Archives by: Gary Hoag

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15

“Everyone wants to cling to his ways, refusing to give up any of his attachments. As a result such people feel neither thought to this and turn their attention again to their beloved possessions. And yet many of them have been wearing a religious habit for forty or fifty years. It is questionable indeed whether they will be saved at the Day of Judgment, for their spirit is habitually chained to created things and willfully entangled in them. You may be sure that such people are not aware of their state.

Of course they find numerous excuses: “I must have such and such a thing,” they will say. “Surely, it will do me no harm.” And thus they offer these obstacles a seat within themselves, and there they unite with their natural inclinations to such a degree that they can no longer feel any compunction and so they ignore them. These are strong and powerful obstacles, veritable fortresses erected against God’s work, and yet such people are not aware of them.”

Johannes Tauler (c. 1300-1361) in Sermons (CWS; Mahwah: Paulist, 1985) 112.

Today in Australia I have various speaking commitments at the CMA Conference in Melbourne. Among them is a seminar on nurturing generosity. Part of pathway to doing that is helping wake people up, spiritually-speaking, to the way in which possessions can tempt us into becoming attached or “habitually chained” and “willfully tangled” to them.

In plain terms, the work of Christian ministry workers is not to try to rob people but to help them. That happens not when we ask for something from them, but when we sow truth into them that they have been blessed to participate in God’s work. By identifying the strong and powerful obstacles to generosity that surface in our own lives, we are able to help others take hold of life with us.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

“I want to be merciful to the world and provide for my reasoning creatures’ every need. But the foolish take for death what I give for life, and are thus cruel to themselves. I always provide, and I want you to know what I have given to humankind is supreme providence. It pleased me to create you in my image and likeness with great providence.

I provided you with the gift of memory so that you might hold fast my benefits and be made a sharer in my own, the eternal Father’s power. I gave you understanding so that in the wisdom of my only-begotten Son you might comprehend and know what I the eternal Father want, I who gave you graces with such burning love.

I gave you a will to love, making you a sharer in the Holy Spirit’s mercy, so that you might love what your understanding sees and knows. All this my gentle providence did, only that you might be capable of understanding and enjoying me and rejoicing in my goodness by seeing me eternally.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in The Dialogue, translated by Suzanne Noffke (CWS; Mahwah: Paulist, 1980) 277.

In modernity, many enjoy Jesus Calling daily as it reads as though Jesus is talking directly to the reader. Though its not packaged as a daily reader, The Dialogue reads a bit like a Middle Ages edition of Jesus Calling because parts are written in the first person. When I travel and teach, I like a quiet hotel room so that in solitude, I can listen for His voice.

Today I am also meditating on Psalm 103 because my wife is teaching on it next week in her Women’s Bible Study so I am praying for her. Also I am giving thanks for “the gift of memory” as it helps us hold fast to and not soon forget all His benefits! He continues to show up powerfully and unexpected ways in these meetings Down Under.

As you recount His benefits and rejoice in His goodness toward you, I pray it transforms your living, giving, serving, and loving.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

“Be reconciled to God.” This means nothing less than let a king give you His kingdom, take heaven as a gift. Let the Lord of lords of all the world give you His love, and be His friends, His children, those whom He protects.

Come, surrender yourselves to Him and to His will, and you will be free from every evil, from all guilt, and from all bondage. You will be free from your own selves, you have found your way home, you will be at home with the Father…

O Lord, give all of us new hearts, open and obedient to you: hearts that love our neighbor and pray to you for our church. Lord, give us a good beginning; open your fatherly heart to us and lead us…”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in his sermon entitled “Ambassadors for Christ” in The Collected Sermons of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012) 93.

While traveling on Sundays, I often read classic sermons. Today I read a winner by Bonhoeffer. God’s generosity shines yet again as He gives us the kingdom as a gift. But notice what happens. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

When we receive and give this gift, we enjoy and share the gift of freedom. We quit trying to control people. Instead, we free to love them. Daily, when we are open and obedient to His work in us, our hearts are transformed.

Today, 64 delegates as Christ’s ambassadors serving God’s church in 20 countries will gather for strategic meetings in Melbourne, Australia. My prayer echoes Bonhoeffer: “Lord, give us a good beginning.”

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

“It is necessary for me to talk about the disposition of my heart and all the sacrifices that God had me make…in spite of the storms there, I was in a state of very great tranquility, waiting from one moment to the next for the order of providence, to which I am devoted without reserve. My heart was continually sacrificed without sacrifice, happy to be the victim of providence.”

Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) in The Prison Narratives of Jeanne Guyon, ed. Ronney Mourad and Dianne Guenin-Lelle (Oxford: OUP, 2012) 20-21, 109.

Jeanne Guyon was imprisoned for seven years. She probably could related to Joseph in today’s Scripture text. I read her this morning as I am pulling together this International Accountability Summit in the Hilton South Wharf (the black checkered building pictured above) in Melbourne, Australia. Some 64 leaders from 20 countries are attending, however, four delegates were unable to come because of visa issues. They live in countries that are known to oppose Christianity and persecute Christians.

When opposition comes, or even difficulty and imprisonment, what is our perspective? Do we have the peace of Joseph or Jeanne? Is the disposition of our heart one of tranquility? Are we happy to be the victims of providence? I find myself feeling frustrated as my first response to difficulty because I fail to remember these divine truths. Friends, we must remember that God is never-endingly working for our good. He is generous to work not only for our good but give us tranquility during our trials.

The editors of these prison letters, Ronney Mourad and Dianne Guenin-Lelle, add this thought in reflecting on the excerpt above: “More often, though, when confronted with difficult circumstances, Guyon reports that God graced her with patience to rely on the divine will and to trust in its ultimate benevolence.” God grace us with such patience!

So what’s the lesson for us today?

We must generously remind those in trials that tranquility comes when we embrace our role as victims of providence. Do this and we will help them locate the perspective of Joseph and Jeanne! They will shift from trying to control life to resting in God and watching for the generous order of providence to unfold. To help others grasp this, we must first do it ourselves. That’s what I am endeavoring to as I pull these international meetings together with God’s help.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Bruno of Cologne (Archbishop elect) has a dilemma and asks Bernard of Clairvaux (monk, doctor and reformer) for advice. Here is Bernard’s reply: “If I do not express a decisive opinion, it is because I do not myself feel assured. This must needs be the case, for the gift of prophecy and of wisdom only could resolve your doubt. For who could draw clear water out of a muddy pool? Yet there is one thing that I can do for a friend without danger, and with the assurance of a good result; that is to offer to God my petition that He will assist you in this matter. Leaving, therefore, to Him the secret things of His providence, of which we are ignorant, I will beg Him, with humble prayer and earnest supplication, that He will work in you and with respect to you that which shall be for His glory, and at the same time for your good.”

Bernard of Clairvaux in Letter III (A.D. 1131) to Bruno, Archbishop Elect of Cologne in Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 2000) 22.

In the solitude of my hotel room, I decided to explore the idea of providence in the letters of Bernard, an influential monk, doctor and reformer who lived long before the Reformation. I love Bernard! This excerpt in particular struck me.

Some people have the gift of prophecy and wisdom. Those who do must exercise it generously to assist those in need. But everyone else also has a gift they can give a person in need: humble prayer and earnest supplication.

Yesterday I was asked for advice and shared from the gifts God has given me. I also prayed with the bloke with whom I was speaking because God, who works for our good and His glory, can impart to him the secret things of His providence.

Next time a person comes to you for need. Help them generously if you are able. But if not, don’t send them away without humble prayer and earnest supplication, or literally, “begging God”, that He who works for our good will minister to them out of the secret things of His providence!

Beg God for someone today!

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

“Perfect charity is composed of enduring others’ faults, not being surprised by their weaknesses, and being happy to see them do even the smallest acts of virtue; but above all, I understand that charity must not remain locked up in one’s heart: Jesus said that no one lights a candlestick to put it under a bushel; so here we put it in a chandelier so that it lights up all those who are in the house. It seems to me that this candlestick represents charity which should shed light on and delight not only those people who are dearest to me, but all those in the house, without exception.”

Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) in 15 Days of Prayer with Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, ed. by Constant Tonnelier (Hyde Park: New City Press, 2011) 70.

I’ve arrived safely in Melbourne, Australia, and I took this photo from my hotel room this evening. God has given me the gift of a stunning view of the Yarra River flowing through the city, thanks to an unexpected free room upgrade!

Even more beautiful is the charity of those who are gathering from around the world for a series of meetings, the first of which is the Ministry Fundraising Network, a group birthed by Lausanne to serve the global church.

I am approaching these meetings with prayer as I am just thankful for the privilege of participating. Praying is also a great way to deal with jet lag. Providentially, in the solitude of my room, I recalled this book on prayer with Thérèse of Lisieux and found it online.

This excerpt moved me as Thérèse reflected on the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. She not only defines charity brilliantly, which is the generous love of God extended to world by grace. She also urges us to share it by putting in in a chandelier so all are blessed by it!

Father, bless these meetings in Melbourne and everyone reading this post around the world. Make us chandeliers of charity and help us inspire others to serve as chandeliers of charity so that the entire world, everyone without exception, may know of the generous love of Jesus, in whose name we pray, Amen.

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

“Generosity gives rise to a supernatural zeal and devotion to every kind of virtuous and proper behavior. Only a person overflowing with generosity can experience this zeal, which is an insistent impulse from within toward the practice of virtue and conformity with Christ and His saints. Through such zeal a person desires to dedicate his heart and senses, his soul and body, and all that he is or has or might obtain to the honor and praise of God.

Such zeal makes a person vigilant in both reasoning and discretion and leads him to practice virtue with both body and soul as righteousness requires. By means of this supernatural zeal all the powers of the soul are laid open to God and made ready for the performance of every virtue. A person’s conscience is filled with joy and God’s grace is increased. The virtues are practiced with gladness and joy, and the exterior works a person performs receive a certain graceful embellishment.”

John Ruusbroec (1293-1381) in The Spiritual Espousals (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1985) 61.

I am somewhere over the Pacific as you read this. I posted it before my departure for Australia. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve God there and desire to exhibit the supernatural zeal that John Ruusbroec writes about. It positions us to function at a high level in our “reasoning and discretion” and lays open all the “powers of the soul” to God so that our service exhibits virtue and righteousness.

Lest you think this lofty thinker was not down to earth, consider his background! Ruusbroec grew up outside of Brussels, Belgium. He had a devout mother, and we know nothing of his father. At age 11 he went to live with his uncle who saw to his religious education. He would become a priest from 1318 to 1343 who humbly loved and served others. After that season of ministry, he did much writing, largely in solitude, and would become a prominent Christian mystic of the Middle Ages.

In this work, The Spiritual Espousals, he wrote about the active life, the interior life, and the contemplative life. For Ruusbroec, the active part of our lives only works when founded on virtues such as humility, detachment, and charity. Together these three bring forth generosity in a person. What a recipe! And generosity leads to supernatural zeal. In his thinking, this zeal is God at work in us to give ourselves, our heart and senses, body and soul, and all that we have or might obtain, to others in loving service, all for God’s glory.

That’s my hope today for myself and for you, wherever you are reading this in the world. God, grant us supernatural zeal!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-6

“Thanking is a true inward knowing, with great reverence and lovely dread turning ourselves with all our mights unto the working that our good Lord stirreth us to, enjoying and thanking inwardly. And sometimes, for plenteousness it breaketh out with voice and saith: ‘Good Lord, I thank Thee! Blessed mayst Thou be!'”

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) in Revelations of Divine Love (London: Methuen & Company, 1901) 86.

In God’s providence, I read excerpts of Julian of Norwich yesterday about thankfulness. She convinced me that “thanking is a true inward knowing” or in plain terms, we see things rightly when we are filled with thankfulness.

Coupled with this, it is my turn to lead the discussion this morning at our Tuesday morning Bible study at Pinehurst. We are reading through the Psalms, five per week. I am looking forward to facilitating the discussion on Psalms 136-140 today.

Psalm 136 is a long-time favorite. It’s an antiphonal psalm of thankfulness. That means it would have been sung by two choirs back and forth. If you read it yourself, you get a profound sense that your mind and heart are in conversation back and forth. Your mind proclaims all that God has done, and your heart can only reply with thankfulness for the love of God which endures forever.

We can’t be generous until first we are thankful. “Thanking is a true inward knowing” and only after we take this posture can we see things rightly and live richly. Today, with thankfulness, I fly to Australia for two weeks of ministry. I am thankful God watches over my family, that He provides for our needs, that He leads and guides us in all we say and do. His love endures forever!

What about you? What are you thankful for? And how will it shape your generous living today?

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:11

“Mother Teresa sums up her family life during her childhood and adolescence: “We were all very united, especially after the death of my father. We lived for each other and we made every effort to make one another happy. We were a very united and a very happy family.”

Lazar, the only son, commented about the religious life of his mother and sisters: “We lived next to the parish church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sometimes my mother and sisters seemed to live as much in the church as they did at home. They were always involved with the choir, the religious services, and missionary topics.”

Lazar also commented about his mother’s generosity: “She never allowed any of the poor people who came to our door to leave empty-handed. When we would look at her strangely, she would say, ‘Keep in mind that even those who are not our blood relatives, even if they are poor, are still our brethren.'”

Lazar Bojaxhiu, the only brother of Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, a.k.a. “Mother Teresa” in No Greater Love, Commemorative Edition by Mother Teresa (Novato: New World Library, 2016) 199-200.

Mother Teresa always inspires me. On this “Memorial Day” in the USA, her brother testifies to the powerful example of their mother, Dranafile Bojaxhiu, who though she was a poor widow, was always ready to share with those in need. Her example marked Lazar and his two sisters. They would never forget it.

Parents, if we want to inspire our children to be generous, we must not wait until we have wealth or surplus. Today’s reading serves as a powerful reminder that our children are watching and they remember the sacrifices they see us making. They also recall vividly the words which accompany our good works.

Who knows? Our children may go on to inspire the world like Mother Teresa did. This illustration should remind us that our children are watching and listening. Let us resolve to always treat people in need as brethren, and teach our children through our words and deeds to care for them.

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:9-13

“You are very concerned with making the right choices about your work. You have so many options that you are constantly overwhelmed by the question “What should I do and what should I not do?” You are asked to respond to many concrete needs. There are people to visit, people to receive, people to simply be with. There are issues that beg for attention, books it seems important to read, and works of art to be seen. But what of all this truly deserves your time?

Start by not allowing these people and issues to possess you. As long as you think that you need them to be yourself, you are not really free. Much of their urgency comes from your own need to be accepted and affirmed. You have to keep going back to the source: God’s love for you.

In many ways, you still want to set your own agenda. You act as if you have to choose among many things, which all seem equally important. But you have not fully surrendered yourself to God’s guidance. You keep fighting with God over who is in control.

Try to give your agenda to God. Keep saying, “Your will be done, not mine.” Give every part of your heart and your time to God and let God tell you what to do, where to go, when and how to respond. God does not want you to destroy yourself. Exhaustion, burnout, and depression are not signs that you are doing God’s will. God is gentle and loving. God desires to give you a deep sense of safety in God’s love. Once you have allowed yourself to experience that love fully, you will be better able to discern who you are being sent to in God’s name.”

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) in The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom (New York: Image, 1996) 105-106.

Many people I know these days are looking for work. “What should I do?” They ask. For my own part, as I personally don’t serve one employer or organization but many, I often complete projects and have bandwidth for new ones, so I myself periodically ask this question: “What should I do and what should I not do?” Nouwen’s advice is so enriching.

None of us, from those looking for a job to the fully employed, should look for our acceptance and affirmation from our work. We must focus instead on God’s love for us. Rather than being obsessed with the question of what we should do or not do, we must give our agenda over to God and trust Him to send us out in loving service in His name.

I can relate to Nouwen who held prestigious posts at Yale and Harvard, but found even greater joy in serving at unexpected places like L’Arche Daybreak, where he spent a decade ministering among the developmentally disabled. He testifies that those transitions were definitely not in his plans for his life. Perhaps you too can relate from your own vocational journey. That’s why the advice Nouwen offers from his own experience is so enriching.

See for yourself. Try to give your agenda to God. God’s agenda for each of us may be to serve in places we least expect and yet, those may be the places where our most generous service will be performed because it will be filled with God’s love.