The Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King has introduced me to some of the holiest people I know. They are loving, kind and humble. Some have suffered unfathomable tragedies. Just read the Tragedy section in Heavenly Healing. Or, every young person's story in Can You Text Me Directions? Holiness seems to come naturally, like smiling or scratching an itch. They never boast or brag or deem themselves above any other. They just serve and exude Christ. They share their stories of triumph over evil and temptation not to be heroes or derive sympathy, but to deliver the light of Christ to listeners and readers. In other words, they stay in the shadows so Jesus can work through them to reach those in darkness.
Todays Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) reminds me, as the Litany of Humility does, to do good for His Glory, not our own:
Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she points out the problem when comparing our holiness to others:
“People look at someone who evidences a high level of holiness and they think to themselves, if I were as holy as he is it would be easy. This is the opposite of the truth. The holier one becomes, the more intense the battle, and the greater the necessity for vigilant struggle. The opposite of this might be someone comparing himself to another and saying, “Thank God I am holier than that person.” But how does he know where the other is doing battle? How does he know the place of departure in the holiness journey for another? Perhaps this person has made vast gains in holiness over time. People must remember that the authentic struggle for holiness is completed in the privacy of the soul. Holiness is not a competitive sport.”
Lay apostles, I haven't met one holy person who hasn't struggled to get where they are. And each one will tell you they have a long way to go. The lesson here is to see holiness as a path to salvation. The challenge is withholding complaints about the bumps and turns when there is no recompense from the world for your efforts. I know I sound like a broken record, but aim to please Him, not the world.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to stay small and quiet so You can shine through me. I am far from perfect, but I am trying!
God bless,
Bonnie
Todays Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) reminds me, as the Litany of Humility does, to do good for His Glory, not our own:
Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
In Anne a lay apostle's book Serving in Clarity, she points out the problem when comparing our holiness to others:
“People look at someone who evidences a high level of holiness and they think to themselves, if I were as holy as he is it would be easy. This is the opposite of the truth. The holier one becomes, the more intense the battle, and the greater the necessity for vigilant struggle. The opposite of this might be someone comparing himself to another and saying, “Thank God I am holier than that person.” But how does he know where the other is doing battle? How does he know the place of departure in the holiness journey for another? Perhaps this person has made vast gains in holiness over time. People must remember that the authentic struggle for holiness is completed in the privacy of the soul. Holiness is not a competitive sport.”
Lay apostles, I haven't met one holy person who hasn't struggled to get where they are. And each one will tell you they have a long way to go. The lesson here is to see holiness as a path to salvation. The challenge is withholding complaints about the bumps and turns when there is no recompense from the world for your efforts. I know I sound like a broken record, but aim to please Him, not the world.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to stay small and quiet so You can shine through me. I am far from perfect, but I am trying!
God bless,
Bonnie
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