Apr 2 Wed
For what reason should I be happy?
“What a strange capacity man has to forget even the most wonderful things, to become used to mystery! Let's remind ourselves, this Lent, that the Christian cannot be superficial. While being fully involved in his everyday work, among other men, his equals; busy, under stress, the Christian has to be at the same time totally involved with God, for he is a child of God.”
Christ taught us to act as children do before their Father.
At the most important times of his life on earth, Christ wished to show us his attitude of prayer to his Father: such as when he raised Lazarus to life, when he multiplied the loaves and fishes, or when he instituted the Eucharist, or in the loneliness of Gethsemane, or on Calvary when he prayed: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit!
Our presence of God, and our conversation with God our Lord, should not be based on feelings or imagination; they should be deep-rooted habits that lead us to please God and seek to fulfill his will in everything.
“A man of God is never alone. He has no reason for boredom, since he is always in the presence of his Beloved. The Lord is waiting for us at every moment. He takes an interest in everything that happens to us. God is beside us, full of loving care, like a mother and a father, always ready to listen to our words, always responding to our love. He watches over us and wants us to turn to him, confidently, asking for help, knowing that He will never fail to hear us.”
This is presence of God: we should never lose it. Filiation is union: and sanctity consists in union.
The fruit of presence of God is cheerfulness, which makes the path of sanctity pleasant.
“Let us be happy. I am happy. I shouldn't be, looking at my life, making that personal examination of conscience that Lent requires. But I do feel happy, for I see that the Lord is seeking me again, that the Lord is still my Father. I know that you and I will surely see, with the light and help of grace, what things must be burned and we will burn them; what things must be uprooted, and we will uproot them; what things have to be given up, and we will give them up.”
“Without joy, we cannot serve. Can you imagine someone serving you with weeping and wailing?”
Therefore, if we ever feel sad, we must see if we are struggling hard to live in God's presence. “Are you unhappy? Think: there must be an obstacle between God and me. You will seldom be wrong.” God our Father wants us to be happy; thus, He wants us to be in his presence, always trying to fulfill his will. St. Josemaría tells us: “Use the same method as I do. I forget that I exist. I can’t have any personal problems because I can’t think about my affairs - I don’t have time to.”
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