The One Who Looks At Us.

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen: "Identity is found not in looking at ourselves, but in looking at the One who looks at us."

I was inspired at mass on the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Even at Easter, the readings about her presence at the tomb and how she demanded to know where Jesus’ body was lain leaves me wondering. She was the first one at the tomb and she went to get the Apostles. Such devotion! Once I was asked why I would want to be a Catholic and have all these limitations put on my life - I should just be able to do what I want. Many saints likely tried that lifestyle, and it seems it did not work out for them. They returned to the road meant for each one of them. Recently, I was asked who Christ is for me. I had to respond. I thought immediately about the response of the Apostles when He asked if they would like to leave Him too. Where were they going to go? There is nothing else.

St. Teresa of Avila: "We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become."

Blessed Anthony Neyrot is a great example of being careful of what we wish for. He asked to be moved many times and eventually was captured by pirates in the 15th century and sold into slavery. He renounced his vows, his faith and anything connected to his past. That did not last long; he reverted to Catholicism and by announcing his faith again, he was imprisoned and killed. Saint Pantaleon was an early Christian doctor who fell away from his faith. He wanted to advance his career as a physician. A priest named Hermolaus worked diligently to bring him back to the Church. He gave his wealth to the poor and was martyred during the Diocletian persecutions. Another great man was Saint Cassian of Imola. He was a 4th-century schoolteacher and bishop who was betrayed by his own students. During the persecution of Julian the Apostate, his pupils denounced him to authorities and were encouraged to stab him to death with their iron styluses.

“Our door is faith; if it is strong enough, the whole house is safe.” + St. Ambrose

How can we open the door to what will make us happy? I am sure that society cannot offer this and neither can someone who does not offer us something more for our lives. We need to look for those who will show us something greater. Mary Magdalene was at the tomb. She thought our Lord was dead, but she went looking for the body anyway. We need to do the same – keep looking and we are sure to find what makes us happy. We need to find those ahead of us on this road and they will help but we also need to say yes.

“If we are steadfast in our faith in Christ and in our love for him, we win the victory he has won, we receive what he has promised.” + St. Leo the Great

“A house so built by God, that is, by God’s guidance, will not collapse.” + St. Hilary