Father Tom Elliott

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Sat, 19 May 2012 12:07:23 +0000

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May 19, 2012 06:07AM

Married Apostles

In his book, The Apostles, Pope Benedict XVI wrote about a married couple who had a powerful impact on the Early Church-- Priscilla and Aquila. They are mentioned several times in the New Testament, including in chapter eighteen of the Acts of the Apostles, which tells us--

A Jew named Apollos,g a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and, with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way (of God).
-Acts 18:24-26

The various Scripture passages about Priscilla and Aquila remind us of a couple of important things. First, it validates marriage as the primary experience of church. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI--
"Every home can transform itself in[to] a little church."
-Pope Benedict XVI, The Apostles, pg. 167

It also reminds us of the complimentarily of celibacy and the Sacrament of Marriage. Saint Paul had an important and life-giving relationship with Priscilla and Aquila. We can easily see in the New Testament that his friendship with them was a tremendous source of strength and encouragement in his celibate apostleship.

Who are the married couples that you know that have made their home a microcosm of the Church through the way they love one another and instruct their children? Who are the married couples that you see supporting the celibate ministers (priests and religious and dedicated single persons) in the Church?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

May 17, 2012 06:58AM

Stating the Obvious

A woman came into the church office one day and asked me when the upcoming training would be for lectors.  As I listened to the words of her question, I found myself struck by her posture and facial expressions.  Instead of answering her question, I heard myself say, "You look depressed."  Instead of my comment offending her, it opened the proverbial floodgates!  She began sharing with me the difficulties she had been going through.  It was a great reminder to me that stating the obvious is important and can be one of the greatest gifts we can give to another person. 

Jesus was a master at stating the obvious!  For example, in the Gospel of John, chapter sixteen, we read--
Jesus knew that [the disciples] wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Are you discussing with one another what I said, ?A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me??"  
Jesus stated the obvious and it gave His disciples the freedom to talk about what they had been hoping to talk about!  When you and I courageously state the obvious, it shows others that we were listening to them--not only to their words, but even to their posture, eyes, tone, movements, etc.  Such deep listening not only gives them the freedom to talk about what is important, but it reminds them that they are important enough to be heard.

May 16, 2012 06:44AM

Meet People Where They're At

One of my favorite Scripture stories is in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter seventeen. vSaint Paul was in Athens, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. vRather than telling the people that they were pagans and worshipped false gods, Paul met them where they were at spiritually and gentle led them to a new understanding of God. We read--

Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: "You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious.  For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.'  What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you."
Paul then began to share with the people of Athens the Good News of Jesus Christ!  While it's very tempting for us to stomp thru life trying to convince other people that they are wrong and we are right, Paul gives us another option.  He invites us to meet people--accept people--where they are at and then to share with them what we ourselves have learned.  This is done with great gentleness, patience, and love.  

Who are the people in our lives that we're trying to "convert"?  What "method" have we used to share the Good News?

May 15, 2012 05:05AM

If the Door is Open... Continue Discerning

When I was a kid, I would often hear people in our prayer group discerning God's will by using the "open/closed door method."  They would pray things like, "God if you want me to do this particular thing, then open all of the doors for me and make it easy," or "God if you don't want this for us, close the doors."  Their sincerity was beautiful, but if left me wondering if God was the only one who could open and close "doors" in our lives and whether such discernment was over-simplistic; it seemed like it took the deep, prayerful listening out of the discernment process.


In the Acts of the Apostles, God teaches us that just because a door is open does not mean that we should go through it!  God can, and does, open doors, but our discernment about whether we go through those doors needs to be rooted in our prayerful relationship with God.  In chapter sixteen, we read--
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.  When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, ?Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.?  He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.  Then he brought them out and said, ?Sirs, what must I do to be saved?? (Acts 16:25-28).
Had Saint Paul simply understood the open prison door to be God's will for them to leave, the jailer would not have given his life to Christ, but rather, he would have killed himself.  Because Paul's discernment was deeper than the "open/closed door method," God was able to do amazing things.  

When have we used the "open/closed door method" and found God's blessing?  When have we used it and things didn't go well?  What is our current style of discerning God's will?

May 13, 2012 08:54AM

Receptive Availability

This weekend, our readings offered us the opportunity to reflect on the gift of love and how we put "flesh" on our love by living it in receptive availability.  I just finished posting my homily in both audio and text on my website: www.FatherT.com

Also, it came to my attention yesterday that I had not posted the music video for "Rock of Souls" on my youtube channel (FrTom1) and so, if you have not already seen it, you can access it here.

Have a blessed day and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of the mothers!!!

 

I am a Roman Catholic priest, serving in the Diocese of Little Rock at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Little Rock, AR.  I was ordained a priest in 1999.  If you want to learn more about me, click here.

Contact:
Fr. Tom Elliott
7000 J.F.K. Blvd.
North Little Rock, AR  72116

501-835-4323
FatherT@FatherT.com
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