Francis Fernandez: Alertness in Advent

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matthew 24:42

“To maintain this state of alertness we need to struggle, for we all have the tendency to live with our eyes fixed on the things of the earth. Especially during the time of Advent let us not forget that our hearts are darkened by gluttony and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so lose sight of the supernatural dimension which every action of ours should have as its milieu.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 1 (London: Scepter, 1993) 6.

As we approach Christmas, notice what makes you most excited. That shows where your heart is.

On Friday night, my wife and I watched a cute animated movie on Netflix called, “The Star.” The main characters included a donkey, a bird, a sheep, three wise men, some nefarious characters, and of course, Mary and Joseph.

We both cried at the end, tears of joy because against all odds, we saw the birth of Jesus.

It was one of the highlights of my Advent season because it helped me enter into the story of the real-life human difficulties Mary and Joseph faced leading up to the birth of Jesus, including a king who wanted the baby dead.

All that said, the reason that movie comes to mind links to the star.

The animals saw it. They knew something special was happening. We might miss it if our hearts are darkened with gluttony, drunkenness, and the cares of this life. Watch it. See for yourself.

And don’t lose sight of the supernatural dimension. Live in that milieu every minute of every day.

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” Acts 5:29

“May we strive to contribute towards having the person and teachings of Christ proclaimed in every corner of the globe, without ever giving in to human respect. May we cast aside all pessimism, ever confident in the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The effect of our good deeds will have an immeasurable impact on society. With the grace of the Lord we will be like the stone that falls into the lake and produces one ripple and then another and another until the end of time. Truly Jesus grants supernatural efficacy to all our words and deeds in a way that we are must of the time unaware of.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 357.

Someone asked me recently to comment on why the American society had drifted so far from God. In the words of Fernandez, I said that people give in to “human respect” instead of obedience to God.

In today’s Scripture, Peter passionately reminds us to obey God rather than humans. Only when we do this can we have immeasurable impact on society. We must living in the confidence of the ultimate victory we have in Christ.

Related to our generosity, our good deeds will have great impact. We may never know the reach of them, but like a ripple effect, they spread far and wide. Keep doing good everyone. God sees.

And we may not change the world, but we can impact he world around us in immeasurable ways.

So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find. Matthew 22:9

“All noble human professions, like the study and teaching of philosophy or the calling of the soldier, for example, are circumstances in which men and women can help draw others closer to the Lord.” Business trips and recreational expeditions can no less be opportunities for spreading the teachings of Christ. There are countless occasions on which the laity can exercise an apostolate of evangelization and sanctification. Family ties, sickness, friendly social visits to the homes of our friends, sending Christmas cards… all provide good opportunities for doing apostolate.”

John Chyrsostom in Catena Aurea III, 63 as recounted by Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 356-357.

Don’t miss the good opportunities to introduce people to Jesus, or as Fernandez says, “doing apostolate.”

This post seemed fitting because Jenni and I will be stuffing our Christmas cards tonight. In the cards for our neighbors we plan to put cards to invite them to our Christmas eve services. We pray they come.

Our job in apostolate is not to save people, but to share good news and encourage them in the faith.

How will you during family gatherings or social visits engage in the generous work of pointing people who do not know Jesus to the Christ of Christmas? Or encourage those who do to grow in the faith?

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10

“We cannot rest content under the impression that there is little we can do in the course of our everyday professional work to promote the evangelization of the world. God will multiply enormously the effect of apparent small offerings of work well done, of prayer and initiatives that we can offer him. Besides, when many people do what falls within the scope of their capabilities, entire countries can be converted, as happened in the earliest centuries.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 355-356.

Wherever you find yourself as retired or a homemaker, a professional or a student, or anywhere in between, please do what you can as part of Christian mission and trust God to multiply enormously your offering to Him.

In recent history, I think of South Korea. It went from having no Christian presence to serving as a missionary sending powerhouse in only a century. They showed the power of prayer and humble initiatives.

Pause. Consider what you can do. Do it and ask God to multiply it enormously. In my GTP work with 7,000+ workers in 134 countries and territories, I see God takes our efforts, combine them with others, and do the impossible.

Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

“Today we may consider what we can contribute in our everyday circumstances… Do we foment an active interest in bringing our family and friends closer to Christ? Do we take advantage of every occasion, without missing opportunities, to speak courageously about the faith we carry in our heart? Do we take our own Christian formation seriously? Could we offer our time to teach or to engage in works of mercy? Do we lend financial assistance to sustain projects that contribute toward the human and spiritual development of people in need?”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 355.

As I continue reading to the end of this book by Fernandez, this phrase struck me in how we can contribute in our everyday circumstances, namely aiding the “development of people in need.”

Or as we say at GTP, don’t give handouts that create dependency, but give a hand up to build disciples.

When we do this, when we contribute to the development of people in need, we write a new future for those people. We shape the future of church and ministry administration in nations.

I praise God that only about a month ago GTP had 30 monthly givers and today we have 70.

We find ourselves 30 away from our goal to reach 100 monthly givers. Why pursue this goal? Here are two big reasons. Firstly, a major foundation considering making a large grant to GTP wants to see this metric by year-end.

And secondly, monthly giving contributes to development of people in need.

Please help us reach the mark of 100 monthly givers. Make your monthly gift here. And to encourage you to do this, we have a giver willing to contribute $100 for each new monthly giver.

Don’t focus on what you can’t do. Focus on what you can do with what you have where you are!

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; He did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Matthew 13:31-35

“We Christians are called to be leaven in the very heart of society. The strength of the faith has not diminished over the course of twenty centuries. It is constantly being renewed. For this reason we cannot relax the intensity of our struggle as if everything had already been accomplished. In the face of the evil that threatens to destroy the seed which Christ desires to to sow and cultivate in the heart of every person, we need to be more persistent than ever in helping to bring Christ’s salvific mission to completion. If the early Christians had allowed themselves to become intimidated by the enormous challenge before them, if they had relied on human efforts alone, they would not have accomplished anything in those first centuries throughout those early pagan societies. The Lord encourages us to renew continually our efforts in the face of so urgent a task. Each of us is called to participate fully in this effort with the means we have at hand.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 354-355.

Today Fernandez urges us to continue to serve as leaven with the means we have. He echoes the impact Jesus spoke about in parables. Even as a small amount of yeast can leaven 60 pounds of flower, our focus can shape our generation if we deploy the means we have at hand. It can lead communities, cities, and even nations to faith.

To this point, I would urge readers to put the resources at your disposal in play, showing that you paid attention when Christ taught in parables. If you recall the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-9) and the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21), you see the difference between faithful and foolish stewardship.

What account will you give? How will your stewardship have shaped (or failed to shape) this present generation? Too many what difference they can make and so they do nothing. Jesus reminds us that our small contribution, like a mustard seed, can grow into a large tree. But that only happens if we sow it. Be faithful, not foolish!

Right now for GTP, I am putting the finishing touches on our most recent on demand course, based on my first book, The Sower: Redefining the Ministry of Raising Kingdom Resources. We will pilot it in January 2025 and release it to the world in April 2025. We want to multiply sowers all over the world with this free certificate course.

In short, the aim of the course intends to challenge God’s workers to challenge every person they serve to plant their proverbial mustard seed, to be leaven with all they have, to put the work the means they have to participate in kingdom work. If you want a free PDF copy of this book, reply to this email and I will share it with you.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

“Luke is the only one who offers us a moving account of the birth and infancy of Christ which we can savor every Christmas. There is one very that stands out above all the others: “wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” This single phrase has given rise to crib scenes throughout the world and to thousands of beautiful paintings. These artistic creations are one more invitation for us to contemplate.”

Albino Luciani in Illustrissimi (1976) 234-235.

I love the crib scenes or nativity scenes that accompany the celebration of Christmas.

Each one fits the cultural context. They always appear humble and beautiful. They include people, beasts, and baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, simple strips of cloth, and lying in a manger.

When we contemplate this scene recorded only for us by Luke, we discover the wonder that God became flesh.

This scene inspires our own generosity because, wherever we find ourselves, we too can become ordinary and, with love, accomplish extraordinary things. The humble scene makes following Jesus accessible to everyone.

Contemplate the crib scene afresh this year. See how the some simple, yet profound aspect of the story, inspires you.

Every year my Bible study does it. In the process, I see something new in the story of Luke 1-2. Lean into a word or phrase in the “Christmas story” that stand out.

This year with Luciani, maybe since we have a new granddaughter, the swaddling cloths move me.

Father in heaven, thanks for generosity of the crib scene and the the humility of the swaddling cloths, for the obedience of Mary and Joseph, and for announcing your arrival to shepherds. May this scene inspire our sharing of the good news afresh. Amen.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

“An ancient tradition tells of our Lord’s appearing to Jerome. It seems that Jesus asked him: Jerome, what have you to offer me? The saint is said to have replied: I can offer you my writings, Lord. Christ indicated that this was not sufficient. What can I offer you then … my life of mortification? The Lord again responded: No, that is not enough either. Jerome finally asked very pointedly: Lord, what then is left for me to offer you? Christ’s immediate answer was: You can offer me your sins Jerome.

It is frequently difficult for us to recognize our own sins and weaknesses for what they truly are, but with the help of Jesus, who continues to look upon us with affection, we can admit our faults, our weaknesses and omissions with courage and brutal sincerity if need be. Knowing that sin separates us from God and our fellow men, we need to make an effort not to cover up anything or cushion the account of our personal sins with excuses.

Such subterfuges only serve to impede the fervent contemplative live our Lord desires for us in the midst of our daily duties. Jesus wants us to entrust our sins and their consequences to Him so that He may relieve us of them. In exchange for our heartfelt contrition, Jesus offers us the peace and happiness of drinking from the source of eternal life.”

Jerome of Stridon (c. 347-420) as cited by Fulton J. Sheen in “The Cries of Jesus from the Cross: An Anthology” and recounted by Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 327-328.

Jerome was one of the four doctors or fathers of the Western Church and the most learned of all.

And notice the greatest gift or act of generosity he could give to Jesus was not his writings or his life of piety and mortification, but rather, His sins. Christ can’t have His way in our lives to help us conform to the image of Christ if we do not do this.

It matches everything we have learned about generosity over the years, if you really think about it.

Christ cares not how much we give (that’s what the world looks at). He cares what we hold back and what that says about our hearts. It reveals the sin of disobedience to His command not to store up treasures on earth and shows our misplaced trust.

That’s only one sin that comes to mind linked to generosity. Consider a few others.

We may harbor pride, thinking we earned the resources we possess when God gave us the ability to produce that wealth. Or we may be guilty of greed, thinking that we need money to sustain us for the remainder of our lives.

Sit with Jesus today. Ask Him to bring to mind your sins, specifically the ones related to money. Give them Jesus.

Even as our salvation starts with confessing our sins to God, our sanctification comes into view as the process of realizing old ways or worldly patterns of living that need to go to position us to grow in generosity. Do you want this? I hope so.

Giving your sins related to money (or anything else) to Jesus emerges as the best gift you can give this Christmas.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

Then He called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-11

“Whenever our family or the apostolic works we collaborate or are in need we should not hesitate to seek the help of the Lord. We must always recall that the first miracle, the one Mary instigates at the wedding in Cana, comes about in order to help a newlywed couple…

The Lord will not withhold His protection either, as long as we do all within our power like the good servants of Cana, who fill the water jugs to the brim. They do all they can, humanly speaking, before the Lord works the miracle on the basis of their best efforts.

Whenever we find ourselves in straitened circumstances the following consideration can do much for our peace of mind. Our financial situation may be as tight as it has ever been. But we don’t lose our peace. We’re quite sure that God, my Father, will settle the whole business…

I want, Lord, to abandon the care of all my affairs into your generous hands… Hear those words now as in Cana: “They have none!” I believe in You. I hope in You. I love You, Jesus. I want nothing for myself: it’s for them.”

Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975) in The Forge (Strongsville: Scepter, 2002) 807.

We serve a wonderful Lord that helps us in our times of need. He rarely, however, does it in a predictable manner. Imagine that the ceremonial washing pots became the basins for the best wine at the wedding feast!

If you find yourself in hard times, do what Mary did. Ask Jesus for help and tell others to do whatever He says. Good things will happen. If he says to do something crazy like fill jars to the brim with water, do it.

Generosity comes into view as being like Mary who called to Jesus for help, or being like the servants who did not flinch but filled the jars all up with water. Each of these characters served not for themselves but for others.

If today’s post touched you. Read Josemaría’s prayer again and pray it: “I want, Lord, to abandon the care of all my affairs into your generous hands… I believe in You. I hope in You. I love You, Jesus. I want nothing for myself: it’s for them.”

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11-12

“Together with generosity and detachment from material goods, we need to stimulate the practice of these virtues in our dealings with friends. In this way we will secure many blessings for them and their families.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 323.

Today is my birthday. I am 57 and safely home. I pray for another year to simulate people to generosity and detachment. The more I do this the more I am blessed, and the more I spread blessing to an unimaginable number of people.

Here’s where I need your help. It’s not for me, but to extend blessing to underserved language groups, please listen closely.

GTP is working to apply for a major grant but we need to reach 100 monthly givers by 31 December 2024. We still need 48 more. Click here to set it up. Even $5, $10, or any amount per month counts. And for every person who does, a friend will give an extra $100 to GTP. That’s an extra $4,800 over an above the monthly giving.

And how will your monthly giving bless more people? Let me explain.

It will put GTP in position to secure a grant to add up to three more staff members to extend our reach to serve more Indian, Russian, and Korean speaking populations worldwide. Imagine the impact. That’s my birthday wish.

Join the global work. I need your help. Become a monthly giver to GTP. Thanks.