Overcome your spiritual desolation

Who among us does not struggle at times with discouragement in our spiritual lives? Who among us would not welcome a reliable, authoritative antidote to such discouragement? These pages offer a hopeful invitation to all who endeavor to overcome perhaps the most stubborn obstacle in the spiritual life — discouragement. Our enemy actively exploits our vulnerabilities, shrewdly leading us time and again into an overwhelming sense of disturbance. But Fr. Gallagher pulls the curtain back on the wiles of the devil, offering gentle reflections that are remarkably effective in lightening the burdens of your day-to-day spiritual life.   You’ll learn practical ways to find peace amid your spiritual struggles, and patience in the face of even the most intense trials. Best of all, you’ll learn how to profit spiritually from the afflictions that beset you.   Each reflection in these pages begins with a quotation by Venerable Bruno Lanteri, the holy founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, whose wisdom has guided the uncommonly insightful spirituality of Fr. Gallagher. In these pages, you will learn:   How to evade sadness, melancholy, and temptation   Ways you can be joyful even when you do not feel mirth   How to leave the sins, weaknesses, and failures of your past to God’s mercy   What to do if you reach the point of despair   How to recognize the enemy, even when he presents himself under the appearance of good   The five benefits you’ll derive from regular Confession   How each part of the Mass corresponds to an affection of the heart   Proven techniques for waging warfare against negative moods There is no shame in spiritual desolation. In fact, it can be a sign of spiritual progress. Here Fr. Gallagher explains how the greatest of saints learned how to draw closer to God precisely in these dark moments.    Overcoming Spiritual Discouragement is a call to hope . . . a message of solace in time of suffering . . . and an encouragement to stand tall in times of affliction. Read this book, and you’ll learn how to fully enter into the sublime peace and joy that our Lord promises. Overcoming Spiritual Discouragement: The Wisdom and Spiritual Power of Venerable Bruno Lanteri by Fr. Timothy Gallagher Paperback | eBook 128 pages Paperback price: $14.95  Today's Sale Price: $12.99! BUY NOW You May Also Like:     SHOP ALL BOOKS Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com   Invite friends to receive our newsletters and get these books for FREE! LEARN MORE Get one discounted book per month—and never pay shipping! Learn more:

Wisdom from St. Augustine

Remember that Christ has promised us eternal life. What can the world promise? Let it promise anything—it may be making that promise to someone who will die tomorrow. And what does the world threaten? Prisons? Chains? Fires? Torments? Wild beasts? Yes, but not eternal fire. Love what the Almighty promises, and then the whole world becomes vile in our sight, whether it promises or terrifies.

— St. Augustine  from A Year with the Church Fathers

Wisdom from Peter Kreeft

Eventually, if only at our death, we must meet reality face to face. So we had better begin rehearsing now.

— Peter Kreeft from Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven

Wisdom from Sigrid Undset

Descriptions by eyewitnesses of the miracles associated with the saints in their lifetimes are just as dependable and clear as any other evidence of historical events. There is no ground to reject them other than a dogmatic belief that there is no Almighty God who is able to alter the course of an individual life.

— Sigrid Undset from Catherine of Siena

The Voice of the Devil vs. the Voice of God

Satan is always at work breeding sadness and anxiety. He imposes obstacles that hinder souls from making spiritual progress. How can we defend ourselves? How can we fight back? In this concise yet powerful book, author Dan Burke distills the venerable, time-tested wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola into a spiritual ball of fire. You will learn to understand the influence of the Enemy on your mind and heart, and the tactics you need to combat him. With St. Ignatius as his guide, Burke presents an indispensable, authoritative manual for engaging in daily battle with the Adversary—combat that is both inevitable and winnable. Burke will help you recognize the ebbs and flows of consolation and desolation, and distinguish between the voices of God and of Satan. Best of all, you’ll come to see the spiritual life not as a science to be learned, but as an intuitive art to be practiced as you move with increasing success from habitual sin to sanctity. The battle for our souls is unavoidable. So be sure to prepare for the battle. Burke shows what the saints all recognized: that we become stronger through battle and grow weaker from avoidance. So grow in strength and contentment as you learn:   How to take captive every negative thought and make it obedient to Christ   St. Ignatius’s revelations exposing how the Devil seeks to influence us   The Paradigm of Ascent and the Five Steps to Sanctity   The three ways you can discern “Good Spirits” from “Bad Spirits”   The three principal causes of desolation—and what you must do when it afflicts your soul   Proven methods for moving away from sin and toward self-giving love of God and neighbor Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits by Dan Burke Paperback | eBook 120 pages Paperback price: $14.95  Today's Sale Price: $12.99! BUY NOW Praise for Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits: "I recommend this book for anyone ready to grow in holiness." Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller Former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "I expect this work to inspire a movement of fierce soldiers for Christ!" Kathleen Beckman Deliverance and Exorcism Ministry Coordinator, Diocese of Orange "I hope and pray that many faithful will be helped by this book on their spiritual journey." Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D. Bishop of Stockholm "Dan Burke has become a wonderful conveyer of the deep wisdom of the saints in language that is easy to understand." Dr. Ralph Martin Author, Fulfillment of All Desire "For those who want to live in victory over the enemy, I heartily recommend this book!" Fr. Mathias Thelen President, Encounter Ministries As you learn to combat the influence of the devil on your mind and heart, further nourish your soul with more spiritual insights from Dan Burke. Burke here provides an invaluable road map for spiritual growth, complete with signposts to help ensure that you remain on the right path. He guides you through the hazardous terrain that can threaten your spiritual health and shows you how to discern God’s will daily and follow it in a meaningful way.   Through intensive study of the major Catholic mystics, Dan has acquired the keys to developing a more meaningful relationship with Christ, which he shares with you in this indispensable volume. The pearls of wisdom you will gain here include the following:   How to identify the state of your spiritual life — and the optimal path for your future spiritual growth   The three critical steps to authentic repentance   How to know if you are ready (or not ready) for spiritual direction   The questions you must ask to determine the appropriateness of any potential spiritual director   How to identify your root sin   How to develop a rule of life that will help you grow in virtue and spiritual discipline If you follow the time-tested advice in this book, your faith is sure to grow stronger as you purposefully, consistently, and substantively grow in your relationship with God and neighbor.   Get TWO books for only $24.99! BUY THE SET Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com   Invite friends to receive our newsletters and get these books for FREE! LEARN MORE Get one discounted book per month—and never pay shipping! Learn more:

Wisdom from St. Catherine of Siena

Love, love, love, and remember that you were loved even before you were created. For God who sees Himself, passionately loves the beauty of His creation, and He created it because His love is boundless, to give it eternal life and to allow it to enjoy the indescribable blessedness which He Himself possesses.

— Saint Catherine of Siena, quoted by Sigrid Undset in her book Catherine of Siena

More Wisdom from Crystalina Evert

The decisions that we make today matter tremendously. Don't lie to yourselves! What you do day in and day out matters! God loves you! He wants to use you! Don't sell yourself short! You're important to the kingdom of God.

— Crystalina Evert  from Women Made New

Wisdom from Crystalina Evert

It doesn't matter who you are, where you've been, what you've done. All that matters is where you go from here, and that God can restore you. God can make you new. He loves you! Your past mistakes cannot define your future!

— Crystalina Evert  from Women Made New

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A January 26, 2020

First ReadingIsaiah 8:23-9:3
The people in darkness have seen a great light.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 27:1,4,13-14
The Lord is our refuge, our light, our salvation.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
Paul urges the community at Corinth to be united as people baptized in Christ’s name.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus begins to preach in Galilee and calls his first disciples. (shorter form Matthew 4:12-17)


Gospel MT 4:12-23 OR 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.

or

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”


Background on the Gospel Reading
Today’s Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (called the Synoptic Gospels), Jesus’ public ministry begins after his baptism by John the Baptist and after his retreat to the desert where he was tempted by the devil. When Jesus returns from the desert, he hears that John has been arrested.

The first part of today’s Gospel places Jesus’ ministry in the context of the writings of the prophet, Isaiah. Matthew wants to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies given to the people of Israel, and he refers to Isaiah to do so. Isaiah says that the Messiah will begin his ministry in Galilee, the land of the Gentiles. When Jesus begins to preach in Galilee, Matthew points to his ministry as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, proof that Jesus is the Messiah.

When Jesus called his first disciples, the Gospel tells us that the fishermen (Peter and Andrew, James and John) dropped everything to follow Jesus immediately. Yet this Gospel tells us little about the prior experience that the fishermen had of Jesus. Did they know him? Had they heard him preach? What kind of person must Jesus have been to invoke such a response? We can imagine that Jesus was a powerful presence to elicit a response as immediate and complete as these first disciples gave.

The Gospel concludes with a description of the ministry that Jesus begins in Galilee. Jesus inaugurates the Kingdom of God with his work. He teaches in the synagogue and preaches the kingdom. His ability to cure people’s diseases and illness is a sign of the kingdom. In Jesus’ ministry, we already begin to see the Kingdom of God among us.


Family Connection
Today’s Gospel tells us little about the background of these fishermen, their work, and their families. In today’s Gospel, we are simply told that James and John left their father, Zebedee, in the boat and followed Jesus.

Some details about the families of these first followers of Jesus are found later in Matthew’s Gospel, however. In Matthew 8:14-15 for example, Jesus goes to the home of Peter and heals his mother-in-law of a fever. Matthew 20:20-28 relates how the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John) approaches Jesus with the request that her sons be given places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. These brief references suggest that the first disciples’ separation from their families may not have been as complete as the verses in today’s Gospel might lead us to believe. Matthew points out the separation because he wants to show that Christian discipleship can require a change in our lives and even our family relationships.

Perhaps the message for us today is to balance the radical call to be a follower of Jesus with the challenge to be “fishers of men” even within our own families. Creating this balance may require that we change some of the priorities of our own family life.

As a family, detail the activities of a typical day. Discuss together what priorities are reflected in this daily schedule. How does your family respond when your daily plans are interrupted or must be changed? Together read today’s Gospel, Matthew 4:12-23. Reflect together on the example of the first disciples who dropped everything to follow Jesus. Ask: Does our family schedule give evidence that we put God first in our family life? What might we do to better reflect that God is our priority?

Pray together that your family will always give evidence that God comes first in your family life. Pray today’s Psalm or the Lord’s Prayer.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings

More Wisdom from Mother Dolores Hart

If we are open to the love of God—a love that is revealed to us through the love we share with one another—then we will discover who we really are. This is what Saint Benedict, in the prologue to the Rule, calls the ‘expansion of the heart’ that is the fruit of religious life.

— Mother Dolores Hart from The Ear of the Heart

Wisdom from Mother Dolores Hart

I left the world I knew in order to reenter it on a more profound level. Many people don’t understand the difference between a vocation and your own idea about something. A vocation is a call—one you don’t necessarily want. The only thing I ever wanted to be was an actress. But I was called by God.

— Mother Dolores Heart from The Ear of the Heart

More wisdom from Emily Stimpson Chapman

When we have a headache or a backache, we run straightaway to the medicine cabinet and pop open a bottle of pills. But when we’re lost, confused, or in need of spiritual healing, so few of us run to the nearest tabernacle with the same confidence. We forget that the small white Host contains a healing power infinitely greater than the healing power in any pill. But it does. There is greater grace in Christ’s Eucharistic presence than our created minds can begin to fathom.

— Emily Stimpson Chapman from The Catholic Table

Wisdom from Emily Stimpson Chapman

Food isn’t just about calories and fat, vitamins and minerals, additives and preservatives. It’s about God. It’s about community. It’s about life. Food is one of God’s most precious gifts, a sign of the Lord’s goodness, abundance, creativity, and love. Most important, it’s the very thing that God becomes for us in the Eucharist.

— Emily Stimpson Chapman from The Catholic Table

Wisdom from St. John Chrysostom

Believers ought to be distinguished not only by their place, but by their way of life. They ought to be obvious not only by the gift, but also by the new life. He should be distinguishable by everything—by his walk, by his look, by his clothes, by his voice.

— St. John Chrysostom  from A Year with the Church Fathers

More Wisdom from Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen

That the Eucharist—and thus the whole of Christian life—is a meal shows us that we do not have life in ourselves. We must receive it, eat it. We become what we receive. If we refuse to receive, refuse to eat and drink him, we remain without life.

— Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen from Bread That Is Broken