Keep our eyes on Christ

I asked you and you would not listen. So, I asked my God, and He did listen. St. Scholastica

I was a on holiday with friends and it was not going well. Differences of opinions can be tough but when you are traveling in a new country without the language, you are your own. That is what happened to me once when I was away. I never went again with that group of friends and maybe I was feeling betrayed at the time. It is not important. We put our trust in others more than we put our trust in God.

This goes back to a question I always ask myself: “Who do I follow?” Sometimes we think we are the smartest person around and have all the answers to every question, but we are not so comfortable with mystery. I am so struck by the lives of the people I know who live in a cloister. I visit them often. They always give me the best direction. When I get confused, they remind me how much God speaks to us in silence. God asks us to allow him to enter our lives and take care of us. Despite their lives in the cloister, they seem to be more in tune with the world than I am. They help me respond to many circumstances that I would not seem to be able to otherwise. We need to be reminded of that often.

Recently, I needed to find new participants for the charitable work I am involved with. I saw a couple of people at mass that I had seen before but really, I did not know them. I thought to myself, what do I have to lose? So, I asked, and they immediately offered to come. What courage! I go regularly to help at this ‘soup kitchen’ where we serve nutritious meals. What is great about this place is the kindness shown to the patrons but also how it changes and warms the hearts of the volunteers. “Heaven is filled with converted sinners of all kinds, and there is room for more.” St. Joseph Cafasso It takes an effort for people to offer to help but they are ready to do so if asked.

We fall into the trap of thinking that work, helping others, doing chores and so many activities are simply a bother. They are not. Even the little things like getting to daily Mass is always some help for us.

Pope Francis reminded us, “The Saints are not supermen, nor were they born perfect. When they recognized God’s love, they followed it and served others.

The other day before mass, I read about the life of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. He had to fight the oppression during World War II and after the war he needed to battle the communists. He had courage that I do not know if I have it. The government in Yugoslavia tried many ways to denounce the Catholic Church and Blessed Alojzije. He did not surrender but it brought much suffering. There is some evidence that he was even poisoned once the Church examined the body. He languished in prison, yet he stood firm. Remarkable!

“When they take all from your life you will still have two hands, put them together for prayer and then you will be the strongest. Blessed Alojzije Stepinac

It is easy to get tired and fed up with the ails that surround us. The pandemic made me realize that. Daily life can be a grind, but we are sure to be sustained through prayer and sacrifice – however small. Mother Teresa told us to not worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and begin with the person next to you. It is such an easy thing to forget because we are human. But it is Christ who can sustain us through anything. I want to be able to recognize him in everything. Let’s pray that we recognize Christ who sustains us.

“Grace and truth will in turn give rise to courage. Following Christ has always demanded courage.” St. John Paul II.