March 18, 2020 Ramblings

Saint of the Day: It seems like Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-387 AD) just can’t get a break. The Saint, whose Memorial we celebrate today, was exiled three times during his 37-years as bishop of Jerusalem, spending a total of 17 years away from his diocese. What did he do? He followed his conscience. Cyril was a resolute opponent of the Arian heresy—a widely held belief in the early years of the Church that Jesus, although divine, was a lesser god created by the Father. Cyril’s Arian opponents sought any reason they could to get rid of him, including banishing him for selling church property to help the poor! And if three exiles aren’t bad enough, his feast day is sandwiched between Saint Patrick’s Day and Saint Joseph’s Day, so not many people remember him. Cyril deserves our attention and praise, though, not just for his steadfast faith, but for his thorough understanding of Scripture and Church teachings and his comprehensive writings that give us important insights into early Catholic systematic, liturgical, and sacramental theology. For his earthly works, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1882. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem: Pray for us!

Book Recommendation: Whenever I’m asked for a book recommendation, my go to book, without fail, is C. S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce. If you love C. S. Lewis, you’ll love The Great Divorce. A brilliant work of fiction that bears witness to Lewis’s mastery of Christian doctrine (notwithstanding his schooling in Norse and Greek mythology and literature), The Great Divorce takes the reader on a bus ride from Hell to Heaven, where the passengers must choose whether to leave their past behind and stay in Heaven or return to Hell. Why do I recommend the book? Because, to me, The Great Divorce deftly challenges us to choose between the many hells we cling to and living the Kingdom of God right now. The Great Divorce is a bus ride worth taking for all who want to move closer to God.

Good News of the Day: My friends at Pro-Activity have launched #HuntForHealth, health-related, online postings centered on their five elements of good health: MOVE-FUEL-RECOVER-ENDURE-CONNECT. These fun, family-oriented activities are a great way to stay healthy, sane, and connected as we wait out the virus-that-shall-not-be-named. Check them out on Facebook under the hashtag #HuntForHealth. God bless Pro-Activity!

Quote of the Day: “Your accumulated offenses do not surpass the multitude of God’s mercies: your wounds do not surpass the great Physician’s skill.”  —Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Much peace,

Deacon Mike