Aug 30 Sun - Does God want me to embrace the Cross?

 

Aug 30 Sun

Does God want me to embrace the Cross?

When Jesus announced his suffering and death, Peter declared “No such thing shall ever happen to you.”

No one wants to see a friend tortured and killed. Yet Peter was wrong. Our redemption, according to God's plan, had to pass through the Passion of Christ. And our own Christian lives must pass through our own cross.

So, Our Lord lays down the basic principle for the Christian life: When suffering comes—our own cross—we must embrace it to gain eternal life.

Holiness for us is being in the right relationship with God, friendship with Him. It implies being in the state of sanctifying grace through Baptism, or regaining that condition, if lost, through Penance. Negatively, this means freedom from original sin and mortal sin.

Our Lord said, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle.

Renunciation signifies the negative: what we turn our backs on—acts of sin. Spiritual battle signifies the positive: what we advance toward—acts of goodness. Both can require a dying to self and embracing the cross.

Everyone has his own cross to bear. This cross is the sum total of all the difficulties in our lives. They can be big (like cancer) or little (a paper cut), recurring (having to get up early every day) or unique (the windshield wipers just stopped working), foreseen (the electric bill is due in ten days) and unforeseen (there’s a parking ticket under one of my broken windshield wiper blades), sought (I’m going on a diet) and unsought (Jun just vomited upstairs).

We don’t need to be told what our cross is since God can show us what it is and what to do with it. As Our Lord said, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’”

Your cross will be different depending on whether you are a man or woman, young or old, what country you live in, your family of origin and family of marriage, the season of the year, what kind of work you do or are not able to do, your social class and educational background, and many other factors.

Our Lord wants us to embrace our cross as much as we want to embrace the many good things He sends us. God does not will evil on us, but He must have a good reason to permit us to suffer in so many ways. One way of dealing graciously with them is to start every awareness of suffering with an “I guess God wants.” I guess God wants me to have this headache. I guess God wants me to work here for now. I guess God wants me to wait at this railroad crossing till the freight train passes, and so on.

Our Lord also wants us to offer them back to him. After all, we are a priestly people. Lord, I offer this bee sting to you. Or, I offer this bee sting for grandma who is not feeling well. 

Aug 29 Sat - Am I an instrument in God’s hands?

 Aug 29 Sat

Am I an instrument in God’s hands?

Recently, Pope Leo XIV told the Peruvian youth in a video: “Do not be afraid to be God’s instruments."

“Be brave, Christ lives.”
“The certainty of the Lord’s living presence in our midst must be the inner fire driving us to be brave and to step out of the comfort of individualism — to become part of a community of brothers and sisters in faith, to forge true bonds of friendship, and thus bear witness that it is possible to live united in Christ.”

“Open your hearts wide to welcome the gifts the Lord wishes to pour out upon you.”

"And do not keep these gifts just for yourselves — do not let them remain only in photos on your phones or videos on social media; share them, reflect them in your lives, because today many people need that joyful and contagious witness that a young person in love with Christ can convey."

Me? God’s instrument?

We are the seed. The Lord is the divine Sower; He tosses the wheat to the winds, so that in dying, it becomes life; in sinking into the ground, the wheat multiplies.

This is a call for responsibility on our part, since we are not inert instruments, but intelligent and free beings who need to use our mind, heart and will.

Moreover, instruments mustn't be left to grow rusty. While we have to be eager to improve and deepen our formation, we can never forget that we are involved in a supernatural endeavor which goes forward only under God's almighty hand. This consideration should fill us with confidence, especially when we feel incapable of carrying out a task or overcoming an obstacle.

Seeing our own shortcomings is already a grace from God; it helps us grasp more clearly our need to be docile in God's hands. “And since we want to be good instruments (as Our Lady was), the smaller and the more wretched we see ourselves to be, with true humility, the more our Lord will make up for all we lack." 

We are convinced that the light and warmth that attract souls result from our continuous stewardship of the grace God gives us, despite our personal mistakes. 
There are two components in being instruments: the calling and the mission. 
The calling: Our Lord chooses us from all eternity and generously bestows his graces on us. 
Then, the mission: He sends us, requiring our correspondence; we must welcome his gifts and let him act without putting up resistance.

“To merit that God-given light, we must have the love and humility to recognize our need for salvation. And we must say with St Peter: Lord, to whom should we go? Thy words are the words of eternal life; we have learned to believe, and are assured that you are the Christ, the Son of God (John 6: 69-70).
If we truly live this way, if we allow God's calling to enter our heart, we'll be able to repeat truthfully that we do not walk amongst dark shadows. Above our miseries and personal defects shines the light of God, which is like the sun shining above the storm clouds."

Aug 28 Fri - Will I be able to follow Jesus till the end?

 

Aug 28 Fri

Will I be able to follow Jesus till the end?

Our Lord declared: “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray?"

Perhaps that sheep was simply straggling behind. Maybe it was just idly nibbling at the grass along the way. Or possibly it was already dead, killed by some beast of prey. But no shepherd ever abandons a sheep that has gone astray. He leaves the rest of the flock in a safe place and goes off to look for the lost sheep.

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep, regardless of the difficulties, and He does not give up until He finds it.
 
Thus, “if the thought should ever cross your mind, as a diabolical temptation to take your peace away (bear in mind that the devil would strip you, if he could, of all the gifts God has given you, especially faith, purity and vocation); if, as I was saying, you ever suffered the temptation of thinking you had strayed so far from God that you couldn't return, remember how, as in the parable, Christ always goes to look for the soul that has gone astray; and He for his part never denies you the grace to begin again."

We should see Jesus seeking out the sheep in every word of affection and support, in every act of clear guidance by the others, in the form of a correction, in some act of kindness, or in some helpful piece of reading.

“Then, if you are humble and acknowledge your mistakes, you will persevere. Try to raise your eyes to heaven; don't just look at things from a purely selfish point of view. Have faith and hope, and trust in the love which Jesus has for you. He is the Good Shepherd, and for your sake, He will make his way through crags and ravines, to take you in his arms, hug you to his wounded breast, and urge you to be faithful. It is only if you reject him with a flat ‘No’, or if you are foolishly determined to throw yourself over the precipice, that He will be unable to bring you back to the right path."

“Lord, knowing that you are the Good Shepherd and that we are sheep of your flock, how confident we can be, and how easy it is to persevere!"

One might expect the shepherd to be angry with the lost sheep, intending to teach it a lesson with his crook. But he doesn't think like that. As our Lord says: if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

“If you should ever go astray, either a lot or a little, don't deprive our Lord of the joy of finding you and of being able to say: ‘Here's a sheep of mine who wants to be faithful, who wants to persevere in my flock.’" 

Aug 27 Thu - How can I turn difficulties into challenges?

 

 Aug 27 Thu

How can I turn difficulties into challenges?

Living with meaning and purpose is the attitude that transforms difficulties into challenges.

Our life is a continuous journey of learning and striving, with goals and challenges that inspire us or simply come our way. These "forge" us as individuals, nurturing that innate longing to love and feel loved that we all share.

We need a guiding star to lead us through life, a purpose to aim high and not be discouraged by setbacks and routine tasks. And also, an optimistic attitude to begin again and again, because there is always something that can be done in any situation, no matter how dire it may seem. This is how we transform difficulties into challenges that motivate us to give our best.

“With a positive attitude, you can benefit from even the most threatening situation; with a negative attitude, even a stay in Paradise can become unbearable.”

And we must accept that we may stumble and fall, but we can always rise again with renewed vigor, ask for forgiveness, and start anew, looking to that star that illuminates our path.

Sometimes, when we look back, we clearly see the meaning behind certain difficulties, past wounds that we didn’t understand at the time. But perhaps we will later. Thus, to go forward, we must not get discouraged and remember that everything can help us move forward, even if it’s difficult, even if it hurts.

Our life is like a tapestry viewed from the back... Only knots and stitches... But one day we will see it from the front, and we will marvel at its beauty: the affection we sow, the pain borne with gallantry and elegance, the attempt to bring joy to others, to create something beautiful, to illuminate paths full of darkness and shadows, and ultimately, to love others.

If we could imagine it sooner, especially when it’s most difficult, and see the significance of everyday little difficulties, we would get angry less, we would take better care of those close to us, we would show small acts of kindness, we would dedicate real time to our families… attentively, without distractions. We would live with intention and purpose, aiming for worthwhile goals, aligned with our calling, mission, and sense of purpose.

That’s why we must find “what to do with the time we’ve been given": anchoring our lives in real values and making them a part of our lives. Thus, we improve as people and become happier.

Think often: Does what I’m going to do today bring me closer to or further from where I want to go? Is it what I want to be? 

And as always, learn to apologize if we have failed, and be grateful for the many good things we receive.

Thus, life acquires meaning and purpose, even though it is sometimes difficult. When we give without expecting anything in return, that generosity and gratitude allow us to turn our life into a “work of art” that illuminates and encourages others, especially our own family.

Faced with a difficult situation, we have two opposite paths to choose from. We can simply grumble about these circumstances and become victims, or we can take control: be proactive and find out how we should respond.

Excerpts from María José Calvo

Aug 26 Wed - Why was there so much beauty in the Lord’s Transfiguration?

 

Aug 26 Wed

Why was there so much beauty in the Lord’s Transfiguration?

Reading the narrative of the Lord’s Transfiguration makes us wonder: Why did Christ ascend Mount Tabor with Peter, James, and John before His Passion? Why reveal His glory at that particular moment?

Undoubtedly, Jesus chose these three because they most needed strength for the hour of trial. Christ did not reveal His glory after the Cross as a reward for their fidelity, but before the Cross to strengthen and support them in preparation for it. Christ knew what awaited each of them, but before asking them to witness the greatest ugliness in history, He first allowed them to behold its greatest beauty.

But what is beauty’s purpose in the spiritual life? Does beauty have such a purpose?

The world tries to justify things according to their utility. From that perspective, beauty may seem unnecessary, or even indulgent, compared to more practical concerns. Even in modern Christian circles, beauty may be relegated to something secondary, its relationship to truth and goodness severed.

But the Transfiguration, where Christ’s “face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light,” is probably one of the most striking scenes of beauty in the Scriptures.

Was presenting beauty the means by which Christ Himself prepared His disciples for suffering? He could have strengthened them another way; He could have simply commanded them to persevere. He could have told them a parable or sent a message through an angel.

Instead, He gave them an encounter with His glory.

Beauty strengthens, but how? 
For one, it reminds us that the visible world can reveal something beyond the ordinary, offering us both hope and consolation.

When we encounter beauty, we may feel both fulfilled and unsatisfied, enlightened but desiring more. We recognize the existence of something we have always longed for yet cannot fully possess.

But more importantly, this experience moves us to perfect contrition, which is born not principally from fear of punishment, but from love itself. Beauty awakens that love, and having glimpsed something of God’s glory, however fleetingly, we recognize how little we wish to be separated from it.

In the Gospel, Peter’s response is, “Lord, it is well that we are here. If you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

It is easy for us to understand his stunned reaction: when we encounter authentic beauty, it awakens the desire that it should remain. We listen to symphonies not wanting them to end; we sadden at the thought of the vivid sunset sinking finally below the clouds.

But Christ will lead the Apostles back down, to where crowds are waiting, and where there is still suffering to be endured. There is a Cross to carry. There, too, is a call to embrace the difficult work to be done here on earth, and to be magnanimous in recognizing our encounters with beauty are gifts, meant to be used in service to God’s Kingdom.

Thus, Peter began his transformation from fisherman to apostle, from apostle to martyr, from man to saint—a model for us all.

Excerpts from Kristen Ziccarelli 

Aug 25 Tue - Should I sign myself with the Cross?

 

Aug 25 Tue

Should I sign myself with the Cross?

Making the Sign of the Cross should be less about habit and more about choice. If we put some mental effort into it, it can be a strategy for our whole lives.

How often I sign myself with the Cross using holy water, and within seconds (or even as I'm doing it!) have no real memory or sense of doing so!

The Bible makes no mention of making the Sign of the Cross. Instead, it offers many reminders of the importance of the Cross. The four Gospels are sometimes considered as Passion accounts preceded by long introductions. Early Christians knew well the importance of the Cross – that Jesus’ life was not about himself.

About the year 200 AD, Tertullian referred to the Sign of the Cross on the forehead as a well-established custom that was not questioned. In doing so, he showed it as a universal and deeply embedded Christian practice that likely began as a more personal devotion as early as the late first century.

Think of how a mother’s kiss supports her words, “I love you.” Similarly, Christians found a simple gesture to remind themselves of the Cross. We also know that 100 years after Tertullian, it had become a larger gesture: head–body–shoulders.

Early Greek-speaking Christians spoke of the Sign of the Cross as a sphragis, meaning seal. Roman soldiers were tattooed with a sphragis as a permanent sign of their loyalty to their general or legion.

Christians owed their allegiance to Jesus, and their seal (their sphragis) was Jesus’ Cross. Instead of a tattoo, they traced it on their foreheads and, in time, as the larger sign of head–body–shoulders, as if telling the pagans: “You used the cross to put Jesus to death and to terrorize us into submitting to your authority, but we are not afraid of you.” 

When we see Jesus on the Cross, we see him not as self-serving but as serving us. His life is not only about himself.

And when we enter a church and sign ourselves with the Cross using the holy water of our baptisms, we remind ourselves, not that we were baptized, but that we are baptized with Jesus as our present-life strategy, finding our lives to be not about ourselves.

In baptism, the priest says: “Receive the Cross on your forehead. Christ himself strengthens you with the sign of your faith.”

Our concern is not that we forget to make the Sign of the Cross, but that we might trace it and then forget who we are. May our Lord Jesus remain the pattern of our lives. As we live our lives not for ourselves, but for whomever God puts near us, may Jesus’ Cross be less of a habit and more of a virtue.

“The Cross on your breast?... Very good. But the Cross on your shoulders, the Cross in your flesh, the Cross in your mind. Only then will you live for Christ, with Christ and in Christ; only then will you be an apostle."

Some excerpts from Fr. Dave Mercer, Aleteia 

Aug 24 Mon - Since when has the cross been the symbol of Christianity?

 

Aug 24 Mon

Since when has the cross been the symbol of Christianity?

Early Christians were hesitant to use a crucifix, which they saw as degrading. For two centuries, followers of the new Christian faith avoided making a badge of honor out of the instrument of Christ’s death. Wearing a crucifix was like hanging an electric chair trinket around one’s neck.

Crucifixion was a form of execution designed to be both excruciating and humiliating.

Christ loved words and telling stories with them. “I am the Alpha and the Omega” is used multiple times in the New Testament. The Greek first letter of the alphabet and the last described God as the beginning and the end. 

To this day, the Hebrew word for God, Yahweh (abbreviated to YHWH) is seldom spoken or written in full. It is referred to as “The Name.”

The early Christians used the image of a “fish” as a reference to Christ, partly because their Savior spoke of being a “fisher of men,” and also because the Greek word for fish (ichthus) represents the initials of: Jesus (Iesus) Christ (Christos) of God (Theou) Son (Uios) Saviour (Soter).

Around the year 200, the theologian Hippolytus wrote about making the sign of the cross on the forehead “as this is a sign of His Passion.” The symbol of the cross had clearly taken hold.

A contender for the earliest physical representation of Christ’s cross is the Staurogram. Composed of the Greek letters Tau and Rho, its sound was reminiscent of the Greek word to crucify, “stauroo.” Used mostly in written texts from the 2nd century, it actually resembles a person on a cross.

More widespread in its use was the Chi Rho symbol, which combined the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek to form an image that looked less like a cross. The Chi Rho is more reminiscent of the papal crossed-keys symbol. These symbols convey some of the imperial splendor of Constantine the Great, who first adopted the Chi Rho. For good measure, the letters Alpha and Omega are sometimes added.

As Christianity traveled westwards, it encountered cultures that not only enjoyed graven images but often had no written language.

My favorite contender as the first unequivocal representation of Our Lord’s death is an ivory casket, made in Rome around 420. It has all the attributes that we would recognize today. Mary and St. John mourn at the foot of the cross, while the Roman soldier Longinus spears Christ's side. The victim is attached with nails. As a bonus, we can see the remorseful Judas hanging from a tree. Most convincing of all is that it brings us back to the written word. Above the head of the crucified man is half of the Latin title we know so well: “King of the Jews.”

Now, “Your Crucifix. – As a Christian, you should always carry your Crucifix with you. And place it on your desk. And kiss it before going to bed and when you wake up: and when your poor body rebels against your soul, kiss it again."

Some excerpts from Lucien de Guise

Aug 23 Sun - Why is there the authority of the pope in the Church?

 

Aug 23 Sun

Why is there the authority of the pope in the Church?

Christ put Peter first among the Twelve as the rock on whom He would build His Church. “Christ, the ‘living stone’ (1 Pet 2:4), thus assures His Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death.

“The ‘power of the keys’ given to him designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church.” “The power to ‘bind and loose’ connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church.”

“Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom He specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.”

Peter receives from the Son of God a mission that extends beyond his own life, to be inherited by his successors, to serve the Church, and to span space and time in the service of redeemed humanity. Assisted especially by the Holy Spirit, Peter strengthens Christians in the faith and is the guarantor of the Church’s unity and universality.

The love for Peter is something the other apostles will come to understand over time: when, barely a year later, they see him launching into a sermon, full of zeal, before a crowd; or when they turn to him in search of guidance and strength to continue their ministry. 

The Pope stands in the place of Peter for the whole Church, and the various bishops stand in the place of the Apostles. 

Union with the Pope is a sure path to fidelity to God and to fruitfulness in our service to the Church. As St. Ambrose taught: “Where Peter is, there is the Church; where the Church is, there is no death, but eternal life.”

Our love for Christ is inseparable from our love for the Church and for the Roman Pontiff. That is why St. Josemaría encouraged us: “Love, venerate, pray for, and mortify yourself daily with ever greater devotion—for the Roman Pontiff, the cornerstone of the Church, who continues among men, throughout the centuries and until the end of time, that work of sanctification and governance that Jesus entrusted to Peter.”

Thus, we must be good followers, cooperating with the Pope and our bishop.

We can't follow either of these men if we don’t know where they want to lead us. How can we know what they want?

Hopefully, our parish priest will tell us things in the Sunday homily and at other days.

Then there is the media. We have to be good discerners of media, since so much is greatly distorted. It is necessary to find media outlets you trust.

We can also, according to our capacity, read what the Pope and our bishop write. The Pope’s encyclicals, audiences, homilies, and other addresses can be read on the Vatican website.

Finally, we should pray daily for both the Pope and our bishop, for their well-being and for what they want done to be faithfully carried out. 

Aug 22 Sat - Should I be afraid of lifelong commitments?

 Aug 22 Sat

Should I be afraid of lifelong commitments?

As Christians, we must follow Jesus and not fear lifelong commitments.

Three young people asked the Pope 
- how to remain true disciples of Christ, 
- how to say “yes” to a lifelong commitment, and 
- how to cope with crises in the Church.

How to remain true disciples of Christ? 
Pope Leo said, Being a witness to Christ is both captivating and demanding. It enlarges our minds and hearts, freeing us from the fears created by misinformation and from walls built by prejudice.

Rejecting the culture of power and building a civilization of love are choices that are not immediately understood or accepted. Yet the radicalism of the Gospel is the very opposite of fundamentalism. It does not make us blind or violent; instead, it makes us aware, attentive, and always eager to follow Jesus, and therefore humble and welcoming towards everyone. It is not an easy path, but it brings much joy.

About how to say “yes” to a lifelong commitment, Pope Leo said:

Choosing “for ever” does not imprison us within a cage; rather, it opens us to a greater active freedom. To love is to flee from slavery. It is a path to be discovered, a journey that God himself walks with us.

We must see the inseparable bond between faith, trust and faithfulness. Faith unmasks the illusion that our problems can be solved by running away, or abandoning our commitments, or taking a few steps along ever-changing roads without ever truly arriving anywhere. We may multiply our experiences, our acquaintances and our possessions, yet remain in exactly the same place. The human cost is immense, and the inner emptiness that follows is profound.

Thus, we must learn to know ourselves, to make decisions and to stake our lives on them –in other words, to respond to the Lord who calls us. We must never stop being faithful to the commitments we have made and to those still to come.

About how to cope with crises in the Church, Pope Leo said: Throughout history, and even today, many people struggle to experience the Church as Jesus desires her to be. This causes deep suffering; it leaves wounds and disappointments, and for some it even becomes an obstacle to faith.

In the Gospel, Jesus himself warns us about this danger: the scandal his disciples can cause, especially to the little ones and the poor. Yet from the very beginning, He desired to gather a united people. Around Jesus, men and women became brothers and sisters who otherwise would never have met.

Jesus’ desire for the Church is unmistakable: she is to become his Body and make his own life visible. The word of God, the Sacraments and the practice of fraternal love are the means by which the image of Christ is formed within us.

We must walk this path: not to dominate, but to serve; not to grasp, but to receive; not to withhold, but to give back. This is the very life of God, which continually renews the Church and makes her a free people, a place of refreshment and salvation.

Aug 21 Fri - Should I bless the food and thank God before meals?

 

Aug 21 Fri

Should I bless the food and thank God before meals?

Pope Leo XIV encouraged the faithful to rediscover the blessing of the table as a simple expression of faith and as a concrete way to convey the “beauty” of the Eucharist in daily life.

“As we savor the grace of the Eucharist, let us commit ourselves to bearing witness to its beauty in our daily actions, beginning with blessing meals at the table with family and friends.”

In the account of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes, Jesus’ actions reveal the profound meaning of his saving mission. “These actions manifest his special self-giving for us—that is, the salvation He brings to the world.”

“The Lord presents Himself as the One who gives meaning to our lives, freeing us from evil and sin. Christ, by restoring sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, not only performs miraculous deeds but also proclaims to all that the Kingdom of God is near.”

The Gospel shows how Jesus transforms human existence. “Jesus does not merely give the senses to those who lack them, but He also fills our senses with good things. Every encounter with Christ nourishes us: “In the desert—that is, in the midst of our needs—Christ is the bread of life.”

The Lord responds to the deepest longings of the human heart. “Christ truly satisfies humanity’s hunger—our hunger for truth and for life.” At the same time, his miracles convey a fundamental lesson about solidarity and sharing.

In the face of the logic of selfishness, instead of the risks of a culture centered on accumulation, “Jesus’ gestures teach us that nothing is lost when we share.”

“Accumulation and waste are two sides of the same evil: greed.” This is a “disease of the soul that leads to a loss of reason because it intoxicates with riches, to the point of forgetting those who weep from hunger and cry out from thirst.”

We must view the miracle of the loaves as a manifestation of divine charity. “In it, we recognize the characteristic actions of Jesus, which reach their culmination at the Last Supper, where the Son of God gives us his very life as our brother in humanity.”

Finally, Leo XIV reminded us that even vacation time can become an opportunity to live out brotherhood and care for those most in need. “Even vacations can become a time of serene brotherhood, including those who are at our side and in need.”

Here you have the traditional Blessing before Meals:

BLESSING BEFORE MEALS

V.   Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ our Lord.
R.   Amen

(Add for midday)
V.   May the King of everlasting glory make us partakers of the heavenly table.
R.   Amen.

(Add for evening)
V.   May the King of everlasting glory lead us to the banquet of life eternal.
R.   Amen.

GRACE AFTER MEALS

V.   We give you thanks, almighty God, for all your benefits, who live and reign for ever and ever.
R.   Amen.
V.   May the Lord grant us his peace.
R.   And life everlasting.
V.   Amen. 

Aug 20 Thu - Should I allow discouragement when difficulties crop up?

 

Aug 20 Thu

Should I allow discouragement when difficulties crop up?

The Lord was transfigured before the three Apostles; his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 

God wanted to use this incident to strengthen the Apostles' faith. Our Lord openly showed his glory in the presence of his chosen ones, so that his disciples would not be scandalized when He dies on the cross. God works this wonder to hearten the Apostles and encourage them on the difficult path ahead. They still need special care, like a small child who has to be coaxed by gifts to take the medicine that will cure him.

On each Christian's path, purification is necessary to attain contemplation. We have to persevere in our efforts to love God day in and day out, even though we may not feel like it and might even think we are being hypocritical.

If we ever suffer this temptation, we should recall what St. Josemaría always taught us: “I don't mind telling you that the Lord has, on occasion, given me many graces. But as a rule, I have had to go against the grain. I follow my plan, not because I like it, but because I've a duty to do so, for Love."

'But, Father', you ask me, 'can one put on an act for God? Wouldn't that be hypocritical?'
“Don't worry: for you the moment has arrived to play out a human comedy before a divine spectator. Persevere, for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are contemplating your act; do it all for love of God, to please him, although you find it hard."

We should see difficulties as an ordinary feature of our lives. They shouldn't surprise us. If we did not come up against obstacles, we would not be creatures of flesh and blood. Besides, we know very well that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Without difficulties, without struggle, there would be no victory. An athlete does not receive the prize unless he makes a real effort.

Rather than discouraging us, the setbacks and adversities we face should serve as an added spur to our inner growth. For if –with the help of God's grace– we overcome them, we sanctify ourselves, and everything we do gains in depth and scope.

“If there were no difficulties, things would have neither human nor supernatural value. If a nail which is being hammered into a wall meets with no resistance, what can I hang on it?" We should expect to find resistance both within ourselves and from outside, if we are to accomplish ourselves and bear fruit.

We must always expect to encounter obstacles, because the goal that God has set for us is very high; it is supernatural. “It's hard! Yes, I know. But, forward! No one will be rewarded –and what a reward– except those who fight bravely." 

Aug 19 Wed - Can God's grace help us fight and overcome disorderly tendencies?

 

Aug 19 Wed

Can God's grace help us fight and overcome disorderly tendencies?

God's grace can truly help us fight and overcome disorderly tendencies, though the Church also teaches that, in this life, these tendencies are not fully eradicated.

The first effect of the Holy Spirit's grace is conversion. As Jesus announced, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17). Moved by grace, a person turns to God, departs from sin, and places himself under God’s justice and mercy. 

The nature we have inherited from Adam has been wounded by original sin. Grace, which is infused into the soul for the first time by Baptism, heals this wounded nature. It does not completely remove the effects of original sin, however, because an inclination to sin still remains (fomes peccati), which God, through his mercy, permits. 

He does so both to forestall our falling into presumption and because it is his will that we reach heaven after winning in the ascetical struggle. 

Grace addresses the disorder within us. Sin wounds human nature and makes moral balance difficult, but Christ's salvation offers the grace necessary to persevere in pursuing virtue. Thus, we should always ask for the grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil.

Tendencies may remain, but sin need not “reign.”
So, the goal is not “never feel disorder,” but not to be ruled by it—to be healed, strengthened, and to choose the good in real, concrete ways. 

Temptations can be overcome, and keeping God’s law is never impossible. God does not command the impossible—rather, He tells you to do what you can and pray for what you cannot. 

Grace therefore supports a real spiritual battle: it gives strength to persevere, not just advice or encouragement. 

The Church also links grace to cooperation: you struggle “with grace from on high” to obtain what God promises, and with grace you prevail over the seductions of pleasure and power.

And St. Augustine emphasizes the same point: Do not place confidence in yourself alone, but in God—grace causes sin not to reign.  

In short: disorderly tendencies can be fought because grace is truly effective, and obedience to God remains genuinely achievable.

We can always avoid sin with God’s grace. For example, all expression of same-sex sexual desire is sinful, like consenting to a thought or desire. It therefore follows that we should not identify the person itself with its same-sex attractions, for to do so would be to say that we cannot resist them. 

Such attractions are something that people ‘have,’ never something that they ‘are.’

Grace does not only act on the will at the moment of temptation; it also heals the appetite from which the disordered desire arises: healing grace (gratia sanans) acts upon nature, correcting it.

We must not try to change the Church doctrine to call ‘holy’ any disorderly inclinations. Rather, we should help people overcome any objectively sinful inclinations with charity and without being judgmental. 

There are organizations (like Courage) that offer this specialized help. This is the Christian understanding of man and grace.