Thursday, March 12th

12-step recovery programs have two key aspects: fellowship and “the program.” Fellowship entails showing up to meetings, having conversations with others in recovery, and proudly saying, “I’m an addict.” The program entails doing the actions required to work the Twelve Steps. In a sense, it’s doing the will of the Father. The work of the Steps is where the real healing—the real recovery—happens. Fellowship is good and necessary. However, without coupling it with the work of building a firm foundation of spiritual and character principles through the Steps, sobriety from whatever our addiction, compulsion, or unhealthy attachment is becomes, at best, precarious. It’s similar with respect to our Catholic faith. If we just show up for Sunday Mass but don’t commit to doing regular prayer and frequenting the sacraments, our faith remains precarious.

As today’s Gospel reminds us, it’s important that we build our recovery and faith on the solid rock of actions—of doing the necessary work and not merely talking about it. We might be able to get away with only attending Mass on Sunday or attending recovery meetings now and again when the sun is out, so to speak. Yet, when the storm comes, and it will, we will discover we have built our recovery and faith on sand.

Reflection Questions

• Are you simply showing up with respect to 12-step recovery and your Catholic faith as opposed to actually doing the work and participating? If so, what can you do today to change this?
• What Step are you currently working (or reworking)? Who is holding you accountable to this?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: 2 Kings 24:8-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9
Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29

Reflection by Kevin S.

(1085-1142) — Saint William was born to Italian nobility, orphaned as an infant, and, at 14, made a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint James in Spain, where he decided to give his life to God and become a hermit. William had such a reputation for holiness, including the possible healing of a blind man, that others sought him out, and he eventually founded a monastery. With time, William’s example and way of life proved too difficult for others, and when the complaining became too much, he removed himself and travelled to Naples, where he ended up as an adviser to the king. He founded several more monasteries, and there exists a very similar legend of William taming a wolf to that of Saint Hervé from June 17th (Hervé lived 500 years earlier).

Good living is attractive and contagious. Saint William was inspired on pilgrimage. We are also on a journey. Take some time today to reflect on your recovery pilgrimage. One day at a time takes us further than we thought possible.

Saint William of Vercelli, pray for us, that we might follow in your example and live in a way that is attractive and contagious, drawing others to the light of recovery and closeness to Christ. Amen.