You Can Say That Again!
Have you noticed that people, and especially young people, do not make eye contact with others as much as they used to? Many individuals don’t look up from their cell phones or computers even when they are sitting at a table together. I think we miss a lot when we don’t look into others’ eyes. Tapping in words on a keyboard does not really convey connotation, emphasis, or attitude in the same way as facial expressions do. Some of the messages get lost.
We all know people who express themselves very well verbally. We may enjoy the way certain priests or deacons, for example, express themselves in homilies. If they look up at the audience instead of just reading words from a page they connect better and impress their message more effectively.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) did not have the options of all our 21st-century computer devices, and it is probably better that he did not. One of the reasons Franciscan Media labels him the “man of the 12th Century” is the fact that Bernard was a very eloquent preacher. He spoke! I think I would have learned a lot from this gifted scholar and theologian. St. Bernard was also a reformer, a counselor, and a great arbitrator. All those talents require the ability to make one’s points out loud while maintaining another’s attention.
While we are not all called to be preachers or public speakers, we do have a wonderful, powerful message to share about how much we are loved by God and have the promise of eternal joy with him in heaven. In the Gospels, Jesus teaches us how to be deliverers of this good news. From my experience, witness accounts and personal stories conveyed as someone looks up at the listeners are quite effective and often enjoyable.
In the suggested gospel reading for this memorial for St. Bernard (John 17:20-26), Jesus prays for his disciples, for holiness and unity:
I am not saying we cannot evangelize by texting; but how much more meaning is shared with the help of heartfelt spoken words and eye contact! I am not talking about long, drawn out sermons either. If we are watchful and attentive, we will recognize many small instances in our daily lives wherein we have opportunities to remark about God’s goodness, his beautiful works of creation, his gentle mercy, and the numerous chances he gives us. We don’t have to have halos on our heads to say out loud that God is good, loves us, and is with us in all our challenges.
The first reading at today’s memorial of St. Bernard is from Sirach 15:1-6. It is about the happiness of someone who is seeking wisdom. Wisdom is referred to as she:
With Jesus calling us to talk to others about him and the confidence of having wisdom to help us, we should be joyful in saying over and over again, right to others’ faces, that we are constantly in good loving company!
(Resource: franciscanmedia.org)
Scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Sharon Krause is a RENEW volunteer whose writing has appeared in several resources for small-group faith sharing. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother residing in Manchester, Connecticut. Over the years, she has served in many parish ministries.
Subscribe
Topics
- RENEW International (236)
- Sharon Krause (188)
- Reflections on the coming Sunday's Gospel (91)
- Jesus Christ (63)
- prayer (61)
- Hear the Word! by Bill Ayres (42)
- Bill Ayres (40)
- catholic program renew (33)
- prayer life (31)
- Lent (26)
- catholic renew progam (24)
- renew catholic program (22)
- Advent (19)
- Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (19)
- Christmas (17)
- God's love (17)
- catholic RENEW program (17)
- a reflection on the coming Sunday's Gospel (15)
- The Everyday Gospel: Deacon Charles Paolino (13)
- COVID (12)
- Lenten season (12)
- gratitude (12)
- pandemic (12)
- Holy Spirit (11)
- John the Baptist (11)
- Sunday readings (10)
- Good News (9)
- everyday prayer (9)
- Gratitude to God (8)
- Scripture (8)
- daily prayer (8)
- forgiveness (8)
- Gospel According to Matthew (7)
- Jesus Christ the King (7)
- resurrection (7)
- Catholic social teaching (6)
- God's gifts (6)
- The Resurrection of the Lord (6)
- justice (6)
- praying (6)
- renewing our faith (6)
- spiritual life (6)
- Advent prayer (5)
- Dignity and the Death Penalty (5)
- Easter (5)
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit (5)
- Marian devotion (5)
- Palm Sunday (5)
- RENEW prayers (5)
- hope (5)
- spontaneous prayer (5)
- trust in God (5)
- virus (5)
- Advent journey (4)
- Book of the Prophet Isaiah (4)
- Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (4)
- Fifth Sunday of Lent (4)
- First Sunday of Advent (4)
- Fourth Sunday in Lent (4)
- Gospel According to Mark (4)
- Holy Trinity (4)
- New Year (4)
- Ordinary Time (4)
- Psalm 23 (4)
- Second Sunday of Advent (4)
- Second Sunday of Lent (4)
- St. Joseph (4)
- The Good Shepherd (4)
- The Holy Spirit accompanies us (4)
- Third Sunday of Lent (4)
- care for those in poverty (4)
- celebration of the Eucharist (4)
- creation (4)
- death penalty (4)
- first sunday of Lent (4)
- having faith (4)
- mercy (4)
- rosary (4)
- scripture readings (4)
- season of preparation (4)
- suffering servant (4)
- third sunday in ordinary time (4)
- time of anticipation (4)
- Awaken to the Spirit (3)
- Babylonian Exile (3)
- Book of Wisdom (3)
- Christmas season (3)
- Christmas shopping (3)
- Church (3)
- Crucifxion (3)
- Dying to new life (3)
- God's call (3)
- God's forgiveness (3)
- Good Shepherd (3)
- Gospel according to John (3)
- Jesus walks on water (3)
- Lenten journey (3)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (3)
- New Covenant (3)
- Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Sunday Mass (3)
- The Ascension (3)
- The Gospel (3)
- beatitudes (3)
- body and blood of Christ (3)
- counting our blessings (3)
- dignity of each person (3)
- disciples (3)
- epiphany (3)
- evangelization (3)
- feast of pentecost (3)
- fourth sunday in ordinary time (3)
- gift of faith (3)
- gifts from God (3)
- give thanks to God (3)
- good deeds (3)
- humility (3)
- joy (3)
- kindness (3)
- open to the Holy Spirit (3)
- patience (3)
- personal reflection (3)
- pray (3)
- pray for peace (3)
- priorities (3)
- recreate yourself this New Year (3)
- repentance (3)
- say yes to God's will (3)
- sharing our gifts (3)
- sins (3)
- thanksgiving (3)
- welcome (3)
- 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Abba (2)
- Annunciation (2)
- Assumption of Mary (2)
- Bible (2)
- Christ the King (2)
- Christian discipleship (2)
- Easter Season (2)
- Easter joy (2)
- Easter season of rebirth (2)
- Emmanuel (2)
- Eucharist (2)
- Feast of the Holy Family (2)
- Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2)
- Feeding the hungry (2)
- Fifth Sunday of Easter (2)
- God is love (2)
- God who loves you (2)
- God with us (2)
- God's blessings (2)
- God's mercy (2)
- God's presence (2)
- Gospel according to Luke (2)
- Holy Communion (2)
- Jesus (2)
- Jesus as teacher (2)
- Jesus healing (2)
- Love your neighbor as yourself (2)
- Magnificat (2)
- Mary (2)
- Mary and Joseph (2)
- Mary's House (2)
- Nativity of the Lord (2)
- Questions and Answers (2)
- Rely on Jesus (2)
- Seventh Sunday of Easter (2)
- Sign of the Cross (2)
- Sixth Sunday of Easter (2)
- Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (2)
- Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (2)
- Spirit of love (2)
- St John the Baptist (2)
- Suffering Messiah (2)
- The Rosary (2)
- Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Virgin Mary (2)
- You shall love the Lord your God (2)
- attitude of gratitude (2)
- authority of Jesus (2)
- baptism (2)
- birth of our Savior (2)
- bread of life (2)
- centering prayer (2)
- covid-19 (2)
- crèche (2)
- decorations (2)
- divinity of Jesus (2)
- doubting Thomas (2)
- eternal life (2)
- every knee shall bend (2)
- faith in Jesus (2)
- faithful (2)
- fourth sunday of advent (2)
- good works (2)
- gratefulness (2)
- greatest commandment (2)
- growing in faith (2)
- holding grudges (2)
- holiness (2)
- holy spirit at work (2)
- hope in God (2)
- hope in the Lord (2)
- inclusion (2)
- insight (2)
- kingdom of God (2)
- listening to God (2)
- love of neighbor (2)
- magi (2)
- meditation (2)
- mental incompetence (2)
- mission (2)
- optimism (2)
- parables (2)
- peace (2)
- penance (2)
- praise God (2)
- prayer of thanksgiving (2)
- prayers of gratitude (2)
- prepare for Christmas (2)
- raising of Lazarus (2)
- reconciliation (2)
- repent and believe in the gospel (2)
- resurrection in our lives (2)
- road to Emmaus (2)
- sabbath (2)
- savior (2)
- saying grace (2)
- second coming of Christ (2)
- second sunday in ordinary time (2)
- servant leadership (2)
- share your faith (2)
- small faith sharing groups (2)
- social justice (2)
- solemnity of the most holy body and blood of chris (2)
- something new (2)
- spend time with God (2)
- spirit of the lord (2)
- spiritual grouth (2)
- spiritual renewal (2)
- spirituality (2)
- spreading good news (2)
- temptation (2)
- thanking God (2)
- the examined life (2)
- third sunday of advent (2)
- thoughtfulness (2)
- trust in the Lord (2)
- use your gifts (2)
- vineyard of the Lord (2)
- wedding garment (2)
- wisdom (2)
- woman at the well (2)
- words (2)
- 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 2021 (1)
- 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 3rd Sunday of Advent (1)
- 4th Sunday of Advent (1)
- Acts of love (1)
- Adam and Eve (1)
- Advent Wreath (1)
- Advent calendar (1)
- Apostle Andrew (1)
- Ascension (1)
- Ash Wednesday (1)
- Autumn (1)
- Awake (1)
- Baptism of Our Lord (1)
- Baptism of the Lord (1)
- Be awake (1)
- Be still (1)
- Be watchful (1)
- Behold (1)
- Benedictine nun (1)
- Birth of John the Baptist (1)
- Blessed Mother (1)
- Blessed Trinity (1)
- Blessed Virgin Mary (1)
- Body of Christ (1)
- Book of Judges (1)
- Book of Kings (1)
- Book of Proverbs (1)
- Book of the Prophet Amos (1)
- Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Catechism (1)
- Catholic (1)
- Catholic Faith (1)
- Catholic education (1)
- Charity (1)
- Charles Paolino (1)
- Children's Easter story (1)
- Christ child (1)
- Christ's love (1)
- Christian unity (1)
- Christian witness (1)
- Christmas Day (1)
- Christmas Star (1)
- Christmas carols (1)
- Christmas pageant (1)
- Covenant with Israel (1)
- Creation at the Crossroads (1)
- Creator God (1)
- Diocese of Brooklyn (1)
- Divine Office (1)
- Easter Sunday (1)
- Elijah (1)
- Father Son and Holy Spirit (1)
- Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (1)
- First Book of Samuel (1)
- First Commandment (1)
- First letter of Saint John (1)
- Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Fourth Sunday of Easter (1)
- Genesis (1)
- Gentiles (1)
- God forgives (1)
- God full of love (1)
- God is our help (1)
- God is with us (1)
- God works in mysterious ways (1)
- God's generosity (1)
- God's guidance (1)
- God's healing (1)
- God's plan (1)
- God's unconditional love for all (1)
- God's voice (1)
- Gospel of John (1)
- Gospel of Mark (1)
- Hail Holy Queen (1)
- Haitian Creole (1)
- Holy Eucharist (1)
- Holy Week (1)
- HolySpirit (1)
- I am the light of the world (1)
- Immaculate Conception (1)
- In God We Trust (1)
- In the beginning was the Word (1)
- Inspired by the Holy Spirit (1)
- Jesus Christ is born (1)
- Jesus as high priest (1)
- Jesus feeds the multitude (1)
- Jesus forgives (1)
- Jesus heals (1)
- Jesus loves us (1)
- Jesus' call (1)
- Jesus' love (1)
- Jesus’ Resurrection (1)
- Jews (1)
- Jonah (1)
- Joseph Mohr (1)
- Last Supper (1)
- Laudato Si" (1)
- Laura DePalma (1)
- Lent prayer (1)
- Lenticular printing (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (1)
- Letter to the Hebrews (1)
- Marian Prayer (1)
- Martha and Mary (1)
- Mary Magdalene (1)
- Mary mother of God (1)
- Mary's intercession (1)
- Matthew 25 Christians (1)
- Meaning of Christmas (1)
- Meet Mary in Prayer (1)
- Messiah (1)
- Moses (1)
- Nativity (1)
- Nativity scene (1)
- Natvity set (1)
- Nearness of God (1)
- Noah (1)
- Oh My God (1)
- Passion of Our Lord (1)
- Pentecost (1)
- Poor Richard's Almanac (1)
- Power of the Holy Spirit (1)
- Prediction of the Passion (1)
- Prepare (1)
- Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Prophet Jeremiah (1)
- Psalm 100 (1)
- Psalm 138 (1)
- Psalm 139 (1)
- Psalm 146 (1)
- Psalm 24 (1)
- Psalm 34 (1)
- Psalm 63 (1)
- Psalm 80 (1)
- Psalm 85 (1)
- Rejoice and Be Glad (1)
- Sadducees (1)
- Saint Blaise (1)
- Saint Jerome Emiliani (1)
- Saint Peter (1)
- Savior of the world (1)
- Scriptures (1)
- Second Letter of St. Peter (1)
- Second Sunday of Easter (1)
- Silent Night (1)
- Sleeplessness (1)
- Small-Group Ministry (1)
- Solemnity of All Saints (1)
- Son of God (1)
- Special Rosaries (1)
- Sr. Helen Prejean (1)
- St. Callistus I (1)
- St. Damien (1)
- St. Gertrude (1)
- St. Hippolytus (1)
- St. Therese of Lisieux (1)
- St. Thomas (1)
- St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1)
- St. patrick (1)
- Star of Bethlehem (1)
- Sunday (1)
- Sunday Gospel (1)
- Sunday Matters (1)
- Temptation of Christ (1)
- Thanksgiving parade (1)
- The Apostles (1)
- The Boy Jesus (1)
- The Gift of Faith (1)
- The Lord is my rock (1)
- The Lord's Day (1)
- The Lord's Prayer (1)
- The Memorare (1)
- The Passion of the Lord (1)
- The Prophet Job (1)
- The Word became flesh (1)
- The golden rule (1)
- The holy name (1)
- The kingdom of God is at hand (1)
- The risen Jesus (1)
- Third Sunday of Easter (1)
- Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- War in Ukraine (1)
- Wedding Feast (1)
- What would Jesus do (1)
- Word of God (1)
- Zacchaeus (1)
- Zaccheus (1)
- Zoom (1)
- abundant life (1)
- acceptance (1)
- accessible (1)
- adoration (1)
- agapé (1)
- angels (1)
- anxiety (1)
- apostle Peter (1)
- applying Scripture to your life (1)
- appreciation (1)
- ark (1)
- artist creator (1)
- attentiveness (1)
- authentic discipleship (1)
- autumn leaves (1)
- autumn prayer (1)
- awareness (1)
- baby Jesus (1)
- be less judgmental (1)
- being a disciple (1)
- being positive (1)
- bible study (1)
- blessed (1)
- blessing of throats (1)
- bread from heaven (1)
- call to discipleship (1)
- called to follow (1)
- campaign (1)
- census tax (1)
- choices (1)
- close encounter (1)
- clothe the naked (1)
- comfort and joy (1)
- comfort the sick (1)
- communion of saints (1)
- compassion (1)
- confession (1)
- confirmation sponsor (1)
- connecting faith and life (1)
- courage (1)
- crib (1)
- crucifixion (1)
- despair (1)
- devotion to Saints (1)
- disciples of Jesus (1)
- discipleship (1)
- distractions from prayer (1)
- divine help (1)
- divine intervention (1)
- divine mercy (1)
- divine providence (1)
- divorce (1)
- do not be afraid (1)
- driving responsibly (1)
- election (1)
- encounter Jesus (1)
- end of liturgical year (1)
- epiphany of the Lord (1)
- evangelize by witness (1)
- examining conscience (1)
- experience god's presence (1)
- faith sharing group (1)
- false prophets (1)
- fasting (1)
- fear not (1)
- feast of unity (1)
- feed the hungry (1)
- first letter of saint paul to the corinthians (1)
- fog (1)
- follow Jesus (1)
- follow the gospel (1)
- following the way of the cross (1)
- generosity (1)
- gift of God (1)
- gift wrapping (1)
- give glory (1)
- glory (1)
- glory to god (1)
- go in peace (1)
- godparents (1)
- good Samaritan (1)
- good christian lives (1)
- good will (1)
- gospel challenges (1)
- greatest gift (1)
- growing in love (1)
- hallowed be thy name (1)
- handy (1)
- healing of the blind man (1)
- hearts and minds (1)
- his people on earth (1)
- holiday (1)
- hope and promise (1)
- house of the Lord (1)
- human dignity (1)
- humanity and divinity of Christ (1)
- humble life (1)
- imitating Jesus (1)
- inner peace (1)
- insomnia (1)
- intercessory prayer (1)
- interior life (1)
- intimacy with Christ (1)
- introspection (1)
- invitation (1)
- joy and wonder of the resurrection (1)
- lamb of God (1)
- least of them (1)
- life in christ (1)
- like a thief at night (1)
- love of God (1)
- love of self (1)
- love one another (1)
- love one another as I love you (1)
- love your neighbor (1)
- lullaby (1)
- magician (1)
- magnificence of God's love (1)
- man born blind (1)
- marriage (1)
- maturing in faith (1)
- meek and humble of heart (1)
- mental health (1)
- messages (1)
- messengers of God's love (1)
- mind and body (1)
- minister with humility (1)
- multiplication of the loaves and fishes (1)
- need prayer and reflection (1)
- new beginnings (1)
- new perspectives (1)
- night prayer (1)
- nourishing the soul (1)
- online community (1)
- online small groups (1)
- openness (1)
- pandemic lessons (1)
- parable (1)
- parable of the 10 virgins (1)
- parable of the hidden treasure (1)
- parable of the pearl (1)
- parable of the talents (1)
- parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (1)
- parable of the two sons (1)
- parable of the wicked tenants (1)
- peace be with you (1)
- peace of mind (1)
- persecution (1)
- persist in prayer (1)
- pillar of cloud (1)
- power of the Spirit (1)
- pray together (1)
- prayer of gratitude (1)
- praying with a psalm (1)
- prepare for Easter (1)
- prepare the way of the Lord (1)
- problem solving (1)
- procrastination (1)
- promise of new life (1)
- prostitutes (1)
- psalm 131 (1)
- psalms (1)
- reach out to others in mercy and love (1)
- real presence of Christ (1)
- rebrand (1)
- receive the Holy Spirit (1)
- reflect on God's presence (1)
- reflection (1)
- rejoice (1)
- remembering (1)
- render unto caesar (1)
- renew our faith (1)
- respond "yes" to God's call (1)
- respond to the call (1)
- restraint (1)
- retreat (1)
- rote learning (1)
- sacrament of baptism (1)
- sacrament of reconciliation (1)
- salt of the earth (1)
- salvation is through Jesus (1)
- seek the Lord (1)
- self control (1)
- self-awareness (1)
- self-sacrifice (1)
- sense of hope (1)
- serenity (1)
- service (1)
- serving others (1)
- seventy seven times (1)
- share love of Christ (1)
- sharing your faith (1)
- silence (1)
- silent prayer (1)
- sinfulness (1)
- sins of the world (1)
- sleep (1)
- slogans (1)
- slow down (1)
- social distancing (1)
- solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (1)
- son of Mary (1)
- spend time with Jesus (1)
- spiritual reading (1)
- spread the Gospel (1)
- starting fresh (1)
- stations (1)
- status of women (1)
- stay awake (1)
- stress (1)
- suffering (1)
- take time to pray (1)
- talents (1)
- tax collectors (1)
- teaching children about God (1)
- the common good (1)
- the elect (1)
- the just one (1)
- the miraculous catch of fish (1)
- the people's prayer book (1)
- the prophet Jonah (1)
- the stone the builders rejected (1)
- thinking (1)
- thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (1)
- three kings (1)
- three meditations (1)
- to serve God (1)
- transfiguration (1)
- transfiguration of the Lord (1)
- treasure the faith (1)
- treatment of women (1)
- trimmings (1)
- true wisdom (1)
- trust in God's mercy (1)
- universal Church (1)
- unlocking our potential (1)
- use time well (1)
- using your talents to serve god (1)
- virtual (1)
- voice crying out in the desert (1)
- we remember (1)
- wedding feast at Cana (1)
- welcome the stranger (1)
- whatever you did for the least of brothers of mine (1)
- when the saints go marching in (1)
- widow's mite (1)
- widows and orphans (1)
- wild turkeys (1)
- witness (1)
- witness to matrimony (1)
- witness to the baptism (1)
- woman found in adultery (1)
- women in the Church (1)
- wonder of creation (1)
- workers in the vineyard (1)
- worry closet (1)
- worthy wife (1)
Share a Comment