This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
Catholic spiritual theology teaches us that we can attain, even in this life, profound and exalted union with God, as an initial experience of the union with Him that will come to true and final fulfillment in eternity.
This may lead us to a notion that we are to be something notably spectacular as we walk the earth, constantly impressing with our heroic virtue and aura of amazingness.
We can forget that all glory in the end belongs to and comes from God, and that our role is wonderfully humble and simple.
In the first reading, St. Paul doesn’t speak of impressive acts of heroic virtue or stretch goals of saintly action. He talks about basic self-control, dignity, temperance, balance.
Similarly, in the today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us to take the path, not of the heroic knight, to be awarded riches and lands for his glorious and storied exploits in service of the king, but rather the humble servant who has a simple job to do and simply does it.
It is the great paradox of the Gospel that if we want to attain to glory and an exalted, transforming relationship with God, all we need to do is live our daily life in great simplicity, for others, with a commitment to daily prayer and sacramental life. For “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk. 14:11)
No one exemplifies this dynamic better than Mary, the simple girl of Nazareth, the “handmaid of the Lord” who spent her life in the most ordinary and unremarkable way, but has been greatly glorified in Heaven due to her absolute daily gift of self to God.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Examine your aspirations in dialogue with Jesus. Ask Him if you are not overly anxious to sense that you are doing something impressive with your life. Ask Him if the daily gift of your simple vocation is enough for Him to do great things. Ask Him for the gift of an ordinary life of service in humility, joyfully recognizing at the same time that all His eternal glory is His unmerited gift to you.
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