A kinship in belonging to God takes place. It is refreshing. By loosening our grip on our own concerns, we become more accepting of the actions of God. We move from cognition about God to availability to God. Availability lets our doing take care of itself. There will always be things to do for God. We do what we can and disappear. We do not rest on our laurels, or wait for some goodness in return, but move on. A deeper settling into the realization that God loves us in a personal and infinite way is a sound sign of intimacy with God.
The touchstone of our journey into holiness is an unquestioning “yes” to Jesus’ gentle inquiry, “Do you love me?” Our yes to God’s love determines our ability to give and receive love. This affects people who touch the surface of our lives and those who are deep in our hearts. There is no journey in holiness without love. Saying yes to God provides strength to go beyond ourselves. We seek to see everything in God’s love. When we view the world with eyes of love, it becomes rich and beautiful because we see it as opportunities for love.
The Apostle Paul said of Christ: “In Christ dwells all treasures and wisdom.” John of the Cross offers a thought-provoking addition: “There is much to fathom in Christ for he is like an abundant mine with many recesses of treasures, so that however deep individuals go, they never reach the bottom, but rather in every recess find new veins with new richness everywhere.”
Blessed are those who travel on the road of holiness, for it leads to Jesus. Indeed, it is a high road, but it is also the best road. So come, let us be on our way!
Christ, be near at either hand,
Christ, behind, before me stand.
Christ, with me where e’er I go,
Christ around, above, below.
Christ, be in my heart and mind.
Christ within my soul enshrined.
Christ control my wayward heart,
Christ, abide and ne’er depart.
Christ, my life and only way,
Christ my lantern, night and day.
Christ be my unchanging friend,
Guide and shepherd to the end.
~Irish folk song
1. Flor McCarthy, SDB, “Without a Vision the People Perish,” Spirituality, July/August 2006.
2. Kelly, Women before God, 169.
3. Quoted from, I Have Seen What I Was Looking For. Thomas Merton (1915–1968) was an American convert. At the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, he was a Trappist monk, priest, hermit, poet, and prolific writer. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, was translated into over fifteen languages.
Faith: The Eternity Connection
What opens the eyes of the heart and the ears of the soul? It is faith. Faith opens all eyes to see the wondrous love of God. Benedict XVI wrote: “Faith is foremost a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus. . . . It is in this way that we learn to know him better, to love him, and to follow him more and more.” Church bells, sacred hymns, or a priest’s homily are among the many ways to hear the call to faith. Deep faith is a profound respect and love for the truths of Jesus and his Church. This occurs when faith moves beyond superficial devotions, a cultural label, or rote reception of the sacraments. Faith is the most beautiful gift from God, and the most demanding.
If we are not rooted in faith, the strong winds of modern thinking will scatter us asunder. At times, it seems we are so buffeted by confusion, conflict and contradiction that we do not know what is happening. Many aspects of society hide the importance of God from humanity. There is so much activity, so many attractive new age programs, changing morals, popular movements and useless talk, noise and stimulation. What a challenge contemporary culture offers those of us who appreciate the sacred.
People have lost the ability to sit down and be quiet. The beauty of faith gently calls individuals away from the rapid pace and negative pull of society. An overactive contemporary life is a warning to sit down and ponder the prayer attributed to Cardinal Richard Cushing of Boston (1895–1968). Stillness begets an appreciation for the wonders of faith.
Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding of my heart
By the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace
With a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day,
The calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles
With the soothing music of the singing streams
That live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations—
Of slowing down to look at a flower,
To chat with a friend, to pat a dog,
To read a few lines from a good book. . . .
Remind me that there is more to life
Than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward into the branches
Of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong
Because it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord,
And inspire me to send my roots deep
Into the soil of life’s enduring values
That I may grow toward the stars
Of my greater destiny.
Faith is a gift, always a gift. Many people do not open this gift. Their greatest poverty is not knowing God. With the help of grace from the Holy Spirit, we respond to this gift with every choice we make each day of our lives. How do our choices reflect our belief in God? How does our lifestyle resonate with the attributes of Jesus? We must live what we profess.
To state views assertively, with forethought and grace, and to support human rights without infringing on the rights of others are sure signs of being steadfast in faith. Saying things others want to hear or being a people pleaser does not fit into the teachings of Jesus. When an individual lives the teachings of Jesus well, she receives so much more than she gives.
Another steadfast sign of faith is to be a promise keeper. Marianne, a young wife and mother, planned to make a retreat. She promised three friends she would give them a ride to this retreat. These women were filled with joyful anticipation. However, a few days before the retreat, Marianne received an invitation to meet Mother Teresa, and it was on the same weekend
