Five Minutes with Tony Agnesi

FMWT-114 The Opposite of Ego is Love

We all have two voices playing in our consciousness, our ego and our sacred self. Sometimes, who we think we are and who we really are don’t match. And, the bigger the gap between the two, the bigger our ego becomes. Our physical self (ego) gets in the way of our sacred self.  In this podcast Tony discusses ego.

Scripture: “I have been crucified with Christ. I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.^”  Galatians 2:20

“Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.^” Luke 9:23-24

Reflections:  Do you ever let your ego get in the way of your happiness?  Do you think that arguments and misunderstandings are caused by ego?  What do you do to empty yourself of ego?

FMWT-113 Where There is Love, There is God

I am in awe of young parents and their never ending battles with keeping up in this fast-paced, always-connected world we live in. With soccer practice, gymnastics, diaper bags, and juggling jobs, family life and their kids busier than ever social schedules, there just isn’t much time for God.  In this podcast, Tony discusses parenthood in 2016.

Scripture: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” –1 John 4:16

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.” –1 John 4:18

Quotes: “What you are doing I cannot do, what I’m doing you cannot do, but together we are doing something beautiful for God, and this is the greatness of God’s love for us.” —Mother Teresa, from Where There Is Love, There Is God

“Where God is, Love is.”  –Leo Tolstoy

Reflections: Do you appreciate the challenges that today’s parents face?  Do you think that in today’s fast=paced society parenting has become harder than ever?  What can we do to help parents of young children cope?

FMWT-112 A Still Small Voice

We often read of that still, small voice that is in each of us. It is a voice guiding our path, discerning right from wrong, helping us make decisions that will forever be part of our lives.  In this podcast Tony discusses a well formed conscience.

Scripture and Catechism: “For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.” CCC 1776

“Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.” CCC 1799

“And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” –1 Kings 19:12 KJV

Reflections:  Do you ever make a decision that you know is wrong but do it any way?  Do you follow your conscience?  When you follow you conscience do you get a good feeling?

FMWT-111 The Power of a Smile

Last night, I was looking through some pictures from our recent visit to California. It was a trip to see our 20-month old grandson, Nico. I noticed that in every picture he had a big, slobbery smile. And, as I looked at the pictures, I couldn’t help but smile too!  In this podcast, Tony discusses the power of a smile.

Quotes: “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ― Mother Teresa

“The expression one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one’s back.” – Dale Carnegie

Scripture: A glad heart lights up the face, but an anguished heart breaks the spirit. —–Proverbs 15:13

Reflections:  Do you agree that smiles are powerful?  Have you ever had your mood changed bu=y the smile of a child?  What can we learn about smiling that can help us in our everyday lives?

FMWT-110 Kindness and Truth Shall Meet

A wise rabbi once said that the world is sustained by three things, by justice, by truth and by peace. When justice is done, truth is served and peace is achieved. In this podcast, Tony discusses the way to peace.

Scripture: “Kindness and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven.” Psalm 85:10-11

Quote: “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reflections: What are you doing to support peace?  Where do we find the leaders to show us the way to peace?  What are you doing to promote social justice?

FMWT-109 Enter into my Rest

Every day, as I read Psalm 95 to begin the divine office, the phrase, “enter into my rest” seems to jump off the page.  What is this rest that God speaks of? What did the Israelites do to fail to enter into it? And, more importantly, what can we do to enter into God’s rest? In this podcast, Tony discusses Enter into my rest.

Scripture: Forty years I loathed that generation; I said: “This people’s heart goes astray; they do not know my ways.” Therefore I swore in my anger: “They shall never enter my rest.” –Psalm 95:10-11

Therefore, let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed. –Hebrews 4:1

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.^{”  –Ephesians 2:8-9}

“Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.” — Hebrews 3:13

“For in fact we have received the good news just as they did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened.” –Hebrews 4:2

Reflections:  We all need God’s rest.  How are you entering into His rest?  How would you define God’s rest?  How does faith help us enter into God’s rest?

FMWT-108 Making it Through Hard Times

Hard times, we are all going to have them. And, some of us get through them better than others.  Others don’t do so well. They suffer openly, have a negative destructive attitude and feel that their happiness has been shortchanged. In this podcast, Tony discusses hard times.

Scripture: “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:7

Quote: “Suffering has to come because if you look at the cross Jesus has his head bending down. He wants to kiss you. And he has his arms opened wide. He wants to embrace you. When you feel miserable inside look at the cross. Suffering, pain, sorrow, humiliation, feelings of loneliness, are nothing but the kiss of Jesus, a sign you have come so close he can kiss you.Suffering, pain, humiliation – this is the kiss of Jesus!” – Blessed Theresa of Calcutta

“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be, it’s the way it is. The way you cope is what makes the difference.” –- Virginia Satir

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reflections: How has God helped you through hard times?  What is you feeling about suffering?  Is there anything we can learn from experiencing hard times?

FMWT-106 In All Things Give Thanks

In this podcast, Tony discusses giving thanks as an important element of Christianity.  He uses the beautiful writings of St. Rose of Lima to better understand God’s amazing grace.  The feast of St. Rose of Lima is celebrated this Saturday, August 23rd.

Quote: “If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men.”   –From the writings of St. Rose of Lima

“ Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: ‘Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven.’ ” –from the writings of St. Rose of Lima

Scripture: “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”  1Thessalonians 5:18

Reflection: Has there been a trying time in your life that God’s grace helped you get through?  Do you agree with St. Rose that grace flows to the afflicted and hurting?

FMWT-105 The SIn of Partiality

In this Five Minutes with Tony podcast, Tony shares how we often are quick to judge people and show partiality to some and reject others.  Often, we have our priorities backwards or out of order.  The books of James guides us in our study of the sin of partiality.

Scripture: “My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?  Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court?”   James 2:1-6

“But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”  James 2:9

Reflection:  Have you ever been guilty of the sin of partiality?  Why do we judge people in our lives as being worthy or not worthy of our love and respect?

FMWT-104 Authentic People

We all know authentic people, we are attracted to them. They exude kindness and compassion, they don’t judge, they are trustworthy, passionate, helpful and genuine.  In this podcast Tony discusses Authentic People.

Scripture: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” –Romans 12:2

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching.” –Romans 12:6-7

“But the LORD said to Samuel: Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

Reflections:  Who is the most authentic person you know?  Do you find that people often try to be someone they aren’t?  How about you?