WANTING NO SHARE IN COMFORT (part one)
IT IS not hard to spurn human consolation when we have the divine. It is, however, a very great thing indeed to be able to live without either divine or human comforting and for the honor of God willingly to endure this exile of heart, not to seek oneself in anything, and to think nothing of one's own merit. (Our Lady is the perfect example of this, especially in my vocation as a mother)
Does it matter much, if at the coming of grace, you are cheerful and devout? This is an hour desired by all, for he whom the grace of God sustains travels easily enough. What wonder if he feel no burden when borne up by the Almighty and led on by the Supreme Guide! For we are always glad to have something to comfort us, and only with difficulty does a man divest himself of self. (It is important that we remain strong and balanced even in the midst of suffering)
The holy martyr, Lawrence, with his priest, conquered the world because he despised everything in it that seemed pleasing to him, and for love of Christ patiently suffered the great high priest of God, Sixtus, whom he loved dearly, to be taken from him. Thus, by his love for the Creator he overcame the love of man, and chose instead of human consolation the good pleasure of God. So you, too, must learn to part with an intimate and much-needed friend for the love of God. (Detachment from my growing children) Do not take it to heart when you are deserted by a friend, knowing that in the end we must all be parted from one another.
I will work today on small acts of denial.
THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+
1 comment:
Consolation from human beings can be both fickle and fleeting. However, when it comes to family, there is a lasting bond despite separation and irregular expression. It is made real by elements of common history, shared memories and an abiding love. A mother looks upon her children and can always say, “Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone….” You will always be their mother and Rob will always be their father. The ties of the heart need not be broken by the passing of time, by earthly preoccupations or by the vastness of physical separation.
Our unity with Christ can indeed become consuming; however this brings us into a more profound unity with those whom we love and with the larger family of the Church. The liturgical moment when we celebrate this connection to one another in Christ is the sign of peace. That gesture symbolizes reconciliation with one another and our unity with one another as members of the Mystical Body of Christ. We are, in a sense, saying to each other, “You are a part of me… what happens to you matters… you are not alone.”
Spiritual detachment that places the gravity upon Christ is important. However, those who pursue a religious vocation are often admonished not to interpret this as a license for meanness or for a cold stoicism. The more that God matters in our lives, the more intensely should we know and feel the needs of others. We enter into the greatest love story ever told. Whenever we chose to love— we make ourselves vulnerable— we can know its joy but also its pain as did our Lord in Gethsemane.
Speaking for myself, prayer and discipleship has led me on a life-long path of imitating Christ that will hopefully result in a more complete transformation in Christ. Sanctifying grace opens the door and actual grace empowers my footsteps to move toward it. I know I am never really alone. No believer is ever abandoned.
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