Let’s go back to those reassuring words of Christ when
things in our life precisely get beyond our control. It’s in the
gospel of St. Matthew where Christ said: “Look at the birds of the
air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. Yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which
of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature”
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies
of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. And yet I say
to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is,
and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe
you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or
‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these
things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need
all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (6,26-33)
We have to learn how to develop and live this healthy
sense of abandonment that is nourished by our Christian faith, hope
and charity. Let’s put into vivid memory the example of the many
saints and of Christ himself who lived by this sense of abandonment.
St. Paul, for example, was simply sport with all the
trials and difficulties he had to go through to follow Christ. “I have
been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my
fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger
in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers,”
he said.
“I have labored and toiled and have often gone without
sleep. I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without
food. I have been cold and naked.” (2 Cor 11,26-27)
In this life, we will not be spared from suffering. We
should never be surprised about this condition. It’s part of our
earthly life. But if we have faith, everything will be taken care of.
Again, let’s remind ourselves of these reassuring words of
St. Paul: “All things work together for the good of those who love
Him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8,28)
We should just train our emotions and feelings, our memory
and imagination, and most especially our intelligence and will, to be
guided by our faith rather than simply by our human estimation of
things.
Our first and spontaneous reactions to trials and
difficulties may be too human, but let us not allow ourselves to stay
long in that condition, dominated by fears, worries and doubt. We
should rectify as soon as we can and try to regain our spiritual and
supernatural bearing.
We can always do that because the grace of God is never
lacking. We should just do our part!
No comments:
Post a Comment