Aug 19 Tue
What should I do with my great dreams?
Through the action of the liturgy, our Mother the Church invites us to consider the emptiness of a life without God. Without you, Lord, nothing is holy, nothing has value. Then she invokes God's mercy, asking that Jesus, our Shepherd, may guide us to everlasting life by helping us to use wisely the blessings He has given to the world.
We should be involved in the affairs of this world: God has placed them at our disposal precisely so that we may make them holy and upright. Our noble human aspirations nevertheless need to be channeled, so that they don't take us away from God but rather lead us steadily towards him.
Regulating the affairs of this world doesn't mean impoverishing them, but keeping them in perspective and correcting them, while never losing sight of the supernatural destiny. Thus, we assume a human and divine adventure, co-redeeming with Christ, and participating in Jesus' impatient longing to spread the fire He came to cast on earth. Our ambition is great indeed: to gain the whole world for God. We need to be on fire, to be a guide, a chief, a leader! To compel, and push, and draw others, with our example and with our word and with our knowledge and with our authority.
We must have great ambitions, to desire with God's desire. You should foster those divine desires in your heart and long to bring many souls to Christ; your weakness counts on the power of God. You cannot excuse yourself by saying: What can I do in the face of the great multitude of mankind? Be like leaven. This is what reveals the splendor of your power. Don't be discouraged ... your light will not go out; rather, you will overcome all difficulties.
Among the great desires that God has placed in our hearts, for us to foster and so give him glory, is our interest in our job or profession. Our work, sanctified by our self-giving in God's service, becomes a means of sanctification.
“Rectify your intention, then, and be sure you acquire all the professional prestige you can for the service of God and souls. The Lord counts on this, too."
“Our work is a professional occupation which we carry out in the middle of the world. Therefore, when reminding you of the need to work, I also remind you of the need to work well. It is not just a matter of filling in the hours but of being technically and professionally competent."
May our Mother Mary keep alive our longing for holiness and apostolate, and help us always maintain our interest and effort in our daily work. “Place on your desk, St. Josemaría advised us, in your room, in your wallet, a picture of our Lady, and look at it when you begin your work, while you are doing it, and when you finish it. She will obtain, I can assure you, the strength for you to turn your task into a loving dialogue with God."