St. Thomas More, Week 4

Betrayal.  That is the word that comes to mind when I initially think of St. Thomas More.  Not that he betrayed, but that he was betrayed.  A betrayal that was deep, personal, and public.  As someone who loves history, I am familiar with Thomas More’s time in King Henry the VIII’s court and how that position came to an end. Being someone who has a great fear of losing connection with people, especially those she cares about, I am embarrassed to say that I have too many times been more like Peter denying Christ than I have been like St. Thomas More, denying self for the sake of Christ.

Before I get too focused on that, let me first place myself in the presence of the Lord and begin as we always do.  Take a deep breath.  Breathe out slowly.  Breathe in again, letting the tension in your shoulders relax as you exhale.  Breath in deeply one final time, allowing the breath of God, Life itself, to fill your lungs. Slowly releasing all doubts and worries as you exhale.  Ask God to be with you in this space and time and to open your heart to what it is He wants to show you today.

Give yourself a minute to list out any joys, graces, or challenges you were faced with this week.  Offer them up to God as prayers of thanksgiving or as sacrifices. Thank God for them all and offer them up either in thanksgiving or as a sacrifice.  Place them at His feet with trust that He has your best interest in mind.

Alright, now that I’m centered and have Christ in focus, I can see that I would have continued on a path that left me bruised and more broken, not where Christ wants me to be. I can be so hard on myself most of the time, as I think most of us are, but this isn’t the attitude that St. Thomas More took.  It is not the thinking that made him a saint. 

Thomas Hook has given us a great description of how St. Thomas More

exemplified humility, starting with his clothing.  More wore clothing appropriate to his station, nothing more, nothing less.  He knew who and where he was.  He didn’t pretend to be king or try to live like it. Hook then goes on to explain how More looked at everyone as equal.  No one is more important than another or less than another.  People were people.  He understood profoundly that we are all children of God.  Finally, we are shown that St. Thomas More had a wonderful sense of humor.  Sometimes we all need a little bit of levity to lift us out of our own way. 

Why am I repeating all of this?  Because I think this is a better way to think of St. Thomas More than my initial thoughts of betrayal.  Ick!  Why would I want my mind to wander into the wilderness of despair when More has shown that laughter brings us and keeps us closer Christ?

In addition to Thomas Hooks weekly reflection regarding our worldly concerns, I will also pay attention to how much I laugh or feel light-hearted versus how much I take life too seriously.  More found joy in the suffering, I mean, he made jokes on the way to his own beheading!  If he can do that, I can stop being so annoyed at how much water the dog splashed all over the bathroom when I was bathing him, and find joy in his enthusiasm, right?What a beautiful “Thank You!” to God that would be – allowing Him to see me enjoy the gift He sent me when He placed Norman in my life!

Now as for viewing the crest, when I look at it as a whole, I’m drawn to the flail and to the gavel equally.  I’m sure you can tell from how I started this blog that I may not use a physical flail, but I am very good at using a metaphorical one on myself regularly.  However, I think the Holy Spirit was pointing out the gavel to remind me of God’s justice and mercy.

Looking closer at the individual parts of the crest, I am reminded that:

I am here to serve Christ by serving others.

                  Humility will keep me rooted in Christ.

                  Sometimes we must sacrifice ourselves in order to stay faithful to the Lord.

It is not impossible to imagine a world grounded in virtue and truth, but if is to be attained, I must be grounded in virtue and truth.

Lord, through the witness of St. Thomas More, you show us the courage needed to stand firm in our faith even when the tides of life grow turbulent. Grant us the grace needed to serve You above all else, trusting in Your divine justice and truth. Guide us to be beacons of integrity, living with a steadfast heart and a love for Your Church, no matter the cost. Amen

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