Tag: <span>Simplicity</span>

April 28, 2021April 13, 2021

The Weight of the World

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

As Christians, often we feel that we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Subconsciously comparing ourselves to hedonists, to those who strive only to satisfy their own passions and desires, we feel that we are the few in the world serious and responsible enough to discern what is good. It is up to us to make the world a better place, swimming against the current.

Today’s first reading and gospel, on the other hand, paint a different picture. In the gospel, Jesus explains that He simply says what the Father has commanded Him to speak. He is accepting and fulfilling the direction of His Father.

Similarly, in the first reading, Paul and Barnabas do not sit down with an analysis of the characteristics of all the towns in the area, to deduce which towns are best to preach in. Rather, the Holy Spirit commands them where they are to go, and they simply go.

We do not have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Yes, the salvation of many depends on us. But it does not depend on our problem-solving skills and forceful, persuasive willpower. It depends on one thing, as in the case of Jesus, as in the case of the apostles: It depends on our “yes” to God, consistent, attentive, loving, strengthened in our daily prayer.

Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden, light. (cf. Mt. 11:30)

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to send you His Holy Spirit to guide you and show you the will of God. Ask Him to give you the wisdom and fortitude to hear the Spirit and to follow His direction.

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March 24, 2021March 5, 2021

Simple is Beautiful

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

Sin is complicated, endlessly twisted and perverse. It can take many shapes, just as the desecration of a beautiful piece of art can occur in as many haphazard forms as chaos can casually cause.

The forms virtue takes, on the other hand, are much more refined and less random, just as an exquisite work of art is fruit of the artist’s studied and careful strokes.

The sin we see on the part of the Pharisees in the gospel is just one of the endless ugly, random embodiments of disobedience to God. In their case, they obstinately refuse His only Son, in the flesh–no matter what miracles He works, no matter what mercy He shows, no matter how compelling and eloquent His words.

The faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the first reading, on the other hand, shows forth as something simple, straightforward, beautiful, and luminous. They simply say “yes” to God, in the most difficult possible circumstance. There is really nothing fancy or novel about it. It takes on similar form to so many other “yeses” in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David…up to and including Mary’s “Let it be done unto me according to your word.”

But like a beautiful work of art, and in stark contrast to the turpitude of the Pharisees, the “yes” of the three men–with its foundation of absolute trust in God–shines forth like the sun. The one “like a son of God” who appears in the furnace with them is a sharing in God’s power and glory, which He grants to them as a reward for their obedience.

Sometimes, we dream of the glories of this world, in all their manifold complexity. We would like our name in lights, we would like to be at the top and in charge. Sometimes we follow all of the circuitous routes, including sordid and sinful routes, in pursuit of this goal.

True glory, on the other hand, is so much simpler, more beautiful, more luminous. All that is necessary is to join ourselves to God in prayer and the sacraments, and strive to follow His will and inspirations each day. Sometimes this may seem complicated, but it isn’t. It is merely a question of giving an unconditional “yes,” over and over again, and trusting that He will provide the illumination and fortitude to carry through with that “yes.”

As with the three in the furnace, the reward for this simple faithfulness is a share in the very divinity of God itself. Adopted as God’s children and able to call God “Father” as Jesus did in today’s gospel, we receive the glorious power to walk through the fires of this world untouched.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Sin is complicated; obedience is simple. Ask Jesus to free you from the burden of worrying about figuring everything out exhaustively–to free you to focus on the simplicity of the loving “yes.” Ask Him with great confidence to take over all the detail, and to fill you with absolute trust in Him.

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January 7, 2021December 30, 2020

The One

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

We see today’s psalm fulfilled in today’s gospel: “O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; he shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.”

In the gospel, we see Jesus taking his seat as Teacher in the synagogue almost like a throne, heir of David that He is. It would seem that there is more going on here than a wise man sitting down to proffer some enlightened explanations. When saying “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing,” Jesus reveals Himself unequivocally as the Anointed One.

Between this regal scene and the first reading from the first letter of John, there is a delightful interplay. In a sort of contrast with Jesus’ solemnity, John’s assertions are eminently simple. To be in union with God, we must love Him, keep His Commandments, love our neighbor, and believe that Jesus is the Christ–that is, believe the assertions of Jesus in today’s gospel.

Maybe the more sophisticated among us could lament John’s simplicity. Why doesn’t he tackle for us some of the more complex, nuanced realities in life? Is he a hopeless naïf, who lives oblivious to the complicated spiderweb that life weaves around us?

When we study the lives of St. John and many of the other saints, we realize that it not naivete that leads to their beautiful and enviable simplicity. Rather, having considered all the complexities of life, they realize that “there is need of only one thing” (Lk. 10:42), and that when they seek the Kingdom of God, all these things will be given them besides (cf. Mt. 6:33). In a word, they simply don’t care as much about life’s worries and dangers, because they realize that these fall under the loving care of God’s Providence.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to help you understand how only one thing truly matters: your relationship with Him. If you are unable to fathom a life without constant fretting over all you cannot control, ask Him to infuse trust into you. Ask Him to help you by the supernatural gifts of His Holy Spirit to place each thing in its proper place in your heart, and to help you to focus on the only thing of which there is need: Union with the great King who proclaims His anointing in today’s gospel.

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December 12, 2020November 25, 2020

Woman Clothed with the Sun

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

We see a stark contrast between today’s first reading from Revelation, and today’s gospel.

In the first reading, we see the Queen of Heaven as a portentous, apocalyptic figure, chosen by God as mother to Him who would restore all mankind, and definitively defeat the dragon.

In the Gospel passage, we see her as a simple girl, receiving a heavenly message in very earthy circumstances, with very earthly concerns. We see her, not fully understanding, but obeying.

Yet, the two passages could not be more inextricably linked. The exaltation Mary receives from God as Queen of Heaven flows directly from that moment when, for all time, she expresses her obedience to God, defining herself as His handmaiden.

In fact, we actually can sometimes sense of seed of future glory when we submit ourselves fully in obedience to God. We sense that it is right; that this is what we were made for; that we are giving Him permission to do something amazing and unexpected with us, both for our own lives and for others.

On this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we recall how in her queenship, Mary had the power to pay a visit here on earth to the humble native peasant St. Juan Diego, in Mexico. And how she has come very powerfully to the aid of the Mexican people great and small for hundreds of years, bringing them over and over again to the grace of her Son.

When we abandon ourselves in the simplest way to trust in Divine Providence and obedience to God, we proportionately acquire the same power for good for souls that Mary has–even if we do not sense it during this pilgrimage in exile in a broken world.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Tell Mary that you would like to be part of her team, in bringing the world back to her Son. Ask her for the faith to understand that the simplest faithful living of your vocation, in self-sacrificing love for others, will work this miracle–not because if your own power, but because of Jesus’ acceptance of your gift as a catalyst for His infinite grace to extend farther. Ask her to protect your “membership” on her team, and to help you to grow in holiness for the sake of others.

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November 30, 2020November 13, 2020

Just Follow

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

Todays readings on the feast of St. Andrew remind us beautifully of the simplicity of the Christian life. St. Paul: Just believe in Christ, follow Him, and you will be good! Nothing to worry about!

And that’s just what St. Andrew does in today’s Gospel passage. He very simply leaves behind everything he is working on and follows Jesus when called.

We could suspect Andrew of fickleness. Something appeals to him, and he leaves aside his responsibilities and follows that something, like a dog suddenly jumping up and following a squirrel.

But it was not this way at all, neither for Andrew, nor for the other disciples. They were enough in touch with their hearts, with their own desires, to know that this Man passing was it–He was their chance at happiness. Something about His presence, His bearing, His call clued them in to this. And they weren’t so bedazzled by professional possibilities or buried in anxieties not to pick up on these signals.

We can be critical of Protestants for “overemphasizing” faith as if the embodiment of it in our lives, in our actions, doesn’t matter at all. But in the case, at least, of many of our separated brethren, this is a caricature. Many have a very strong conscience, and an awareness of the importance of virtue and sin.

In fact, without ever downplaying emphasis on our responsibility in showing our faith through works, we can learn something from the appeal St. Paul’s simple message today to Protestants, and Andrew’s actions. In the end, it’s all about following Jesus. Yes, there are lots of nuances. We need to avoid sin, for which opportunities are manifold and complex! But Jesus is simple. And if we are having trouble figuring out how to follow Him on a given day, all we need to do is ask–and He will not fail to ensure that we stay on His path.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: What a marvelous thing, that as we follow Jesus, if we want to avoid error and avoid straying, all we need to do is ask Him. He is happy to be the chief protagonist of the relationship. He doesn’t expect us to figure it out for ourselves. Talk with Jesus, and tell Him that you trust Him–ask Him to draw you closer and closer to Him as you strive to follow Him as wholeheartedly as Andrew did.

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