a better person. I have heard of people not coming to church because ‘it isn’t exciting for ME’, or ‘I don’t like the music’, or ‘the preaching isn’t interesting to ME’, or ‘it doesn’t fit into MY schedule’. In the reading today it seems like Jesus is telling us to be selfish in our Christian walk: To do good only so that good may happen to us.

But maybe Jesus isn’t promoting selfish Christianity.

Maybe it is about freedom. Christ desires us to be free of human inclinations toward pride and selfishness, not relying on the flesh but the spirit of God that dwells within us. Let us not look for rewards from our Heavenly Father but seek to be as merciful as He is (which is beyond human knowledge and capability). So why try? Because the more merciful we are the more we get a sense of God’s immeasurable mercy and the more free we are to love others. The thing that generally stops us from loving as God loves is fear. Jesus relieves our fear of pursuing this way of life, and reveals the immensity of our Father’s love for us in his “reward system”. How often are we afraid to talk to someone for fear that they will judge us? Is it because we judge the people we talk to? How much harder is it for us to come to God and ask for his forgiveness when we can’t even forgive ourselves?

Imagine if you didn’t judge the person in church wearing raggedy clothing. Imagine if you didn’t judge the person all dressed up. Imagine if you actually thought your roommate wanted to know Jesus, and that any immoral actions they have committed stem from a yearning desire to know a God who is mercy and love. Imagine forgiving all those people who made fun of you throughout your life, understanding that God loves them all so much as well. Imagine if you helped out that person with their problem even if you didn’t want to, understanding how important their soul is to God. How much different would your life look? How much more peace would you have in your heart?

Let us not look in a selfish way at what we can get from Jesus; let us try to look purely on what we can do for the sake of God. The peace and mercy the lord gives us is not received through selfish means, but through an unselfish Godly love. Let us then walk this Christian walk for Jesus and not for ourselves.

-Justin Tomko

About the Author

Justin Tomko is from the mean streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a FOCUS missionary at Georgia Southern University.

A Papal Reflection

Let's take this last Sunday with Benedict XVI as our Pope to learn a little more about the Papacy...

What does the Pope do?                                                                                                   
As Pope, his task as ‘chief of all the shepherds on earth’ is to defend our faith, teach us about our faith and help guide us to heaven, so that we can spend eternity with God, our heavenly Father. Pope comes from the Latin word “Papa” or father. We can truly look to the Pope as a father whose purpose is to guide all of us in faith and morals. Because the Pope’s job is so important; helping us to grow in holiness, we need to pray that he does his job well!

Where does he live and work?                                                                                  
The Pope lives and works in Vatican City, in Rome, Italy. On most Sundays he gives a special message and blessing to pilgrims who gather at St Peter’s Square, and to people throughout the whole world.

Has there always been a Pope?
Ever since the time of Jesus, there has been a Pope. It was Jesus who chose the first Pope, St Peter. Handing St. Peter the keys to heaven, Jesus said to him, “Your name is Peter, and on this Rock I shall build my Church. Feed my lambs.” (Matt 16:18-19, John 21: 15-17) Jesus new that the Church would need a leader after He ascended into heaven so He chose Peter and He sent the Holy Spirit to always guide him and any pope who came after him. From Pope St. Peter to Pope Benedict XVI there have been 265 popes. Pope Benedict XVI will officially retire on Thursday Feb. 28^th and until a new pope is elected, the papal position will be empty.

How is the Pope chosen today?                                                                                            
When a Pope dies or retires (which up until now is rare in history, since Pope Benedict XVI is the first pope to retire in 600 years), all the Cardinals come together in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to form the Papal Conclave. They are not allowed to speak to anyone outside the Conclave during the time they are gathered together to choose the next Pope: no telephone, no mobile, no internet, nothing! They pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance on who to choose.
The Cardinals cast their votes until there is a two thirds majority or if no cardinal has been elected by two-thirds majority after a certain number of ballots, the cardinals may agree by absolute majority (half + 1) to elect the Pope by an absolute majority instead of a two-thirds majority. When a new Pope has been chosen, and after he has accepted, “Habemus Papam” (we have a new Pope) is announced from the balcony of the Vatican. Out steps the new Pontiff for the whole world to see!

Taken and adapted from: http://kidsquizthepope.wordpress.com/facts-about-the-pope/

-Melinda Cannady