From the Desk of Fr. Davis
July 6, 2025
"Shake off the dust."
So often I speak with individuals who are frustrated by, if not disappointed in, the behavior and actions of others. Yes, we surely know that there is a lot of brokenness in our world, even within our own families and among our own friends.
Indeed, the effects of original sin are manifold around us. People, of course, are free to make choices and we will surely be disappointed in some outcomes. Yet, with maturity we must realize that there is simply no perfection this side of the grave. We strive and we should help others to strive to do what is right and good. Admittedly, though, it does seem to be much easier to notice the flaws of those around us, rather than to take stock of our own lives.
In one memorable Gospel passage Jesus tells his disciples to remove the plank in one's own eye first before seeking to remove the speck of dust in the eye of our neighbor. Our personal journey along the road of Christian conversion challenges us to do what we can do to enhance the quality of our own lives first. Then we will be in position to help another We simply can't control the actions of other people; we have to begin by controlling our own behavior. Starting with ourselves, the man or woman in the mirror, and our own sphere of influence, is the point of departure. In the final analysis, the rest is mere dust, a sure distraction.
I think we frequently complicate our lives more than they need to be, when we become absorbed in the flaws of others. We are tempted to be distracted by the limitations and foibles of others and then we lose track of our own need for change and personal growth. In our journey of faith we must focus on the things that really matter in life, the things that help us along the road to holiness and discipleship. This includes focusing on people that can complement our faith journey, as opposed to those that might detract from it. When the Gospel of truth is preached, shared, and lived, sometimes it is accepted; sometimes it is rejected. We cannot demand that people believe. We must inspire people to have faith. Rather than require, we must inspire. The choice to respond will be theirs. And so will the consequences be. Even Jesus preached in a certain locale. He did what He could do. For those who listened and understood, their lives we bettered as a result. For those that rejected His message, he taught His disciples how to handle it: to "shake off the dust" from their sandals. We can only do what we can do.
We cannot control everything. We can only be true to the Spirit's impulse on our hearts. Faithfulness to Christ and His message is our primary objective. We can only present the Gospel, free of charge, authentically lived, as inspired by the Spirit. It's enough to do our part. Others must step up and do theirs. If they don't, we can't control that. That's their responsibility. Ours is to be faithful to the truth, to do what we can do, and continue the journey toward holiness. Don't allow anyone to take that away from you. Don't allow the clutter of negative influences to bring you down. "Shake off the dust."