Every Little Step We Take

“Jealousy is the tribute which mediocrity pays to genius,” said Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

I found myself following in earnest the Jubilee for Youth in Rome at the beginning of August. I was struck by the sheer number of people who went and even more so by Pope Leo’s words. I try to pray for Pope Leo often. All those people who went to that encounter -  I found it amazing. Lately, I have been losing my patience with people who show up for mass late, leave their cell phones on and simply show disregard for sacred space. I need to stop being so judgmental about things. This confusion does not come from our Lord. We need to keep our focus on Christ. When Pope Leo was speaking to journalists, he spoke but he was interrupted by applause. Pope Leo XIV pressed on with what felt like a proper pep talk. He said, “Never give in to mediocrity,” he said. It is easy to be apathetic. It is easy to fall into that trap. We need to pray.

“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”— Quote by Pope John Paul II.

St. Alexius of Rome, in the fifth century was ready to inherit great wealth. He renounced it and searched for greater meaning. He begged alms at church doors, traveled far away from his family and lived as a hermit in an ascetic life. Once people realized his holiness, he ran again whereby his own family did not recognize him. Alexius became seriously ill and died, and it was only after that when his real identity was discovered. He lived an intense life. Another saint that fascinates me is St. Charles de Foucauld. Initially a soldier and explorer, he lived a life of indulgence and worldly pursuits. This was  followed a deep spiritual crisis, he eventually returned to Catholicism and dedicated his life to God. He later became a Trappist monk and eventually a priest. St. Charles experienced an ordinary life, of prayer and silent virtue. What struck me about the young people with Pope Leo recently, was how they were searching for something greater. The pope spoke about not taking life for granted and being static but to “…..continually aspire to something 'more' that no created reality can give us; we feel a deep and burning thirst that no drink in this world can satisfy, ………We will then find ourselves before Him, who is waiting for us, knocking gently on the window of our soul."

“The closer we come to God, the simpler we become.” St. Therese of Lisieux

Responsibilities can overwhelm us. Relationships are not easy. However, we must continue to move forward, the way Pope Leo refers to someone peering out the window. There is something more out there than what we see. We need to listen, to follow and to pray. Sometimes, more often than not, I find this difficult to do. Distractions get in the way, but we must continue to pray. Confusion, as the Carmelites nuns tell me, does not come from God. He wants what is best for us and sometimes it is by saying ‘no.’ I can only move forward and trust. We can only peer out that window as Pope Leo described. I saw the joy in the images of the jubilee event in Rome. That joy is possible. Maybe we should look at what might bring us joy instead of what does not.

“The Lord delights in every little step you take.” St. Francis de Sales