Wednesday, April 29, 2020

“The swaddling clothes of an infant hid the Son of God in Bethlehem, and the appearance of bread and wine hides the Reality of Christ dying again on Calvary, in the Mass.  This concealment of Himself that God effects with us is operative in His use of the Now to hide His will beneath the aspect of very simple, everyday things.  We live our lives in dependence on such casual, common benefits as air and water; so Our Lord is pleased to receive from us in return the thousands of unimportant actions and the trifling details that make up our lives – provided that we see, even in our sorrows, ‘the shade of his hand outstretched caressingly.’  Here is the whole secret of sanctity; the method is available to everyone and deserves particular notice from those who ask: ‘What can I do?’  For many good souls are hungry to do great things for God.  They complain that they have no opportunities for heroic virtue, no chance at the apostolate.  They would be martyrs; but when a meal is late, or a bus is crowded, when the theater is filled, or the dance postponed, or the bacon overdone, they are upset for a whole day.  They miss their opportunities for loving God in the little things He asks of them.”  Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Lift Up Your Heart)

No comments:

Post a Comment