Many times I find myself
complaining: “If
life is a bowl of cherries, then what am I doing in the pits?” (Erma Bombeck) But You let me
understand, Lord, that in the rhythms of life, from time to time, You want us
to have some rest. Jesus said, "Come
to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
(Matthew 11:28). In addition: “Rest
means recuperation: to gain strength, form ideals and make plans. In other
words it means a change of occupation, so that you can come back later with a
new impetus to your daily job.“ (St. Josemaria Escriva, Furrow, 514)
It
is not easy, Lord - when the burdens of boredom and the weight of weariness
incessantly assail us - to still be joyful. Yet St. Paul reminds: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In the midst
of our difficulties, we are asked to recall that we can have the peace of
knowing Christ is with us: He gives us strength to overcome the challenges;
also His joy and peace in the midst of the storm. (Why is Life so Hard
Sometimes? By Missy Butler, www.cbn.com). Jesus, after all, said: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have
peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the
world." (John 16:33). And The Old Testament encourages: “Cast your care upon the LORD, who will give
you support. He will never allow the righteous to stumble.” (Psalms 55:23)
Nonetheless,
Lord, "just surviving" is not what You challenge us to do. Having “fearfully
and wonderfully made” us (Psalms 134:14), we believe You have destined us to
use all our talents for Your purposes, putting all our minds, hearts and energies
to the work You set before us. That work might be gleaned from: “…the idea that the Christian vocation
consists of making heroic verse out of the prose of each day. Heaven and earth
seem to merge, xxxxx, on the horizon. But where they really meet is in your
hearts, when you sanctify your everyday lives”. (St. Josemaria Escriva,
Conversations, 116)
And
when we live, move, walk “to love God and
mankind by putting love in the little things of everyday life, and discovering
that divine something which is hidden in small details” (Daily Message, http://www.opusdei.us/sec.php?s=310), then we can dare to have the hope
of becoming “small pieces in the great
mosaic of holiness that the Lord continues to create in history”. (Pope
Benedict XVI, General Audience Address of April 12, 2011).
No comments:
Post a Comment