180. Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (C)
Meditations no. 63 (unofficial computer-aided translation)
The virtue of temperance is a particular requirement of our vocation.
On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee ⌠Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.
Jesus lives among his neighbours and relatives; he practises and sanctifies friendship. Following his example we also want to sanctify our friendships. Our professional or social relationships are a field for apostolate, a chance to practise Christâs charity. We live in the world. We love it as Christ loved it, and we have committed our lives to sanctifying it. For their sake I consecrate myself, he said.
But the way we act must always reflect our condition as Christians. Be men and women of the world, but donât be worldly men and women. Detachment from earthly possessions, the sober and temperate use of material things, is one of the best ways of showing that we belong to the world without being worldly. We have to make demands on ourselves in our daily lives. In this way we will not go about inventing false problems and ingenious needs which, in the last analysis, are prompted by conceit, capriciousness and a comfort-loving and lazy approach to life. We ought to be striding towards God at a fast pace, carrying no dead-weights or impediments which might hinder our progress.
If we were to compromise here, it would not only harm our interior life, but it would also be defrauding those who know us. Our Father therefore reminds us: Try to live in such a way that you can voluntarily deprive yourself of the comfort and ease you wouldnât approve of in the life of another man of God.
A truly detached soul seeks voluntary privations, as these bring a person closer to God. And the Work gives us the means to achieve this: Since the spirit of the Work gives us a marvellous inner self-dominion, we know how to live with the same joy and equanimity whether we have the things we need, or whether we lack them. That self-dominion, which becomes obvious through our temperance, is always something attractive, because it is a clear sign of a truly committed life.
The apostolic value of temperance: bonus odor Christi.
Detach yourself from the goods of this world. Love and practise poverty of spirit: be content with what suffices for living a simple and sober life. Otherwise, you will never be an apostle. Human considerations are not the chief motive for sobriety in our social relations. We are inspired by an apostolic concern, a desire to be constantly giving a good example, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Temperance and detachment from material possessions have always been among the most persuasive and attractive features of Christian life. People expect us, who are children of God in his Work, to give the bonus odor Christi (the aroma of Christ) which - firmly based on our temperance -awakens them and draws them onward. Wherever we are, we must always try, in a natural way, to set a good example, because for many people it can be the beginning of a true encounter with God.
Working as we are in the middle of the world, at the heart of all noble human work and ideals, we need to make use of material means. But if we werenât watchful, we could start becoming attached to those means. With Godâs help, we try to use them according to our needs and duties, as St Augustine says, with the moderation of one who makes use of them, and not as one who overvalues them and is carried away by them.
Then our Fatherâs words will come alive in us: Let us try to do everything with moderation, because thatâs what temperance is all about. It is a cardinal virtue (from cardo, meaning hinge or pivot), a firm point of support. And in the firmness of that cardinal virtue of yours, your friends will find support, almost without realizing it; and you, in practice, will give spiritual guidance to many people who donât even know what spiritual direction is, and who perhaps would never want it.
Temperance always has apostolic repercussions. Through our example, Christ our Lord reveals his own life to those who know us. He does so through ordinary social events, just as he made himself known at Cana, on the occasion of a marriage feast.
Detachment from earthly goods in the apostolate; the relative value of the instruments we use.
Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect. We must do all we can to detach our hearts from earthly possessions. Such things are means, useful means, but they can never become an end in themselves. Nor can they become something indispensable, leading us to create imaginary needs for ourselves.
If God so desired, he could dispense with those means. However, he counts on our willingness to place them at his service. In your apostolic undertakings you are right - itâs your duty - to consider what means the world can offer you: (2 + 2 = 4). But never forget that, fortunately, your calculations must include another term: God + 2 + 2 ⌠In this way we will not create needs for ourselves in the apostolate, and we will not fail to carry out certain tasks or take on new ones. Donât let the lack of instruments stop your work: begin by making the best of what you have.
In Opus Dei we are accustomed to beginning undertakings whenever God wants. The means will come later, if God sees our love, our Father would tell us. And to emphasise the point, he would quote Christâs words: Quaerite primum regnum Dei, et iustitiam eius: et haec omnia adiicientur vobis (Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well); with an upright intention seek the fulfilment of Godâs will and his glory in the service of all souls, and we will not lack the necessary means.
A few jars full of water and the good will of the servants at Cana were sufficient for Christ to work his first miracle. Likewise it is sufficient for us to do what we can. Then we will work wonders in our apostolate, if we too have the supernatural sense to place our trust in God alone. And we will echo the Psalmistâs words: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name.
We do apostolate with the help of human means, with material instruments, such as other people use. But our goal lies infinitely beyond what could be attained with those means alone. We strive to bring others to Christ. Only God can achieve supernatural effects through natural means. He will bless us in a special way when he sees that our intentions are pure and that we use those means in moderation. Our hearts must be free, set only on God and on giving him glory. We do not want to cheat him of even the tiniest part of the affection we owe him.
Let us contemplate our Mother, living humbly in her home at Nazareth. We ask her for a great love for the virtue of temperance. We need it so that we can always offer a simple and eloquent example of Christian life in the middle of our work and occupations.