Lazy in Faith

Health and beauty.  Two American obsessions.  Standing in the checkout line at the grocery store last night, just about every magazine had beautiful (photoshopped I'm sure!) faces and articles about how to lose weight fast. This, they purport, is what will make you happy. Better makeup, better workouts. I have to admit, I get caught up in all of it at times. But look closer at the headlines.  Beneath those beautiful faces gracing the cover of a magazine are words of affairs, abandonment, and lies. Bottom line is, beauty and health don't create a better life. There is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself.  But think about how much better the world would be if it focused on spiritual health and beauty. Devoting time and energy toward growing closer to Christ.  Giving children the gift of faith. Making it to Mass every Sunday and not just when you feel like going. If you've never prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and want to learn how Jesus suffered for us, pray them!  Don't be lazy when it comes to your faith. Jesus deserves complete dedication.


Todays first reading (2 Peter 3:12-15a,17-18) advises us to be vigilant:

Beloved: Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

In Volume One, Thoughts on Spirituality, Jesus expresses the security He provides when we follow Him:

“I am with you, child. I feel your weakness and sickness and will adjust your responsibilities accordingly. This will pass. Offer your suffering to Me so that I can nourish souls, especially souls who are in error and in danger of falling away. My heart aches for them. They feel they have been abandoned, yet it is they who have abandoned the true faith. Suffer willingly for them, little one. We must draw them back with goodness and joy. A true follower of Mine is joyful and serene. When you see Christians who claim to be following Me, but they are sad and morose, you should be alert. Despair and depression do not come from Me. My followers are given hope and a lightness of spirit, despite difficulties. If you, yourself, notice you are feeling sad more often, it is because you are not connected to Me through prayer and the sacraments. Be vigilant about your faith and you will not falter. I am with you. I will never leave you. Ask Me for courage and courage will be yours.”

Lay apostles, no more excuses. Yes, Jesus notices when we choose sleeping in over Him on Sunday mornings. Yes, He notices when the world becomes much more important to us than He is.  If we truly believe in Jesus Christ, then we must believe He lives within each and every one of us, 24/7. The next time you are tempted to become lazy in faith, put on those boxing gloves and fight for your spirituality. This is where true health and beauty reside.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the outside isn't as important as the inside. Impressing you is actually easier and more fulfilling than impressing the world!

God bless,

Bonnie

Got Virtues?

What exactly is a virtue? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 1803): A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. Ok, makes sense. But what exactly do virtues look like? There are two forms of virtue: human and theological. Human virtues include loyalty, honesty, compassion, courage, self-discipline and restraint, responsibility and a sense of duty. Basically, our moral standards. Theological virtues are faith, hope and charity (love). These virtues are a direct connection to God. We are gifted with these virtues at Baptism, leading us to live moral lives. Can you see how practicing faith, hope and charity lead to acquiring the human virtues we all must strive for? 

Living a virtuous life takes practice and dedication. It means changing our way of thinking and acting. It means making choices which lead you to Christ and His Kingdom. And, it may not always be what feels good at the moment. Perseverance, my friends. 

Todays Gospel (2 Peter 1:2-7) encourages us to "make every effort" in living a moral life. In other words, practice:

Beloved: May grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.

In Anne a lay apostle’s book Lessons in Love, she compassionately reassures us of God's Mercy in our humanness: 

“We may say, ‘It is too hard. I cannot do it. I will never succeed.’ But most people initially feel this way when they begin to work on a virtue. If we turn away, giving up, what we are really saying is, ‘I do not want this virtue.’ This is fair enough. Our free will allows for this, but we must be honest and admit that we are refusing to try rather than make a claim that God has made it impossible for us to succeed. Who is to judge success? Only God is the legitimate judge of success and failure with regard to humanity and our struggle with any of the virtues. There is a reason for the Sacrament of Confession. God’s expectations are realistic. He expects us to struggle at times, meaning, to be perfectly clear, He knows that we will sin and He also hopes that we will repent. Even the greatest saints sinned, repented, then tried again.”

Today, lay apostles, think about the above virtues where you lack perseverance.  Are you demonstrating self-control in relationships, in caring for your body or in controlling your anger? Are you struggling with your faith? Get your theological virtues in order first.  Master them and human virtues become much easier to achieve.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me while I learn to master virtues I have struggled with in the past and forgive me when I temporarily slip into old habits. 

God bless,

Bonnie