The Hundredfold

“Jesus will reward you a hundredfold for the sweet joys you have given up for Him.” St. Therese of Lisieux

Recently I went to work conference. It was certainly not the most exciting event. The endless platitudes and self-congratulatory tone I could have done without. It left me with a feeling of despondency. The next day, I was invited with a group of friends to have a dinner at one of the local seminaries. It was quite an interesting experience listening to people who are committing their lives to the Church, but they kept their humanity. They all had such interesting hobbies, and their vocation stories were also very worthwhile to listen to over dinner. We can learn so much from others around us but are we paying attention? Many of the apostles were fishermen. They were interesting people and became much more interesting once they met Christ.

“Your reward in Heaven will make up completely for all your pain and suffering.” St. John Bosco

St. Gerard Majella worked hard and donated his salary to his family, to those in need. He learned to be a tailor and a journeyman. He learned skills but remained faithful in his service of our Lord. Even as Majella became ill with tuberculosis, he only desired to live in God's will. His one last request was that a small placard be placed on his door stating, "Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills." Pope St. John Paul II was an avid outdoorsman, known for his love of hiking, skiing, and camping, often using time in nature for prayer and teaching. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati was a talented athlete who enjoyed hiking and mountaineering in the Alps, using his free time to also serve the poor. St. Bernard of Menthon is the patron saint of hikers and mountaineers, known for establishing hospices in the treacherous Alpine passes to aid travelers.

St. John Bosco: "Enjoy yourself as much as you like – if only you keep from sin."

There are so many saints who had and have so much to offer us. Once, I knew someone who was an avid runner. This person decided to stop running because they became religious. Christ does not ask to stop being who we are but to become more ourselves. The Carmelite Cloister I visit are also bee keepers. I think back to that nauseating conference I attended. It was not what I expected, and I think about how much more we could offer others. Each of us have many interests and we pursue them willingly. More than that, we search for Christ and he comes to us as he wants. It is something beautiful if only we are paying attention. Christ brings us to a deeper humanity full of richness. Christianity is not simply a religion, but it is an event; it is an encounter with the Infinite. We might want to be open to the possibilities that are presented to us in every moment. Simplicity can be so dramatic in many ways.

"There is nothing more human, nothing more divine, than being able to say: I need," Pope Leo told the crowd. "Let us not be afraid to ask, especially when it seems to us that we do not deserve. Let us not be ashamed to reach out our hand. It is right there, in that humble gesture, that salvation hides."