“Only one thing in life matters:Being found worthy of the Light of the World at the hour of His visitation.” (Venerable Fulton Sheen).
In a letter dated 13 January 1913, Saint Padre Pio wrote to Father Agostino the following words…
“I am the plaything of the Child Jesus, as He tells me frequently, but what is worse, Jesus has chosen a toy of no value whatever. The only thing that displeases me is that this plaything He has chosen soils His Divine Little Hands.”
I have been reflecting on these words of this great saint for some time now because I have found them utterly wonderful.
You see, often have I prayed – since the instant of my conversion – for a greater ability to serve my Beloved. For I am a truly weak soul. And so, when I attempt to make an offering to my Beloved, it usually falls flat very very quickly. I might offer Him my patience – and then shout at my children because they ignored what I was asking them to do. I might offer Him my efforts – and then become lazy and rush the end of the job so it is not as well-done as it should be. I might offer Him my time – and then become distracted on the internet or with some other trivial matter and waste the time away.
Ad even if I wished to offer something simple and traditional like fasting or a period of abstinence to unite myself with Christ’s PERFECT sacrifice on the Cross, even then I cannot quite control my anger, impatience, frustration and mood, while I am hungry and uncomfortable – while I am hangry, so to speak.
And so I can see the blessing of humility – for a humble soul knows they are nothing without God and a humble soul asks for His Grace to make any offering to Him - for without Grace it is IMPOSSIBLE to offer anything to God.
For Christ understood very well the type of sacrifice He would ask of us and believe me, HANGRY tantrums were not supposed to be a part of that!
“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, ‘Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. And Jesus said unto Him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.’ And He said unto another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto Him, ‘Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.’ And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.’ And Jesus said unto him, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:53-61).
For Christ was clear – not only does He desire our sacrifice of us, but He desires it to be made of all our heart and without regret – without “looking back” (Luke 9:61).
And it is through this lens that I reflect on these words of Saint Padre Pio who was displeased to soil the Divine Little Hands of God, because the Venerable Fulton Sheen once said, “Only one thing in life matters: Being found worthy of the Light of the World at the hour of His visitation.”
And now I wonder – with all my prayer and sacrifice – and I ready? Am I prepared? And I worthy?
I wonder…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.