One More Sunday Thought About Lent and Waging War

We've called on Father Martial Lekeux, O.F.M. now this third time to help us in our Lenten discipline. We go into battle each day to fight a constant war against the temptation to do evil, in the midst of our striving to do good so that we can grow closer to Our Lord during this holy season. But, of course, it can frequently be discouraging when we notice how often we fail in our daily struggle.

Last Sunday, Father Lekeux shared with us his story of the man hired to do a job, only to find the next morning that the man who hired him, his master, had undone all his good work. He showed us how this worker, rather than become frustrated or discouraged, simply went about his work the next day, neither complaining nor slacking off in any way. If you haven't read the story, it may do you good to do so now.

In this final installment, Father explains why God, master of us all, sometimes allows our work to be undone. 

“You see, God, the wisest of Masters, wants good servants. When you have put in a good day’s work, He allows it to be undone, as it were; it’s almost as if you had done nothing. You may awaken some morning and discover that you have more faults than you ever realized before. It’s a sort of paternal trick He is playing on you. It’s so you won’t be without work the next day, and so that you can merit. He waits to see whether you are going to pout over it. Will you grumble and at the end of three days throw in the towel? What a lack of common sense that would be! Begin all over. That’s what God wants you to do. You’re being paid by the hour. Your good will is the wage scale. Whether there is a lot of dirt or not, whether your faults return or disappear, that is the Master’s business. As far as you’re concerned, work, and put your heart and soul in it. Do your best, and don’t worry about results. Believe me, God will be pleased. Incidentally, He’ll increase your wages too. You have more faults than others? Good. You will be able to merit more than others. You have just as many faults as ever? So much the better, if you’re struggling against them. In that event you’re sure of work for the future. Wouldn’t life be boring without our faults? How would we show our good will? In critical times, so many unemployed would be delighted to accept any kind of work, as long as they were paid for it. Your faults are your employment. You are always paid. There is never any layoff. The faults God allows are a great means of sanctification. But what is needed is the right attitude. We must understand how to use them and have the common sense to profit from them.

“Yes, I repeat, they can help us to be holier. A solider will never become seasoned by staying in a military school. It’s the attacks of the enemy and the resistance he offers that give him the opportunity to distinguish himself. Our faults keep us on the alert and require effort. They train us in patience, fidelity, and generosity. A great harvest of merits can be gleaned each day. They are the scene of action for the exercise of our good will. … Our faults keep us humble. Without humility every effort for holiness is vain. They disgust us, detach us from ourselves, teach us not to measure our progress and the extent of our sanctification so much, to lean on God more than on ourselves, and to abandon ourselves to Him in all that concerns us.”

This strikes a chord right now as an important long-term project I've worked on for over two years may be torn asunder and cast to the four winds through no fault of my own. If this happens, it would seem as if I had done nothing, as Father notes in his comments. I certainly appreciate Father Lekeux's wisdom right now, and hope these words stick in the depth of my soul if indeed my fine work falls into ashes.

But more important than my work are those faults on which I am working so hard during Lent. Suppose they keep creeping back (a good bet), trip and cause me to fall, despite my best intentions and steady efforts (an even better bet). Will I remember these words and turn to Our Lord, beg his forgiveness and place my complete trust and hope in Him? Will I thank Him for being such a good master? I pray I do. 

A blessed Lent to all!