443. Thirty-first Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Meditations no. 391 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Our vocation to further the work of redemption.

Jesus again speaks to us in parables, which always offer new light for our path as children of God in Opus Dei. A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come, for all is now ready.”

God has always sought the collaboration of generous servants in his redeeming work, faithful men and women who, by their sacrifice and dedication, help bring the effects of the redemption to many souls. Among them, by specific divine call, are those who are God’s children in Opus Dei. Through the Work, Jesus again wants to go out in search of souls. Nevertheless, the response to his invitation is frequently the same as the one in the parable: they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.” And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.” And another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”

In telling this parable, Jesus has before his eyes all those who throughout the centuries will reject God’s invitation to the heavenly banquet. But our Lord is also consoled to contemplate the great number of apostles who over the course of history will continue the mission entrusted to the first Twelve. Then as now, the words of Scripture continue to be fulfilled: Aure audietis, et non intelligetis: et videntes videbitis, et non perspicietis. These are the clear words of the Holy Spirit: they hear with their own ears, and they do not understand; they see with their own eyes, but they do not perceive.

Why worry if some, though they “see” the apostolate and they know how great it is, still do not give themselves to it? Pray in peace, and persevere along your way. If they don’t want to set out, there will be others!

By giving us a vocation to his Work, our Lord expects from us an untiring apostolic service that renounces all personal satisfaction. Our Father warned us: Don’t think that turning your life into service is easy. This good desire needs to be translated into deeds, for “the kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power,” as the Apostle teaches us. Moreover, the practice of constantly helping other people is not possible without sacrifice.

The work of co-redemption requires of us a complete, joyful sacrifice saturated with love. We must give ourselves entirely, we must deny ourselves entirely: our sacrifice must be a holocaust.

Christ does the work: we are his instruments.

Our Father wrote: I would like to emblazon on your souls these three considerations:

1. The Work of God comes to fulfil the Will of God. Therefore, have a profound conviction that heaven is committed to its realization.

2. When God our Lord projects a work on behalf of men, he thinks first of the persons he is to use as instruments… and he communicates the appropriate graces to them.

3. This supernatural conviction about the divinity of the undertaking will end up giving you such an intense enthusiasm and love for the Work, that you will feel most fortunate sacrificing yourselves to make it a reality.

Our Lord expects us to invite everyone we meet to share in his Kingdom: Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled, he tells us. We cannot be remiss in fulfilling this charge. Our faith in the supernatural fruitfulness of Christ’s words becomes for us faith in the Work and faith in our vocation. Everything follows God’s will. This supernatural conviction will make us happy to sacrifice ourselves, and give us the humble pride of being Christ’s instruments, whether we are made of clay or of silver.

Our Father wrote: The way Jesus called the first twelve could not have been simpler: “Come and follow me.”

There is one consideration that fits you like a glove, since you are always looking for excuses not to keep on with your task. The human knowledge of those first apostles was very poor, and yet what an impact they made on those who listened to them!

Never forget this: he continues to do the work through each one of us.

We have to bring God’s light to every corner of the world, aware that we are not the source of this light: we only reflect it. It is not we who save souls and move them to do good. We are quite simply instruments, some more, some less worthy, for fulfilling God’s plans for salvation. If at any time we were to think that we ourselves are the authors of the good we do, then our pride would return, more twisted than ever. The salt would lose its savour, the leaven would rot, and the light would turn to darkness.

Our response to our vocation must be complete. And then, my daughters and sons, when you think you’ve worked a lot in our Lord’s service, repeat the words that he himself taught us: servi in utiles sumus; quod debuimus facere, fecimus; we are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.

Our Lord will reward our faithfulness by filling us with joy.

Open your own heart to Jesus and tell him your story. I don’t want to generalize. But one day perhaps an ordinary Christian, just like you, opened your eyes to horizons both deep and new, yet as old as the Gospel. He suggested to you the prospect of following Christ earnestly, seriously, of becoming an apostle of apostles. Perhaps you lost your balance then and didn’t recover it. Your complacency wasn’t quite replaced by true peace until you freely said “yes” to God, because you wanted to, which is the most supernatural of reasons. And in its wake came a strong, constant joy, which disappears only when you abandon him.

Often when speaking with God in prayer, words of thanksgiving for our vocation well up in our soul. Recalling those early days of our dedication can and should give impulse to our life now, to the demanding and faithful service God expects from us.

Our glance back in time since the moment we told our Lord to count on us in response to his call should also lead us to rectify as often as necessary. Our Father wrote: take another look over your life and ask forgiveness for this or that fault which you notice immediately with the eyes of your conscience: for using your tongue badly; for thoughts that revolve continually around yourself; those critical judgements you made and consented to and which now cause you to worry foolishly, leaving you restless and fretful. Believe me, you can be very happy! Our Lord wants us to be glad, to be drunk with joy, stepping out along the same roads of happiness that he himself walked! We only become miserable when we persist in straying off those roads.

We ask our Lord to free us from all selfishness and laziness, from everything that separates us from his will, so as to serve him with self-sacrifice and joy all the days of our life: not half-heartedly, but truly spending ourselves, putting our hearts into each job with an upright intention. For as St Augustine warned: helping others, if not done for God, is not a true sacrifice.

Our Father asks: Do you want me to tell you everything I think about “your way”? - Very well then, as I see it, if you respond to the call, you’ll work for Christ like the best: if you become a man of prayer, you will respond as I’ve described and, hungry for sacrifice, you will seek the hardest tasks…

And you will be happy here, and most happy hereafter, in everlasting Life.

As always when finishing our prayer, we turn to our Lady, for Jesus cannot deny anything to Mary, nor to us, who are children of his own Mother. Mary will win for us the graces we need to serve her Son on earth, and then to enjoy heaven with him for ever.