With

“The disciple who lovingly seeks the Master finds that sadness, worries and afflictions now taste very differently: they disappear as soon as we truly accept God's Will...” (Saint Josemaria, “Friends of God”, at 310-311).

The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Gathering and Protecting Mankind (Frans Floris)

There have been so many times in my life where I have not been able to progress with something.  Sometimes I have been quite overwhelmed with the feeling that something is overwhelming.  And other times, I have been unable to progress forward because one human thing or another had gotten into my way.  And when this happened I have always tried to work on a solution.  Sometimes those solutions can be very overwhelming.  Other times those solutions can be impossible.  One thing about me is that I really do not quit on something.  I try to approach the problem from every angle before I finally decide whether it is really feasible or not.  This is not to say that I never quit, but rather that I do not wish to quit before I am sure that the only possible way forward is to stop what I am doing in this one area first.

I have been reflecting on that today as I have been reflecting on Christ’s Passion and Death on the Cross.  You see, all those instances where I become overwhelmed by a problem are just examples of where the problem might be bigger than me and where I should be listening to God instead of dictating to Him.  And when I compare Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross – and indeed throughout His entire life – what is my discomfort in the face of that?

I am a faithful child of God.  And this means that I have a responsibility to understand that God is guiding my actions.  And sometimes – when life feels hard or the problems seem overwhelming – I should be waiting so that I can move forward in a productive way.  Importantly, I can understand that I am not alone and that God is with me.  In fact, when Christ was suffering and dying on the Cross, His thoughts were of me.  I saw me in my anguish and my sin.  And He actively chose to love me anyway and continue in the sacrifice for my soul anyway.

I have been reflecting on that today.  How great is my Beloved’s love for me?  How honest and how true?  God loves me so much that He is able to continue in a sacrifice knowing that I am going to leave without Him.  I am going to offend Him and ignore Him.  I am going to upset Him.  All of this despite my best efforts – and sometimes without my best efforts.

“I was speaking before about sorrow and suffering and tears. “The disciple who lovingly seeks the Master finds that sadness, worries and afflictions now taste very differently: they disappear as soon as we truly accept God's Will, as soon as we carry out his plans gladly, as faithful children of his, even though our nerves may seem to be at breaking point and the pain impossible to bear.” (Saint Josemaria, “Friends of God”, at 310-311).

And today, I pray that I am that servant for God!

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.