St. Anthony the Abbot Catholic Church

Many thanks to all who came out to celebrate Deacon Manny’s retirement and farewell as he returns back to the Azores. Again, we are grateful for his 20+ years of service to our parish family. We wish him Joy and Blessings as he begins this new phase of life.

Sometimes our Christ-like example is the best way to live out our mission as prophets, but sometimes we need to back up that example with words. The example of St. James Intercisus proves the point. James was in high favor with King Yezdigerd I of Persia, who around the year 420 launched the second great persecution of Christians in Persia (modern day Iran).

James was a Christian, but he lacked the courage to give up his enjoyable place of honor in the king's court. So he let go of his friendship with Christ instead. His mother and wife were horrified and heartbroken. When the King died, they wrote him a letter filled with loving, passionate rebukes and warnings. James read it repeatedly amid his comfortable lodgings in the palace. Little by little, the words of the letter penetrated his heart, until finally he turned back to Christ. He stopped appearing at court from then on, renounced the honors that he had received, and publicly repented for his earlier betrayal of the faith.

Soon afterwards, the new king (Bahram) humiliated him and reproached him for his ingratitude toward all the honors Yezdigerd had lavished upon him. When James still defended the Christian faith, the King ordered his execution. The next day a huge crowd gathered to watch his public dismemberment. (That's how he earned his name, "Intercisus", which means "cut to pieces.") They tortured him 28 times, and each time he let out a prayer of praise to God, giving strength to his fellow Christians and a powerful witness to his persecutors.

James's wife and mother took their prophetic mission seriously. When their example of fidelity to Christ wasn't enough, they backed it up with words, even risking their relationship with someone they loved. As a result, James saved his soul, the world was given another saint, and Jesus won back a friend.

Jesus has called us to be His prophets. That mission will give our lives the meaning we long for. Yet, it's hard to keep up a Christ-like example in life, and it's hard to say the right thing at the right time. It's hard, but it's not impossible. We can get steadily better at it, under three conditions.

First, we have to keep up our personal friendship with Christ: When we are separated from Christ, we are like unplugged Christmas tree lights: no matter how hard we try, we just can't shine. If, on the other hand, through a healthy prayer and sacramental life we stay plugged in to Christ, we'll shine without even trying.

Second, we always have to do our best. Apple trees show forth God's glory when they produce great apples. We can show forth God's glory when we develop our God-given talents. Christians should show forth excellence in every field of endeavor, from the factory to the ivory tower, because Christians do everything out of love for Christ, and love brings out the best.

Third, we have to bounce back from failures. God permits failures so that we stay humble, to remind us that we are not God. If we forget that and become arrogant, we become prophets of self, not of Christ. Keeping up our personal friendship with Christ, always doing our best, and bouncing back from failures are prerequisites for fulfilling our mission as prophets. But this week don't worry about all three - just worry about one. Now, as Christ renews His commitment to us, let's renew our commitment to Him, to being His faithful prophets in word and example. Nothing will please Him more.