Feast of Saint Sabbas

Good morning. It is a wonderful feeling to wake-up and be aware of the gifts which God has bestowed upon us and to appreciate just how lucky we are to have all that we do have. In today’s Gospel Jesus approaches a paralyzed man and cures him of his paralysis. How often do we get up in the morning and see the “glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God”? Do we instead awaken with regrets and longing for things to be different? When was the last time we woke up and made our spouse aware of how much we appreciate their presence in our lives? Are we sometimes paralyzed like the man in the Gospel? I’m reminded sometimes of an old saying which is said of those who share similar defects and spend time together, "Oh, what a pair, a snail and a slug." Sometimes we become so wrapped up in ourselves we fail to appreciate the gift of the person we wake up next to. Oh how often we become absorbed in our own selves and we become paralyzed by our own selfishness; we become so caught up in our own selves that we find it nearly impossible to extricate ourselves from those things which hold us captive and prevent us from taking the risk of leaving the certainty and predictability of self-imposed paralysis. It can be risky sometimes to reach out to another, to risk the certainty and predictability of self. When we give to our partner it may indeed be at the risk of losing total control of our own wants and needs, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we need to sacrifice our self in the giving. Rather, in giving we are affirming our self by removing ourselves from the need to dominate, and instead we can then truly appreciate the joy of a relationship based upon mutual self-giving. As we prepare for the coming of Christ this Advent season let us open our hearts to His love by freeing ourselves from the paralysis of our tendency for selfishness. Our Saint for today, Saint Sabbas, has much to teach us regarding living lives of self-giving. When we reach out to others in love the return is ten-fold. O come, Lord Jesus. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Sabbas.