Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 22:34-40

Dear Friends in Christ,

My mother was recently diagnosed with ALS. Things she used to do without a second thought—getting around the house, eating a meal, cleaning up, getting dressed—have become difficult. My father is in a rehabilitation center, living with dementia and mobility problems of his own. My sister does the bulk of the caregiving for our family, and my family and I help her as I can.

Some days, love looks less like a feeling and more like helping my mother. It looks like making sure she can eat comfortably. It looks like visiting my father, sitting with him, and giving him our attention even when conversation is difficult. My brother and sisters and I are learning how much patience and care these ordinary moments ask of us.

So when I hear the question in today’s Gospel—“Which commandment in the law is the greatest?”—I hear it differently than I once did. Jesus answers, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then he adds, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The whole law and the prophets, he says, depend on these two commandments.

Continue reading →

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 22:1-14

There once lived a poor couple named Joseph and Anna. Their clothes were worn, their table was simple, and their hands were rough from years of work. Yet every morning they thanked the Father for another day. They spoke to Jesus as a trusted friend, asked the Holy Spirit for guidance, and shared whatever little they possessed.

One day, an invitation arrived from the king: “Come to the wedding feast of my son.”

They were filled with joy—until they looked at their clothing. Joseph’s coat was patched, and Anna’s only dress had faded. “We are not worthy to enter the king’s house,” Anna whispered.

Still, they decided to go. “Perhaps,” Joseph said, “the king wants our presence more than our appearance.”

At the palace entrance, they saw guests dressed in silk and jewels. Embarrassed, the couple began to turn away. Then the king’s son came toward them. His hands and feet bore wounds, yet his face radiated joy.

“Why are you leaving?” he asked.

Continue reading →

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Last weekend, my wife Anne and I were joined by our three children: our son Stephen and our daughters Katie and Mary; who all flew in from out of state to help my mother move into my sister’s home. She is suffering from ALS. Together, we fed her, listened to her stories, helped her settle in, and reminded her that we love her and that she is not alone.

There was nothing dramatic about most of what we did. We unpacked boxes, prepared food, listened to familiar stories, and offered a steady hand when her own strength was failing. Yet those ordinary gestures became holy. Through our words and actions, we practiced the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We made the love of Jesus tangible.

This experience helped me hear today’s Scriptures differently.

Continue reading →