From the Deacon's Desk

by Deacon Rick Wagner

Deacon Rick Wagner was ordained on June 23, 2012 and currently serves his home parish of St. Pius X in Indianapolis, IN. He has been married to his wife, Carol, for 43 years and they have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.

Deacon Rick has been involved in Catholic education for 40+ years and currently serves as President of St. Theodore Guerin High School, a workshop instructor for Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, and a retreat leader.

He has also authored three books: Remember What’s Important (2011), Fifty Homilies from the Deacon’s Desk (2016), and Fifty MORE Homilies from the Deacon’s Desk (2024).

Have a question or comment for Deacon Rick? Feel free to contact him at rwagner@spxparish.org

Take Nothing

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey…” (Luke 9:1-6)

TAKE NOTHING: After the rejection in Nazareth by his own people, Jesus went to other places to preach. Today we read how he sent out his closest friends, the Twelve, with special instructions and powers. Like Jesus, the apostles were to go out preaching and teaching the Good News. Jesus gave them detailed instructions as to what to carry and how long to stay in any given place.

The notion of traveling light, or “taking nothing for the journey,” made traveling easier. There was no need to carry heavy things or rely on “stuff” because trusting in God was enough.

This gospel offers two significant messages:

• Don’t place our trust in what, but in who.

• There is urgency in our role as evangelizers; we must hit the road and move quickly.

Do we put all our trust in the “baggage” we’ve collected throughout our life? Or do we travel light, trusting in God?


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