December 2nd Fast

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JMJ

"While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her first born Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn." (Lk. 2: 6-7)

The great mystery of our Faith is that God chose to become Man to die for our sins and to reopen the gates of heaven.  If one sincerely adheres to this truth, then the manner in which Christ entered the world must truly astound him.  Far from the picturesque tableau that is permanently etched into one's mind, the night of the first Christmas was certainly bereft of any sentimentality.  Here was an omnipotent majesty, deliberately being born into abject poverty.  

Choosing privation over comfort, He did not even allow himself the consolation of nestling upon the warm breast of His tender mother, but elected, instead, to rest his newborn head on the jagged points of the manger straw.  For from the first moments of His earthly life, Our Lord forsook, not only His desires but His basic needs, in order to give Himself to others.  He lay there, in the bitter cold, defenseless against the barbs of the biting wind so that the humble shepherds could adore the Savior that loved them to the point of suffering with them.  

His entire life was marked with sacrifice, not of begrudging duty, but one of joyful surrender.  How providential it is that He is born into a family, the very community that must be marked by sacrificial love if it is to thrive!  This denying of self comes more easily if it is voluntarily practiced through fasting, and accepting of small privations and inconveniences.  It is not virtuous to do something when it comes naturally or when we are forced to, but rather when it is difficult and unnecessary.  Our Lord's tremendous love for us is revealed in the fact that He freely chose the Cross.  One, too, can show his love for others by patiently accepting daily disruptions and freely choosing to serve, rather than be served.    

November 4 Fast

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JMJ

"The ways of holiness are many, according to the vocation of each individual.  . . The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction. " (Novo Millenio Ineunte, St. John Paul II)

What are we living for?  What is our life's ambition?  There must and need be only one answer: to be a saint.  If we yearn for heaven, then this is only pathway leading to it. This purpose must inform all that one does; it must direct his thoughts, words, and actions.  It gives us pause, and should prompt us to pray, before we impetuously proceed.  When first arising, does one dread the inevitable burdens which will be thrust upon him throughout the day? Or rather, does he see his day as one that offers numerous opportunities to practice the many virtues needed to reach his ultimate destination- heaven.  Does one grumble in those difficult moments or does he think to thank God that He affords him many occasions to chink away at the hardness of his heart.

The vocation to sanctity is shared by all the baptized and God generously calls each person to a specific vocation to attain this goal.  In marriage, a man is not only given his wife so that he may become a saint, but equally important, he is given to her so that she may become a saint.  The same truth holds for his children as well.  The frigidity of selfishness melts away in the fiery zeal of those- united in the same pursuit, joyously compete in their sacrificial acts for the other.  In aspiring to holiness, one patterns his whole life, and puts his whole being into achieving his goal.  He, of course, will fall often in this quest, but being mindful of Mother Theresa's saying that a "saint is a sinner who keeps trying", he will not only persevere, but will also lift those around him to the same noble pursuit.   

October 7th Fast

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JMJ

"The din of the factory, the pressure of office business, the exhausting routine of conducting classes become less irritating and distressing.  They have made room in their hearts for God, and with His presence come peace and quiet. Senses dead to the world's discordant din are better able to recognize the divine Voice when it whispers in their hearts. . . It is possible to achieve this recollected interior silence, wherein one hears the Word; but, we repeat, it is very difficult. The noisy nervous world ceaselessly conspires to disturb the silent cloister of the heart and drown out the whisperings of the Eternal Word." (My Beloved, Mother Catherine Thomas)

We live in a world bombarded by noise.  Yet, how much of that is voluntarily allowed?  One readily gives access to numerous forms of cacophony so frequently that he is simply inured to the perpetual din and ceases to dwell comfortably in silence.  Previously, adults strove to correct children's impatient, self-centered propensities.  Presently, though, it is many adults who have regressed to their former restless and childish selves, no longer capable of abiding a moment without their senses being entertained.  St. Edith Stein aptly described this agitated state:

 ". . .the mind is occupied with many things; so much so that one thing is always crowding on another in a constant state of movement and of tumult and uproar."

 Today, it is not merely the silence of sound that is scorned, but more often, it is the "silence of the eyes and imagination", as one Carmelite Mother Superior taught her spiritual daughters.  Oftentimes unnoticed, there can grow an insatiable desire to litter one's environment with the bluster of constant chatter or endless images or uninterrupted background noise.  Some may fear silence, and so welcome the incessant tumult to drown the clamoring of a long neglected conscience.  Others are so accustomed to the din they are unaware of its perpetual presence.  

True beauty and peace are found in the quietude of creation, and will no longer be appreciated or even noticed if one continues to perish in the tempestuous waves of noise.  It is not just nature's beauty one neglects, but more importantly, the divine beauty hidden in those souls entrusted to him.  When one retreats into the solitude of self, surrounded by the fortified walls of discordance, he is unable to thoughtfully observe others and anticipate their needs.

Though one may be very much in the world, he can still seek to perpetuate a silent milieu in his heart. In so doing, his soul will awaken to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the unspoken needs of those nearest him. Let us strive to welcome silence into our lives and so seek to serve Him, who was born on a silent night, in those He gave to us.

September 2nd Fast

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JMJ

"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired."

(St. Teresa of Calcutta)

In his letter to the Hebrews St. Paul says that:

". .  we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin."

In subjecting Himself to human nature Christ subjected Himself to human weakness, notably fatigue. Demands were constantly being put upon Our Lord by the crowds who followed Him; even when He sought to go off by Himself, the crowds persisted in seeking Him.  Yet, though the Gospels may mention that Our Lord was tired, they never state that He was weary of being bothered. His love was inexhaustible.

In daily living, one can easily become tired: physically, mentally, or emotionally.  Fatigue and exhaustion are common complaints following strenuous efforts to provide for one's family.  Or perhaps it is the frustrations of dealing with an obdurate child or a colicky newborn that allows weariness to creep in.  Or maybe it is the emotional strain of a tragic situation that drains one's energy.

One grows tired of patiently carrying his cross, and feels that he has loved his family in so many unseen ways, and unnoticed sacrifices.  It is tempting to resent any extra demands- little as they may be- placed upon him.  But here is when true heroism must shine forth.  Rather than begrudging more pleadings to be loved by those around him, he must selflessly embrace these extra opportunities, even though they may come at a great cost to his own personal comfort.

August 5th Fast

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JMJ

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray.  While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.  And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  But he did not know what he was saying.  While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.  Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.  They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. (Lk 9: 28B-36)

One's life is often filled with numerous joys: brief foretastes of the beauty of Paradise.  Like Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, one firmly clings to Our Lord in these moments of profound happiness.  It is easy to be like the three apostles on Tabor not wishing to descend from the glories that delight to the drudgeries that await below.  Yet, Christ gently reminds us that those rewards cannot be attained without the toil of self-sacrifice, and the sweat of patient endurance.  

The cross cannot be avoided but must be accepted.  To refuse it would be to reject the very faith that one professes to follow so devoutly.  It is important to be mindful that Christ saved his harshest rebuke for the leader of His apostles, not when Peter denied him but when he denied the cross:

"From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.  Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, 'God forbid, Lord!  No such then shall ever happen to you." 'He turned and said to Peter,'Get behind me Satan! You are an obstacle to me.  You are not thinking as God does but as human beings do.'  Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"  (Mt 16:21-25)

But Christ does not abandon one as in a desert, bereft of comforts in the midst of difficulties.  Knowing the endurance needed to persevere through trials, He readily supplies us with consolations.  These are the reserves to be drawn upon to strengthen our resolve. When the cross feels too burdensome, and the sacrifice required appears to exact too heavy a payment, one must return to his treasure of consolations to remind him of God's great love, and then allow these merciful glimpses of heavenly beauty to spur him onward.