Therefore

“Therefore, you must make a sound and firm resolution to submit yourselves totally to His will and, with a lively and steadfast faith, to receive from Him what you have to do for love of Him.” – St. Angela Merici

Recently, I had a run-in with my director. It seems sometimes I am totally misunderstood as to what the outside perception is of me. I have been interviewing prospective workers regarding some renovations. Everyone has an idea and prices are all over the place. It seems everyone else knows what I need before I do. It saddens me. I did what I usually do – I call the Carmelites and ask them for clarification. They do not give advice. They remind me that the only person who needs to understand us is Christ. Recently, I sang in a concert for Advent. I posted it on social media. I was not so visible, but I did what I could for the choir. One song that stuck in my head was Gaudete. We need to rejoice that Christ is born. He is risen. And this is the time to prepare.

“Let’s stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him, ‘O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations.’” – St. Boniface

I think of the saints who were likely misunderstood. St. John Vianney arrived at the parish in Ars, France. I have been there. He seemed to have been intellectually inferior, and he was sent off to an out-of-the-way place. He showed everyone what he could do through, prayer, fasting and commitment. People came from all over to have him hear their confessions. Some women asked for a special intention to be heard at mass. He wondered what that was and they wanted him to be moved to another parish. No one can be popular and loved by everyone. We all have enemies. St. Therese of Lisieux was also considered a bit spoiled when she entered the convent. St. John of the Cross was accosted when he arrived at his new monastery. A woman said that he was the father of her child. It could not have been because he had only arrived a few months before. Many misunderstandings. St. Bartolo Longo married his companion in a ‘white marriage’ only to allay the gossip. People around us misunderstand many things but they do not want to learn. This is sad. We can only pray for others. And we must be firm in this prayer.

“Finding no resting-place without, [the one who strives for righteousness] cleaves more intensely to God within. All his hope is fixed on his Creator, and amid all the ridicule and abuse, he invokes his interior witness alone. One who is afflicted in this way grows closer to God the more he turns away from human popularity.” — St. Gregory the Great

I had a young student arrive to learn English. Their experience over several months became an experience of life and not just English. This person changed so much without even seeing it happen. Maybe that person still does not understand what happened. Life moves on without us knowing because God uses everything for Himself. He wants to save everyone. He uses whatever is available – even the bad things. Only Christ can turn things around. We do not have the capability. We need to continue to have faith, but faith is given. We need to pray, to practice our faith, to stay with those who lift us up. We need to surround ourselves with those people who will point us in a direction to something more - something better. Let us surround ourselves with those who point to Christ. Pope Leo had a concert recently in the Vatican for the poor. It is beautiful what he does. Let us follow this example.

"How did he find true friendship and a love capable of giving hope? By finding the one who was already looking for him, Jesus Christ," Pope Leo XIV said. "How did he build his future? By following the one who had always been his friend."