Nov 27 Wed
Why am I filled with joy when I am faithful?
Our Lord expects us to invite everyone to share in his Kingdom: “Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled." We cannot be remiss in fulfilling this charge. Everything obeys God's will. We must be happy to sacrifice ourselves and be Christ's instruments, whether made of clay or silver.
Jesus called the first twelve: "Come and follow me." And this must be done without false excuses:
“There is one consideration that fits you like a glove, since you are always looking for excuses not to keep on with your task. The human knowledge of those first apostles was deficient, and yet what an impact they made on those who listened to them!"
“Never forget this: He continues to accomplish His work through each of us."
We have to bring God's light to every corner of the world, aware that “we are not the source of this light: we only reflect it. We do not save souls and move them to do good. We are simply instruments, some more, some less worthy, for fulfilling God's plans for salvation. If we were to think that we are the authors of the good we do, our pride would return, more twisted than ever. The light would turn to darkness."
Our Lord rewards our faithfulness by filling us with joy.
“Open your own heart to Jesus and tell him your story. One day, perhaps an ordinary Christian, just like you, opened your eyes to horizons both deep and new, yet as old as the Gospel. He suggested to you the prospect of following Christ earnestly, seriously, of becoming an apostle of apostles. Perhaps you lost your balance then and didn't recover it. Your complacency wasn't quite replaced by true peace until you freely said ‘yes’ to God, because you wanted to, which is the most supernatural of reasons. And in its wake came a strong, constant joy, which disappears only when you abandon him."
St. Josemaría wrote: “Take another look over your life and ask forgiveness for this or that fault which you notice immediately with the eyes of your conscience: for using your tongue badly; for thoughts that revolve continually around yourself; those critical judgments you made and consented to and which now cause you to worry foolishly, leaving you restless and fretful. Believe me, you can be very happy! Our Lord wants us to be glad, drunk with joy, stepping out along the same roads of happiness that He walked! We only become miserable when we persist in straying off those roads."
We ask our Lord to free us from all selfishness and laziness, from everything that separates us from his will, to serve him with self-sacrifice and joy all the days of our life: not half-heartedly, but truly spending ourselves, putting our hearts into each job with an upright intention. As St Augustine warned, “Helping others, if not done for God, is not a true sacrifice."
Video: