June 25th - Gallicanus of Ostia

There is little to this life sometimes, and as we get older we can see that clearer than when we are young, trying to make our way in the world. I think we can put that sort of behavior down to the number of divorces and abortions that we see.
We can spend so much energy on the future that we do not put stock in the here and now. We can live life day-to-day but not in the moment and without foundation except the events of the day; we twist in the wind. We forget that true moments are captured and are timeless, like the love of a man and a woman or the life that grows within. These things are not measured in days.
Gallicanus was a ranking soldier in Constantine's army and a politician, but he left it all behind in order to found a hospital in the sea port of Ostia and spend the rest of his life caring for the sick and the poor there.
We can pursue what we think is important but find, eventually, what really is important. Jesus does not mince words with the rich young man. We all seek balance in our lives but sometimes the balance scale tilts to the worldly side. Love is renewed everyday, every moment and we should grasp it, because in the end, it is all that is important - as Jesus tells us, it is the only thing that lasts.
Gallicanus pray for us; help us to pray to do God's will and not our own.

---

The life of the Christian has three distinguishing aspects: deeds, words and thought. Thought comes first, then words, since our words express openly the interior conclusions of the mind. Finally, after thoughts and words, comes action, for our deeds carry out what the mind has conceived. So when one of these results in our acting or speaking or thinking, we must make sure that all our thoughts, words, and deeds are controlled by the divine ideal, the revelation of Christ. For then our thoughts, words and deeds will not fall short of the nobility of their implications.
What then must we do, we who have been found worthy of the name of Christ? Each of us must examine his thoughts, words and deeds, to see whether they are directed towards Christ or are turned away from him.

-- From a treatise on Christian Perfection, St Gregory of Nyssa