183. Second Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Meditations no. 66 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Caring for little things, a path to holiness.

We have been bringing to our prayer the miracle which Jesus worked at Cana in answer to his Mother’s request. Today let us consider the important effects of the work which those servants did - work which on the face of it seemed very simple and normal: just filling up some jars with water. But it was through that work that Christ worked his first miracle and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Even when it seems unimportant, our work brims over with divine transcendence if we work for love. In Opus Dei - as we read in the Catechism of the Work - we insist so much on striving for perfection in work and in little things because our vocation to the Work requires us to seek holiness through ordinary activities. Together with our spirit, we have Christ’s command to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect, which should encourage us to try to sanctify our ordinary work at all times. Our daily occupations and our surroundings are made up of small things, and these are what we have to sanctify. That is our vocation, and those little things are an important part of the spirit of the Work.

Remember that character from literature, dreamed up by a French writer. He tried to hunt lions in the hallways of his house. Naturally he didn’t find any. Our life is commonplace and ordinary. Trying to serve God in big things would be like trying to hunt lions in the hallways. Like the hunter in the tale, we would be left empty-handed. Big things normally exist only in our imagination, rarely in real life.

But if Love is what motivates us, then in the course of our life how many little things we will find that need to be looked after; how many opportunities for doing some small service; how many difficulties -unimportant ones - we will learn to treasure. Little things that can be difficult for us, and that we offer up for a specific intention: the Church, the Pope, the others in the Work, all souls.

My children, I repeat once more: we will have lost our way if we spurn or reject little things. In this world, everything big is really a collection of little things. Pay attention to what is little, concentrate on the details. This is not some sort of fixation or obsession: it is affection, virginal love, supernatural outlook at every moment, charity. Always be faithful in small things for the sake of Love, keeping an upright intention, without expecting to receive anything in return here on earth, not even a smile or a look of appreciation.

Love makes little things big.

For there to be virtue, there must be two elements: the thing done, and the way in which it is done. If we want to be holy, we must carry out all our actions perfectly, finishing them off well, and continuing to do so day after day, throughout our life. This is only achievable when there is love; when it is love that motivates us. And in terms of sanctity, our actions only have value when they are done for love, and with love. Do everything for love. Then there will be no little things; everything will be big. Perseverance in little things for love is heroism.

Charity gives supernatural value to everything we do. And holiness consists above all in constantly growing in our love. Our life is not a repetition of similar actions, our Father has told us, for the next one should be more upright, more fruitful, more loving than the one that went before. Each day should bring new light, new enthusiasm. Love is always new. It drives out any hint of monotony, and never ceases to bear fruit: particularly in one area, that of attention to little things.

We have at our disposal a power much greater than that of the fabled King Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold. We - through our love - turn the material, human work we do into the Work of God, Opus Dei, operatio Dei. It is the love of God that brings about this wonderful transformation, turning all those small, seemingly unimportant things that go to make up our ordinary life, into something divine, of infinite value: into holiness and apostolic fruitfulness. Let us not allow this daily treasure to go to waste. Have you ever stopped to consider the enormous sum that many small amounts can come to?

We should ask ourselves: How well do I look after small things? Do I put love - sanctity - into the tiny things that make up my daily life? Let us strive to have firmly in mind St Paul’s precept: Let all that you do be done in love.

Accompanying each little deed with an expression of love.

It’s not a question of fulfilling an endless set of tiresome rules, which would sap our spirit and prevent us from seeing what is truly important and worthwhile. Looking after little things out of love, could never be considered as clipping the wings of the soul. On the contrary, it means reaching out to the greatest and noblest reality there is: holiness. Those who are small-minded can’t understand this; it is only for those who aspire to great things. They alone, with the help of God’s grace, can impress - even on their most ordinary actions - the seal of God’s greatness. St Thomas teaches: An act can be called great even if it involves the use of something small or modest; for example, when a person puts that thing to the best use.

Since it is love that inspires us to concentrate on details, it would be good to accompany each thing we do with an expression of that love, a sign of affection, an aspiration, an act of thanksgiving, an act of atonement, a petition. To ensure that it is truly love that motivates us, we should ask God not only to let us know how he wants us to do things, but also to give us the determination to do them, which demands heroism.

We return to the scene at Cana. Mary has given the servants good advice: Do whatever he tells you. They in turn carry out Jesus’ command precisely: “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. Our Father comments: Implete hydrias… (Fill the jars… ) Simple and straightforward. The servants do their job, water being easy enough to get hold of… and so we have the first manifestation of our Lord’s divinity. And just as the water at Cana was turned into exquisite wine, so the most common thing is turned into something extraordinary, something supernatural, when our good will leads us to serve God.

In order to serve God, let us attend to the little tasks of each day conscientiously. Then our Lord will show forth his greatness. If we are faithful in little things, we will be able to sing with our Mother: He who is mighty has done great things for me.