Archives by: Gary Hoag

“If ancient examples of faith, which testify to the grace of God and give us encouragement, are honored and recorded for posterity in writing, so that by reading them the deeds of God are glorified and others are strengthened, why should we not in our generation also set down new witnesses which serve these ends. One day our example will also be ancient and important to our children…”

This reading comes from the introduction to the martyrdom of Perpetua, Felicity and their companions at Carthage in 203, as recorded in Celebrating the Saints, ed. Robert Atwell (Norwich: SCM Press, 2004) 129.

“I offer You all my good deeds, though they are few and imperfect, to the end that you may amend and sanctify them and make them pleasing and acceptable to Yourself, and to the end that You may bring me, though I am a slow and unprofitable servant, to a blessed and glorious end.”

Thomas à Kempis in The Imitation of Christ (New York: Image, 1989) 219.

“What is it to be a companion of Jesus today? It is to engage, under the standard of the cross, in the crucial struggle of our time: the struggle for faith and that struggle for justice which it includes.”

Ignacio Ellacuria (1930-1989), Jesuit martyr in San Salvador, in Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) 465.

“If we are overcome by sloth or by carelessness, if we give ourselves over to dangerous and useless chattering, if we are caught up in worldly cares and in profitless worries, then there will follow in effect from this a harvest of tares to serve as a ministry of death to our hearts. As the Lord and Savior of us all proclaimed, where treasure lies for our works and for our hopes, our hearts will of necessity abide there too.” (cf. Matthew 6:21).

John Cassian (c. 360-435), from his treatise “The Conferences” as recorded in Celebrating the Saints, ed. Robert Atwell (Norwich: SCM Press, 2004) 82.

“Christian leaders are enemies to our Redeemer if on the strength of the good works they perform, they desire to be loved by the Church more than by Christ.”

Gregory the Great (540-604) from his treatise “Pastoral Care” as recorded in Celebrating the Saints, ed. Robert Atwell (Norwich: SCM Press, 2004) 24.

“I did not intend my creatures to make themselves servants and slaves to the world’s pleasures. They own their first love to me. Everything else they should love and possess, as I told you, not as if they owned it but as something lent to them.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), in Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) 454.

“Greed causes misery, hardship, toil, danger, blood, death and destruction. It compels us to make money, but forbids the use of it; lovers of money endure the pain but do not get the pleasures. It causes anxieties and distractions.”

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:10-11

Abraham Malherbe in “Godliness, Self-Sufficiency, Greed and the Enjoyment of Wealth: 1 Timothy 6:3-19” Novum Testamentum (2010) 52:398.

“Money never stays with me: it would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find a way into my heart.”

Below is the letter that John Wesley wrote to his sister, Martha Hall, a.k.a. “Patty,” in which this quote is found in its entirety.

To his sister, Mrs. Martha Hall.

Kingswood, October 6, 1768.

Dear Patty,
You do not consider, money never stays with me: it would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find a way into my heart. Therefore you should have spoken to me while I was in London, and before Miss Lewen’s money flew away. However, I know not but I may still spare you £5, provided you will not say, ‘I will never ask you again,’ because this is more than you can tell; and you must not promise more than you can perform.
O how busy are mankind! and about what trifles! Things that pass away as a dream. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, but to love and serve God.
I am, Dear Patty, Your ever affectionate brother.

John Wesley (1703-1791) in Letters of John Wesley, eds. George Eayrs and Augustine Birrell, 66.

“We who formerly treasured money and possessions more than anything else now hand everything we have to a treasury for all and share it with everyone who needs it. We who formerly hated and murdered one another…now live together and share the same table. Now we pray for our enemies and try to win those who hate us.”

Justin Martyr (103-165), in Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) 375.

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen

I chose this to serve as the Benediction for Summer Break as our two teens return to school tomorrow. May this be true for them and each of us. Lord Jesus Christ, in your mercy, hear my prayer!

Philip Yancey in Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 105.