Eyes Wide Open

“God sends us friends to be our firm support in the whirlpool of struggle. In the company of friends, we will find strength to attain our sublime ideal. St. Maximilian Kolbe

Recently, I needed to face some trials that in my mind were quite significant. Sometimes a person does not know how to react or how to cope. It can be quite difficult. However, we are never alone in our struggles. I needed to look around my circle of trust and I found how much I am loved. I am good friends with a group of Carmelite Sisters near my home. I do not see them so much out of respect for their life and solitude. But they are my friends in Christ which is so much more valuable than having a coffee at Starbucks. Life would be a bit scary without being accompanied. Sometimes, when people recount to me struggles with their children who are making odd decisions, their first reaction would be, “What are they looking at?” It is a big question, but one would wonder why we do not see what is in front of our eyes.

“Every time that some unexpected event befalls us, be it affliction, or be it spiritual consolation, we should endeavour to receive it, with equanimity of spirit, since all comes from the Hand of God.” St. Vincent de Paul

How often do we look at someone or an event without an awareness. I have been part of the Catholic Movement Communion and Liberation for years. Sometimes, we get phone call requests to find out more about us and occasionally, someone would ask what our social activities are. This is fine but this is not what meeting and reading the texts are all about. Our starting point is Christ; the friendship that comes from Christ if we have our eyes open wide and we are looking at Christ. Recently, I went to a farewell gathering for someone who was moving away. I had only met this person months earlier and yet they were leaving. A friendship had started but did not end at that point because a friendship does not have a checklist as to how many times we meet. It begins with Christ. We began hosting an international student this summer. Despite coming from a Catholic country, this person was not the most religious person but, they came with an awareness and prepared to learn. It is easy to think we are ahead of everyone in the spiritual life, but we are not. There is so much to learn. An international guest can offer something great if we are looking at this person the way they live and with the freedom they have.

“The inner life of another that is known to God alone becomes to a much lesser degree open to us through friendship. It partially fills the desire of our incomplete, lonely hearts for completeness in another. Friendship brings out the best in a person through forgetfulness of self.” St. Thomas Aquinas

Two saints on July 29th and 30th struck me. I was at mass on the memorial of St. Martha. Her hospitality and kindness must have offered a respite for our Lord to make the trip to her home. He felt loved there and he could share a friendship with such great people. July 30th is the feast of St. Leopold Mandic. I have been to Padua many times and I am always struck to read about this simple man. He spent so much time hearing confessions and living a simplicity that it makes me envious in a way that I am not sure I could do it. “When accused of being too merciful in assigning penances, Leopold would respond, “If the Lord wants to accuse me of showing too much leniency toward sinners, I’ll tell him that it was he who gave me this example, and I haven’t even died for the salvation of souls as he did.” St. Leopold. These two saints lived in a way that can teach us many things. We need to keep our eyes wide open.

“Love everyone with a deep love based on charity, but form friendships only with those who can share virtuous things with you. The higher the virtues you share and exchange with others, the more perfect your friendship will be.” St. Francis de Sales