The Difficult Path
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Father Edward McIlmail, LC
Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."
Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."
Introductory Prayer: I believe in the power of prayer,
Lord. This time spent with You is the most important time of my day. Let me be
confident of Your presence and Your love, in order to take full advantage of
these privileged moments.
Petition: Lord, help me appreciate better the beauty of the Christian faith.
1. Our True Values: We take great care to guard what is
most valuable to us, right? The truth is, we often take great risks with what
is most precious. We say we value life and limb, but think nothing of speeding
in heavy traffic. We say we want to get to heaven, but we dabble in sin, even
serious sin, almost daily. We surf racy Web sites. We cut down people in office
gossip. We close our hearts to the needy. We habitually vote for politicians
who defend abortion. We take sin oh-so-lightly. Likewise, we might let the holy
things of our faith languish. We might neglect the sacrament of reconciliation.
We receive Communion unworthily. We stay silent when a relative brags about
using contraception. We do nothing when a child withdraws into the world of
Internet for five hours a day. Is there something about which I should be
speaking up?
2. Do unto Others: To decide what to do in any given situation, we
can ask ourselves how we would like to be treated. "For the measure with
which you measure will in return be measured out to you" (Luke 6:38). The
respect we have for ourselves is often reflected in the respect we show others.
Rudeness, indifference and irritability toward others bespeak a problem in us.
The Golden Rule isn´t just for others; it is also to guard our own dignity. Are
there people toward whom I am routinely uncharitable? Do I realize that this
lack of charity can hurt my character more than it hurts their feelings?
3. The Broad Road and the Narrow Gate: Modernity is like
a 24/7 convenience store. We can get anything, anytime. We can end up thinking
that everything about life should be easy, be it marriage, self-discipline or
even our salvation. The illusion of ease shouldn´t fool us. Working toward our
salvation is hard work. Original sin left a deep mark on all of us. Struggling
toward salvation takes prayer, sacrifice and constant vigilance. Do I sense
that the living of my faith in today´s world is easy? If so, I´m probably not
living it well. Where have I avoided the narrow road of holiness? Am I too
attached to food, clothes or the opinions of others?
Conversation with Christ: Help me to see, Lord, that my real
dignity lies in treating others well, and in renouncing my disordered passions.
Let me shake off mediocrity in my spiritual life and make the most of the time You
give me.
Resolution: Today, I will make a special sacrifice for a loved one.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
94 O my Lord, inflame my heart with love for You, that my
spirit may not grow weary amidst the storms, the sufferings and the trials. You
see how weak I am. Love can do all.
153 One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with
sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked
along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end without
realizing it. And at the end of the road there was a horrible precipice; that
is, the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they
fell. And their number was so great that it was impossible to count them. And I
saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns
and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all
kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up
immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden
filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the
very first instant they forgot all their sufferings.
163 JMJ The Year 1937
General Exercises
+O Most Holy Trinity! As many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many thousand times do I want to glorify Your mercy.
+I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection, 0 Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors' souls and come to their rescue.
Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings. Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.
Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.
Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.
+You yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy-if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer-if I cannot show mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically.
General Exercises
+O Most Holy Trinity! As many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many thousand times do I want to glorify Your mercy.
+I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection, 0 Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors' souls and come to their rescue.
Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings. Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.
Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.
Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.
+You yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy-if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer-if I cannot show mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically.
241 Love of neighbor. First: Helpfulness towards the
sisters. Second: Do not speak about those who are absent, and defend the good
name of my neighbor. Third: Rejoice in the success of others.
242 +O God, how much I desire to be a small child.[71]
You are my Father, and You know how little and weak I am. So I beg You,
keep me close by Your side all my life and especially at the hour of my death.
Jesus, I know that Your goodness surpasses the goodness of a most tender
mother.
294 +Once the Lord said to me, Act like a beggar who
does not back away when he gets more alms [than he asked for], but offers
thanks the more fervently. You too should not back away and say that you are
not worthy of receiving greater graces when I give them to you. I know you are
unworthy, but rejoice all the more and take as many treasures from My Heart as
you can carry, for then you will please Me more. And I will tell you one more
thing: Take these graces not only for yourself, but also for others; that is,
encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite
mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me. I will do
everything for them.
303 Great love can change small things into great ones,
and it is only love which lends value to our actions. And the purer our love
becomes, the less there will be within us for the flames of suffering to feed
upon, and the suffering will cease to be a suffering for us; it will become a
delight! By the grace of God, I have received such a disposition of heart that
I am never so happy as when I suffer for Jesus, whom I love with every beat of
my heart.
Once when I was suffering greatly, I left my work and escaped to Jesus and asked Him to give me His strength. After a very short prayer I returned to my work filled with enthusiasm and joy. Then, one of the sisters [probably Sister Justine] said to me, "You must have many consolations today, Sister; you look so radiant. Surely, God is giving you no suffering, but only consolations." "You are greatly mistaken, Sister," I answered, "for it is precisely when I suffer much that my joy is greater; and when I suffer less, my joy also is less." However, that soul was letting me recognize that she does not understand what I was saying. I tried to explain to her that when we suffer much we have a great chance to show God that we love Him; but when we suffer little we have less occasion to show God our love; and when we do not suffer at all, our love is then neither great nor pure. By the grace of God, we can attain a point where suffering will become a delight to us, for love can work such things in pure souls.
Once when I was suffering greatly, I left my work and escaped to Jesus and asked Him to give me His strength. After a very short prayer I returned to my work filled with enthusiasm and joy. Then, one of the sisters [probably Sister Justine] said to me, "You must have many consolations today, Sister; you look so radiant. Surely, God is giving you no suffering, but only consolations." "You are greatly mistaken, Sister," I answered, "for it is precisely when I suffer much that my joy is greater; and when I suffer less, my joy also is less." However, that soul was letting me recognize that she does not understand what I was saying. I tried to explain to her that when we suffer much we have a great chance to show God that we love Him; but when we suffer little we have less occasion to show God our love; and when we do not suffer at all, our love is then neither great nor pure. By the grace of God, we can attain a point where suffering will become a delight to us, for love can work such things in pure souls.
340 I know now that nothing can put a stop to my love for
You, Jesus, neither suffering, nor adversity, nor fire nor the sword, nor death
itself. I feel stronger than all these things. Nothing can compare with love. I
see that the smallest things done by a soul that loves God sincerely have an
enormous value in His Holy eyes.
502 Only love has meaning; it raises up our smallest
actions into infinity.
534 Chastity. There is no need to explain that this vow
forbids all those things prohibited by the sixth and ninth commandments: deeds,
thoughts, words, feelings... I understand that a solemn vow differs from a
simple vow; I understand this in all its implications. While reflecting upon
this, I heard these words in my soul:You
are My spouse forever; your chastity should be greater than that of the Angels,
for I call no angel to such intimacy as I do you. The smallest act of My spouse
is of infinite value. A pure soul has inconceivable power before God.
704 I spend every free moment at the feet of the hidden
God. He is my Master; I ask Him about everything; I speak to Him about
everything. Here I obtain strength and light; here I learn everything; here I
am given light on how to act toward my neighbor. From the time I left the
novitiate, I have enclosed myself in the tabernacle together with Jesus, my
Master. He himself drew me into the fire of living love on which everything
converges.
1701 I asked the Lord today that He might deign to teach
me about the interior life, because of myself I can neither understand nor
conceive anything perfectly. The Lord answered me, I was your Teacher, I am and I will
be; strive to make your heart like unto My humble and gentle Heart. Never claim
your rights. Bear with great calm and patience everything that befalls you. Do
not defend yourself when you are put to shame, though innocent. Let others
triumph. Do not stop being good when you notice that your goodness is being
abused. I Myself will speak up for you when it is necessary. Be grateful for
the smallest of My graces, because your gratitude compels Me to grant you new
graces...
1714 Today I interceded earnestly with the Lord Jesus for
our house, that He might deign to take away the cross which has touched our
convent. 252 The Lord answered me, Your prayers are accepted for other intentions. I cannot
take away this cross until they recognize its meaning.
Nevertheless, I did not stop praying.
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-94, 153, 163, 241-242)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-294, 303, 340, 502, 534)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-704)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1701, 1704)
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
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