172. First Monday of Ordinary Time
Meditations no. 57 (unofficial computer-aided translation)
The beginning of the year, a chance to start again in our interior life.
As we begin a new year, we set out once more determined, with Godâs grace, to be saints and to do more apostolate. Christ has entered into our lives, as he entered into the lives of the Apostles, saying: Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.
Now is the time to start again in our interior life. To help us to do so, let us recall some words which our Founder once addressed to us around this time of the year.
You know that the Father opens his heart to you in all sincerity. I donât believe in the proverb that says: âa New Year, a new lifeâ. Nothing changes in twenty-four hours. Only our Lord, with his grace, can instantly convert a Saul from being a persecutor of Christians to an Apostle. He knocks him off his horse, he leaves him blind, he humbles him, he makes him approach another man, Ananias, to learn what to do. And Saul was one of the leading figures of Israel, educated at Gamalielâs feet, and a Roman citizen to boot. Do you remember? Civis romanus sum, I am a Roman citizen. I like that. I also like you to feel true citizens of your country, with all the rights which that entails, because you fulfil all your obligations.
Do you think that an easy-going type who is reluctant to train seriously can hope to win an international athletics competition, without a great miracle? St Paul resorts to this simile, as do I. We have to struggle repeatedly and train every day - sometimes winning and sometimes losing - in little things that in themselves arenât sinful and donât have very significant moral implications, but which do indicate human weakness, a lack of love, a lack of generosity. Only by fighting in that way can a person at last say truthfully that his is a new life. Only those who perform these spiritual gymnastics will reach the goal.
Look at what St Paul says: Nolite conformari huic saeculo, sed reformamini in novitate sensus vestri, ut probetis quae sit voluntas Dei bona et beneplacens et perfecta. (Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ) Try to renew yourselves by giving new meaning to your lives; try to understand those things that are good, of greater value, more pleasing to God, more perfect, and follow them.
Isnât this what happens all the time in athletics? Three centimetres more, a tenth of a second less. Then suddenly a setback: an athlete jumps and twists his ankle. What a disaster! Perhaps he had got careless and put on too much weight and was out of shape. My children, if that person, if that soul keeps on fighting, the setback amounts to nothing. At most itâs just anecdotal because he is training hard to improve his performance and making an effort in things that are better, of greater value - things which, if left undone, wouldnât offend God because they arenât sinful. And so, little by little, almost without realizing it, lest pride creep in, you - we - go on renewing ourselves and giving new meaning to our lives: in novitate sensus (with a renewal of our mind). And we will indeed acquire a new life.
If you consider this in your prayer it will give you a lot of insight: for some a lot, for others just a spark; someone may even fall asleep and not get anything, but when he wakes up he will see that, yes, he too has light.
My children, these words of the Apostle merit careful consideration.
We should have a real desire for sanctity, despite our personal mistakes.
My daughters and sons, itâs important to take life seriously. Set out on your way again now. I like the word âwayâ very much, because in Godâs sight we are all wayfarers. We are viatores, travellers, heading towards our Creator from the day we enter the world. A person who sets out on a journey has a clear goal, an objective: he wants to get from one place to another. Consequently, he does all he should to reach his goal safely: he doesnât dawdle, he avoids side-roads and unexplored tracks that might lead to wild beasts or precipices. Keep walking resolutely, my children! We must take as much care with the affairs of God and of souls as others take of earthly affairs: we need to desire holiness very much indeedâŚ
But let us continue with St Paul. Our desire to reach the goal requires substance. The book of Wisdom says that the foolâs heart is like a broken jar, divided into parts, with all the pieces separate. Wisdom cannot be held in it: it spills out. The Holy Spirit is saying that we canât be like a broken jar with our will fragmented in all directions. Instead, it should be directed towards a single goal: porro unum est necessarium! Only one thing is necessary!
Donât worry if your will resembles an earthenware vessel with clamps holding it together. I like clamps very much because I need them. They keep the water from escaping. When a vessel has been broken and put together again I find it very attractive. It even looks beautiful: you can see it has been used for something. My children, the clamps show that you have struggled, that you have reasons for being humble. And if you donât break at all, better still.
But you must be well disposed. I wrote many years ago that when a container of good wine has good wine added to it, the wine stays good. The same thing happens in your hearts. Yours must be the good wine of the wedding feast of Cana. If there is vinegar in your soul, then even though good wine is poured in - the wine from the wedding feast at Cana - it will all seem repugnant to you, because, inside, the good wine will be changed into vinegar. If you react badly, say so. It is idiotic for someone to go for a check-up and not tell the doctor their problems.
Our deeds, thoughts and desires must all be directed to a single end: porro unum est necessarium,
I repeat. Iâve already mentioned the example of athletics. We must bring everything to God, but as human beings, not angels. Weâre not angels, so donât be surprised by your limitations. It is better for us to be mortals who can merit⌠and perish spiritually, who can die, because then we realize that all the great things God wants to accomplish through our frailty are his doing. As the first disciples returned amazed at the miracles they had worked in the name of Jesus, so too we will realize that the fruit is not ours, that âyou canât make a silk purse out of a sowâs earâ, as the proverb puts it. The fruit belongs to God the Father, who has been so fatherly and generous that he has placed it in our souls.
Humility prevents us from becoming vain over our successes, or losing heart over our failures.
Look at what St Peter says: Carissimi, nolite peregrinari in fervore, qui ad tentationem vobis fit, quasi novi illiquid vobis contingat. (Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. ) Donât be surprised that you canât jump, that you canât win: our lot is to fail! The victory belongs to Godâs grace. Donât forget that itâs one thing to think and something very different to consent. That idea can spare you a lot of headaches.
One way to avoid making fools of yourselves is to sleep the right amount, to eat what you should, to take enough exercise for your age, and to relax sufficiently. However, I would like you to add the Cross to every meal, which doesnât mean not eating, but rather, eating a little bit more of what we donât like, even just a teaspoonful, and a little bit less of what we like, always giving thanks to GodâŚ
We shouldnât be surprised, quasi novi aliquid vobis contingat, as though something extraordinary were happening, if we feel our passions boiling up. What did you expect? Weâre not blocks of cement. Nor should we be amazed if God works wonders through our hands - which is the ordinary thing too.
Look at the example of John the Baptist when he sends his disciples to ask our Lord who he is. Jesus answers by making them ponder on all the miracles he has wrought. You will recall the passage. For over forty years I have taught my children to meditate on it. Our Lord continues to work such miracles now through your hands: people who before couldnât see and now they do; people who couldnât speak, because they had a dumb devil, and they cast it out and speak; people unable to move, paralyzed at the thought of acting supernaturally, and they break out of their torpor and become virtuous and apostolic. Others who seem alive, yet are dead, like Lazarus: iam foetet, quatriduanus est enim (by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days). With divine grace and the witness of your life and your doctrine, and words both prudent and imprudent, you bring them to God and they come to life.
You canât be amazed then: you are Christ, and Christ does these things through you, as he did through the first disciples. How wonderful it is, my children, because it grounds us in humility; it takes away the possibility of pride and it helps us have sound doctrine. Seeing the wonders God works through your efforts will make you effective; it will foster your loyalty, and thus strengthen your perseverance.
Let us finish with a text from the Apostle: Aemulamini autem charismata meliora. Earnestly desire the higher gifts. My children, you and I want to behave virtuously, to please our Lord. And if at times things donât turn out well for us, what difference does it make? But let us struggle, because holiness lies in struggling.
Aemulamini charismata meliora. Earnestly desire the better things, those more pleasing to God. Donât be content with what you are before God. Humbly ask our Lord - through the all-powerful intercession of our Lady - that he and the Father send us the Holy Spirit who proceeds from them, so that with his gifts, especially the gift of Wisdom, we may always discern promptly what is right from what is not Since we are viatores, wayfarers, we want always to stay on the right way and avoid the wrong path.
Let us finish with the words of a prayer from todayâs Mass: Father of Love, hear our prayers. Help us to know your will and to do it with courage and faith.