Five Minutes with Tony Agnesi

FGG-102 Where is the Baby?

There is a story of two young women having an elaborate lunch together in an upscale downtown restaurant. As they are enjoying their food and conversation, the invited guest asks her friend the reason for the occasion.

She replies, “We are celebrating the baby’s birthday!”

“But, where is the baby?” said her bewildered friend.

“Oh,” said the mother, “You didn’t think I would bring him, did you?” Why he doesn’t know anything about it.”

In this podcast, Tony discusses the birth of Jesus.

Scripture: “Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” –Luke 2:8-11

“You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.” –John R. Rice

Reflections:  What are you doing to bring Jesus to your holiday celebration?  Do you discuss the birth f our Lord with your young children?  Do you have a nativity scene in your home, and how do you use it as a teaching aid?

 

FGG-152 The Empty Chair

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the happiest times of the year. We get together with family and friends, exchange gifts, share wonderful meals, and enjoy the holidays.  But, for many of us, the loss of a loved one makes this a sad and even depressing time. Let’s face it; every one of us will have a holiday where there is an empty chair. In this podcast Tony discusses the loss of a loved on at the holidays.

Quote: “I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.” –Taylor Caldwell

Scripture: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.” –Revelations 21:4

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.” –Psalm 34:19

Reflections:  What do you think of Tony’s ideas for remembering a loved one?  Do you have a tradition at the holidays to remember those that have past?  What can we do to help a person who has experienced a loss this year?

FGG-101 Our Thanksgiving Pizza

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” –  Matthew 25:40

 As we waited for mass to begin, I noticed the giving tree had been set up in the chapel.  For the uninitiated, the Giving Tree is a Christmas tree decorated with paper ornaments with the name, age, and sex of a needy person in the area and something that they might like as a Christmas gift.  Every year we take a few names and purchase gifts.

“Hey honey,” I whispered. “We should get a few names from the giving tree while there are still lots to choose from.”

“Not today,” my wife Diane responded.  “I want to wait until they have been picked over.  I like to buy for the people that no one picks, you know, the leftovers.  I really like doing something special for the people no one picks.”

As I settled back into my seat, I realized what she had said.  We are very judgmental people.  We even judge what disadvantaged person gets our help.  I have been guilty of this myself.  I guess it is alright to pick a child, or a person of a particular sex, or in reading the notes, someone that we feel good helping, but, there are always a few that no one selects.

I was so proud of Diane!  I can really learn from her non-judgmental attitude.  As a matter of fact, she prefers the unwanted, the leftovers, those who no one felt worthy.

It reminded me that one of my heroes’, Saint Mother Teresa, became a saint for just that reason.  She picked those that no one wanted, the leftovers, to help.

She would say, ““If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

This Christmas season, let’s try to be less judgmental and help those who become the leftovers on the Giving Tree.

FGG-071 Alone or Lonely?

Alone and lonely are two distinctly different feelings.  Being alone can be great. Lonely is very different.  Loneliness is not the same as being alone, and simply being around others does not guarantee we won’t be lonely.  At times, we can be surrounded by people, but still feel lonely. In this podcast, Tony talks about the difference between being alone and being lonely.

Scripture: Look upon me, have pity on me, for I am alone and afflicted. –Psalm 25:16

No one can withstand you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, I will be with you: I will not leave you nor forsake you. –Joshua 1:5

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  –Matthew 28:20

FGG-070 Why Are We So Angry?

Scripture: “For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20

Quote: “I really only love God as much as I love the person I love least.”  –Dorothy Day

Reflection: Is anger a problems we all face today?  Why do you think people are so angry?  Is road rage and Movie theater rage a symptom of a bigger problem?  Can you offer some solutions?

FGG-069 But She Did

There is an old saying that roads are paved with good intentions, and in today’s fast-paced, me-oriented society, it was never more evident. People are so consumed with their own lives, problems, and time famine that they barely have time to think of others. In this podcast, Tony talks about those people that put service ahead of self.

Scripture: Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ –Matthew 25:34-36

The smallest act of kindness is worth more that the grandest intention. –Oscar Wilde

Reflection: Is there someone that your remember because of an act of kindness?  Have you ever gone out of your way to help another?  How did that make you feel?

FGG-184 A Shame Too Great

This past month, I began my 13th year in jail ministry. We have seen many changes over these past 12 years. The single biggest change is the number of inmates addicted to heroin. A large percentage of people our ministry team sees on weekly basis have a substance abuse disorder.

What are the reasons many don’t seek treatment? Why does arrest and incarceration have to happen before treatment begins?  In this podcast Tony discusses the shame of addiction.

 Scripture: “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” — 1 Corinthians 10:13

Reflections: What can we do to help the addicted deal with shame?  Do you understand that addiction is an illness? How can we show compassion for the addicted?

FGG-183 Serving with Compassion

When we hear of someone who is suffering, we feel sorry for them; we have feelings of pity and empathy. If someone loses a loved one, a job, has an incurable illness or accident, we feel these emotions. But, are these emotions compassion or something else? In this podcast Tony discusses compassion.

Scripture: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”  — Colossians 3:12 (NAB)

“[And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” — Ephesians 4:32 (NAB)

Reflections: Are you a compassionate person?  What can we do to become more compassionate people? What role does gratitude and kindness play in compassion?  Are you compassionate to yourself?

FGG-182 Living in a Connected World

We are living in a connected world.  Smart phones have put instant communications in the hands of everyone. We read articles about the connected car, home and workplace. It seems the world is a text message or tweet away. In this podcast Tony discusses being a Christian in a connected world.

 

Scripture: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus”  –1Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Reflections: How do you keep God in your day-to-day life? Do you have a time each day when you unplug from your smart phone and computer? Have you downloaded any apps to keep God in your day?

FGG-181 Hey, Whaddaya Gonna Do?

Whenever something bad would happen to a friend or family member, a death in the family, the loss of a job, divorce or health issues, old Sicilian men would ponder for a long moment, look the friend straight in the eyes and say, “Hey, whaddaya gonna do?” In this podcast Tony discusses find the right things to say.

Scripture: Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.  Matthew 6: 27, 34

Reflections:  Are you ever at a loss for what to say at a funeral? Are you fearful you might say the wrong thing? How uncomfortable are you in these situations?