“You can’t know Jesus in first class. You get to know Jesus out and about in your everyday, daily life. You can’t know Jesus where it’s peace and quiet, or in the library.” - Pope Francis
Oh, but Holy Father, I was out there. Out with real people- of different economic status and various belief system. I was using my talent, not just in self-serving ways. I volunteer in helping the poor. In the eyes of other people, I may actually be perceived as good.
But, Holy Father, there is the danger of 'busy'ness which afflicts the modern world. It is not that we are unbelievers. It is not even the lack of desire for God. It's just that the 'busy'ness gives a false sense of purpose and a false sense of self-sufficiency. We are not really in touch with our emotions or our thoughts. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI described it well,
"This, however, is the beginning of a sort of "justification through works": the human being justifies himself and the world, in which he does what clearly seems necessary yet completely lacks the inner light and spirit."
I became less mobile, less out there because I had to take care of my mother in her progressive Alzheimer. It was difficult, I need to be Martha who is moving about and not Magdalene who was just sitting at the foot of Jesus. But in time, I realized what a precious gift it was from God- to be just still and quiet.
It was about PRESENCE. It was simply "being there". Not trying to cure. Not even advising. Not trying to change the situation. It was the still and quiet power of presence. And Jesus had deemed to be that way, too, for us in His Real Presence in the Eucharist. Jesus is there. Just simply there in stillness and quiet. Yet, how life-changing a presence can be. We, somehow, are faced with our woundedness and the woundedness of others. We are confronted with the problems that had been there that our 'busy'ness ignored. We are in touch with God, a loving Creator, a suffering Messiah, a faithful Spirit. So, in as much as we are beset with the woundedness, we are also infused with the gifts.
It is a lifestyle that our utilitarian age would look down upon but I have no regrets for the choice I have made. If St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Tereesa Benedicta in their monastic life can be saints like Blsd. Mother Teresa of Calcutta who is out there with there; We all have a chance, and that is God's divine justice.
I have no doubt that Jesus can be found out there, in here, in the library, or in the dumps because Jesus initiates the reaching out; and He will never give up on us.
Oh, but Holy Father, I was out there. Out with real people- of different economic status and various belief system. I was using my talent, not just in self-serving ways. I volunteer in helping the poor. In the eyes of other people, I may actually be perceived as good.
But, Holy Father, there is the danger of 'busy'ness which afflicts the modern world. It is not that we are unbelievers. It is not even the lack of desire for God. It's just that the 'busy'ness gives a false sense of purpose and a false sense of self-sufficiency. We are not really in touch with our emotions or our thoughts. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI described it well,
"This, however, is the beginning of a sort of "justification through works": the human being justifies himself and the world, in which he does what clearly seems necessary yet completely lacks the inner light and spirit."
I became less mobile, less out there because I had to take care of my mother in her progressive Alzheimer. It was difficult, I need to be Martha who is moving about and not Magdalene who was just sitting at the foot of Jesus. But in time, I realized what a precious gift it was from God- to be just still and quiet.
It was about PRESENCE. It was simply "being there". Not trying to cure. Not even advising. Not trying to change the situation. It was the still and quiet power of presence. And Jesus had deemed to be that way, too, for us in His Real Presence in the Eucharist. Jesus is there. Just simply there in stillness and quiet. Yet, how life-changing a presence can be. We, somehow, are faced with our woundedness and the woundedness of others. We are confronted with the problems that had been there that our 'busy'ness ignored. We are in touch with God, a loving Creator, a suffering Messiah, a faithful Spirit. So, in as much as we are beset with the woundedness, we are also infused with the gifts.
It is a lifestyle that our utilitarian age would look down upon but I have no regrets for the choice I have made. If St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Tereesa Benedicta in their monastic life can be saints like Blsd. Mother Teresa of Calcutta who is out there with there; We all have a chance, and that is God's divine justice.
I have no doubt that Jesus can be found out there, in here, in the library, or in the dumps because Jesus initiates the reaching out; and He will never give up on us.
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