Discipleship: Neither Cheap nor Easy
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Wednesday of the
Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time
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Father Steven Reilly, LC
Luke 14: 25-33
Great crowds were
traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, "If any one
comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers
and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does
not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you
wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the
foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should
laugh at him and say, ´This one began to build but did not have the resources
to finish.´ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and
decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another
king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is
still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same
way, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my
disciple."
Introductory Prayer:
Lord God, I believe
that You are present here for this moment of prayer. Even if I have not
really longed for this time together, I know that You have been waiting for
me. As an expression of my gratitude and love, I truly wish to give myself
totally to You during this meditation.
Petition: Lord, help me to realize that holiness is worth the effort!
1. A Capital
Campaign for Holiness: Our
Lord remarks on the need to calculate the costs and estimate the amount of
resources needed in a building project. That sounds like a “feasibility
study,” the first step of any capital campaign. Whether a parish is trying to
build a new hall, or a school is trying to put up a new building, there’s no
way to avoid a great deal of work in order to make the endeavor successful.
The Lord is saying something similar about our spiritual lives. We have to
know what it will take to achieve the goal. His answer to this question? Much
sacrifice. This can sound daunting. But just like the thrill of cutting the
ribbon when the building is all paid for and ready to be used, the effort to
grow in holiness will result in a magnificent eternity!
2. A Battle Plan’s
First Goal? The answer is
simple: Don’t get beat! This second image of our Lord makes another important
point about discipleship. War is tough, and if getting beat is a likely prospect,
you’d better find other tactics to achieve the goal. So too with our
discipleship. In our efforts to grow holy, some “battles” will be won easily;
others will need to be avoided completely. So let’s not get beat by foolishly
overestimating our capacities. This happens especially when we don’t avoid
the occasions of sin, thinking ourselves strong enough to handle them. At
times, the best battle strategy is not to fight, but to flee!
3. What Place for
Our Relationships? In all this
reflection about plans and resources, the Lord has some extremely radical
words about our relationships. In the hyperbole of “hating father and mother”
a very important teaching emerges: As vital as these relationships are, they
cannot take the first place in our heart. That place belongs to the source of
our entire existence, the one who loves us with a tender and passionate love
— God himself. This is why the Cross is so important. When we see how
thoroughly Jesus embraces the will of God above everything and everyone, he
gives us a pattern to follow. But the divine irony is that by following
Christ in the way of the cross, this “hatred” actually results in a greater
and more self-sacrificing love in those very relationships that have to take
a back seat to the Lord.
Conversation with
Christ: Oh Jesus, following You
is not easy. You ask me to put everything in second place to You and pick up
my cross every day. I won’t be able to do this without Your grace. I am weak
and frail, but I believe that You will give me the strength I need.
Resolution: I will take some time and think about my priorities to make
sure that God is always coming first.
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.
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.
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.
642 Palm Sunday. This Sunday, I
experienced in a special way the sentiments of the most sweet Heart of Jesus.
My spirit was there where Jesus was. I saw Jesus riding on a donkey's foal, and
the disciples and a great multitude with branches in their hands joyfully
accompanying the Lord Jesus. Some strewed them before His feet where He was
riding, while others raised their branches in the air, leaping and jumping
before the Lord and not knowing what to do for joy. And I saw another crowd
which came out to meet Jesus, likewise with joyful faces and with branches in
their hands, and they were crying out unceasingly with joy. There were little
children there also. But Jesus was very grave, and the Lord gave me to know
how much He was suffering at the time. And at that moment, I saw nothing but
only Jesus, whose Heart was saturated with ingratitude.
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.
1002 The Lord's Supper is laid,
Jesus sits down at table with His
Apostles,
His Being all transformed into
love,
For such was the Holy Trinity's
counsel.
With great desire, I desire to
eat with you,
Before I suffer death.
About to leave you, love holds Me
in your midst.
He sheds His Blood, gives His
life, for He loves immensely.
Love hides beneath the appearance
of bread,
Departing, He remains with us.
Such self-abasement was not
needed,
Yet burning love hid Him under
these species.
Over the bread and wine He says
these words:
"This is My Blood, this is
My Body."
Although mysterious, these are
words of love.
Then He passes the Cup among His
disciples.
Jesus grew deeply troubled within
And said, "One of you will
betray his Master."
They fell silent, with a silence
as of the tomb,
And John inclined his head on His
breast.
The supper is ended.
Let us go to Gethsemane.
Love is satisfied, And there the
traitor is waiting.
+ J.M.J.
1513 + Jesus said to me today, You
often call Me your Master. This is pleasing to My Heart; but do not forget,
My disciple, that you are a disciple of a crucified Master. Let that one word
be enough for you. You know what is contained in the cross.
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...
1710 May 26, [1938-Feast of the
Ascension]. Today I accompanied the Lord Jesus as He ascended into heaven. It
was about noon. I was overcome by a great longing for God. It is a strange
thing, the more I felt God's presence, the more ardently I desired Him. Then
I saw myself in the midst of a huge crowd of disciples and apostles, together
with the Mother of God. Jesus was telling them to... Go out into the whole
world and teach in My name. He stretched out His hands and blessed
them and disappeared in a cloud. I saw the longing of Our Lady. Her soul
yearned for Jesus with the whole force of Her love. But She was so peaceful
and so united to the will of God that there was not a stir in Her heart but for
what God wanted.
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, 642, 1002)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1701, 1710, 1704)
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
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