Change the Focus

“You will never be happy if your happiness depends on getting solely what you want. Change the focus. Get a new centre. Will what God wills, and your joy no man shall take from you.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Recently, one of my international students lost his father. This person is so far away from family and was quite unsure as to what to do. The only thing I could offer was to invite him and his group to mass. They are Catholic though some are non-practicing. Once I was told that, I just smiled and said everyone was invited. I arrived early to the chapel in the city’s core. It is in an office building for the workers and there is daily mass and confession for anyone. Oddly, it started to pour rain down like buckets. I just sat quietly and wondered if anyone would show up. Low and behold, there was the group of eight people. I shed a small tear since I was so moved by what I saw. Mass is quick during the week, barely 20 minutes, maybe more, but they were all touched by it. They had only good things to say. It was also a way to stay together.

“There is still time for endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned? Cease. Do not stand among sinners but leap aside.” St. Basil

The feast day when we were at mass was St. Bonaventure. A great doctor of the Church, he wrote profusely about faith. He died before he could speak at the Council of Lyons, but his words live forever.

“When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than that proceeding from the mouth.” St. Bonaventure

It is easy to forget God in time of need and similarly in times of joy. We do not want our Lord and the Church to be irrelevant in society. St. Vincent de Paul says that our mission is to gain heaven and everything else is a waste of time. I think of many saints who struggled with adversity. St. Jean Vianney was not very intelligent, but he made it through the seminary and was assigned to Ars. Interestingly, he converted many in the small village and for some distance away. He was tormented with temptation, but he continued to persevere. Also, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) faced severe challenges. Raised Jewish, she became a Catholic and later she became a nun. She ended up in a concentration camp and died there. Her example continues to live on. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton suffered greatly once she became a Catholic. She lost her Episcopalian friends, but she gained Christ and the Catholic Church. Sometimes I experience doubt, but I need to look at these examples and many others to know that Christ really is with us.

“Let us remember that love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving. Without sacrifice, there is no love.” St. Maximilian Kolbe

Life is not easy, and we do not need to be reminded of this. What we need is to focus on Christ and what he wants for us. Our will needs to conform to His will which is certainly not automatic; it is a struggle. I think of the readings this week – take up the cross if you want to follow me. Are we ready to follow Him?

“The gate of heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.” St. Elizabeth Ann Seton