(PDF of the article attached for printing)
Five Important Spiritual Thoughts from the Liturgy of the
Word…and follow up for the Secular Franciscan
January 5 – January 11
1 — “There is no duplicity in him.” (Jn 1:47)
NO
DUPLICITY
“Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”
(John 1:47)
“May it be done to me according to your word.”
(Luke 1:38)
Duplicity is an interesting English word. Our dictionary defines it to be “deceitfulness or double dealing.” It comes ultimately from the Latin duplicitas meaning two-fold. Jesus calls Nathanael
to be a person with no duplicity.In Jesus’ mind, he was a person of openness and sincerity. Mary in her “Yes” to God shows no duplicity, but only sincerity.
Much like a person described this way. A person with no duplicity would be a person who wants to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. He would snuff out all fires of hatred and the lie.
He wants to launch an all-out love attack which may indeed be out of style but he wants to put it back in vogue. He tells the world: “Don’t delay, act now, supplies are running out.
There might be a tomorrow, but if the offer is shunned, you might as well be walking on the sun. It is not a joke: when a mother’s handkerchief is soaked with tears because her child has died because
of his/her own free will.Don’t sit back, kick back and watch the world get bushwhacked. Watch the news at 10:00, your neighborhood is under attack. You need to be around when your own child is old enough to relate to you.”
(see “Walkin on the Sun,” Smash Mouth)
Or in the words of John F. Kennedy:
Of those to whom much is given, much is required.
And when at some future date, the high court of history sits in judgment of
each of us—recording whether in our brief span of service,
we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state—
our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold,
will be measured by
the answers to four questions—were we truly men of courage…
were we truly men of judgment…
were we truly men of integrity…
were we truly men of dedication?
And directed to the Christian, were we
truly people of sincerity as Jesus looked at our lives?
2 — “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5)
…Do I always listen and follow the words of the Lord?
3 – “Then they opened their treasures and offered
him gifts.” (Mt 2:11)…Have I given myself completely to the Lord?
4 – “A new teaching with authority.” (Mk 1:27)
…Have I allowed the Vision of Jesus teaching to permeate my whole life?
5 – “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” (Mk 1:35)
…What percentage of my day (week) is spent in prayer?
