A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
Last week we talked about Sunday as a kind of "mini-vacation" affording us the chance to re-energize and re-create ("recreation") our spiritual lives. But in re-reading those remarks, it occurred to me that many of us think of vacation not only as an escape from our daily routine, but also as a time to "let yourself go." If so, tread carefully here. It's one thing to have a few beers with your Sunday barbecue. No big deal. But take care not to plant the seeds of self-indulgence during your Sunday respite.
To be sure, weekends, especially Sunday, can provide a healthy relief from the rigors of work - emphasis on "healthy."
On the other hand, they can take a nasty turn when we focus too much on self-indulgence. Among other things, self-indulgence creates a kind of fog. It clouds our judgement. Focusing on "self," we can't quite see the Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ clearly any more. And we likely won't see that we can't see. It's an insidious process.
While "letting go" on vacation may not establish a permanent pattern of increasing self-indulgence, why expose yourself to the danger? Left to it's own devices, self-indulgence won't bring us happiness or even relief. Indeed, it can bring quite the opposite.
The anti-dote for self-indulgence is, of course, self-denial.
While we're not suggesting our Sundays (or our vacations) be an exercise in self-denial, nevertheless, we might consider how our Sunday's can be a "mini-vacation" in a good and holy sense. These thoughtful words from a good and holy priest will help us understand this in clear, even powerful terms. The writer espouses the virtue of self-denial and establishes a clear connection between self-denial and love of the Sacred Heart:
“Generations come and go, but our human nature and the Gospel of Christ remain unchanged. Nineteen centuries ago Christ laid down the essential condition for following Him, when He said: ‘If any man will follow Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.’ Self-denial, then, is the characteristic virtue of lovers of the Sacred Heart. It is not enough for them to bear the crosses of their own choice, but they must also carry those which their heavenly Father sends. There are many crosses in this world: crosses of mind and heart, crosses we find in our state of life, crosses put upon our shoulders by others, and those we made ourselves. But we know that all these crosses are just our cross, and that we must deny ourselves and take it up and bear it after Jesus.
“Self-denial is an unsavory word, and our nature abhors it. The world does not demand it of its devotees. They are allowed to travel on the broad road that leads to perdition, the road of least resistance, self-indulgence, and shameful gratification of their basest passions. Still, lovers of the world do not know what true spiritual freedom means, for they are slaves of their own perverse inclinations. And what is more pitiful and repulsive than an evil habit? Weakness follows upon weakness; sin upon sin; remorse upon remorse; and in the end often comes despair.
“How different are the followers of Christ! They tread the narrow path of self-denial, and this leads to spiritual freedom, to the wonderful liberty of the sons of God. Christ came to set us free from the bondage of sin; but His freedom is not for those who are not of good will. If we truly understand the Sacred Heart, we show it by following the path of self-denial, and by curbing our evil passions, especially our pride and sensuality. In order to belong entirely to the Sacred Heart, we must renounce everything and declare war upon our corrupt nature. Aided by God’s grace, we must daily battle with our evil inclinations, until we can give the keys of our house to Jesus living within us. Then the Sacred Heart will be really enthroned in our hearts, and we shall be able to enjoy His sweet peace and manifold other blessings.” (Fr. Thilges, S.V.D)
Self-denial may not gain many fans among those steeped in the ways of the world. Indeed, that's why the language and practice of self-indulgence inebriates so many of us. As always, our Catholic Faith provides the perfect anti-dote by informing and inspiring us in ways that lead to our eternal happiness, if not our immediate self-gratification.
We would be wise to avail ourselves of every opportunity to learn from the example of the saints and the wise words of good spiritual writers like Fr. Thilges. Maybe this Sunday will find you spending some quality time doing just that.
To be sure, weekends, especially Sunday, can provide a healthy relief from the rigors of work - emphasis on "healthy."
On the other hand, they can take a nasty turn when we focus too much on self-indulgence. Among other things, self-indulgence creates a kind of fog. It clouds our judgement. Focusing on "self," we can't quite see the Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ clearly any more. And we likely won't see that we can't see. It's an insidious process.
While "letting go" on vacation may not establish a permanent pattern of increasing self-indulgence, why expose yourself to the danger? Left to it's own devices, self-indulgence won't bring us happiness or even relief. Indeed, it can bring quite the opposite.
The anti-dote for self-indulgence is, of course, self-denial.
While we're not suggesting our Sundays (or our vacations) be an exercise in self-denial, nevertheless, we might consider how our Sunday's can be a "mini-vacation" in a good and holy sense. These thoughtful words from a good and holy priest will help us understand this in clear, even powerful terms. The writer espouses the virtue of self-denial and establishes a clear connection between self-denial and love of the Sacred Heart:
“Generations come and go, but our human nature and the Gospel of Christ remain unchanged. Nineteen centuries ago Christ laid down the essential condition for following Him, when He said: ‘If any man will follow Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.’ Self-denial, then, is the characteristic virtue of lovers of the Sacred Heart. It is not enough for them to bear the crosses of their own choice, but they must also carry those which their heavenly Father sends. There are many crosses in this world: crosses of mind and heart, crosses we find in our state of life, crosses put upon our shoulders by others, and those we made ourselves. But we know that all these crosses are just our cross, and that we must deny ourselves and take it up and bear it after Jesus.
“Self-denial is an unsavory word, and our nature abhors it. The world does not demand it of its devotees. They are allowed to travel on the broad road that leads to perdition, the road of least resistance, self-indulgence, and shameful gratification of their basest passions. Still, lovers of the world do not know what true spiritual freedom means, for they are slaves of their own perverse inclinations. And what is more pitiful and repulsive than an evil habit? Weakness follows upon weakness; sin upon sin; remorse upon remorse; and in the end often comes despair.
“How different are the followers of Christ! They tread the narrow path of self-denial, and this leads to spiritual freedom, to the wonderful liberty of the sons of God. Christ came to set us free from the bondage of sin; but His freedom is not for those who are not of good will. If we truly understand the Sacred Heart, we show it by following the path of self-denial, and by curbing our evil passions, especially our pride and sensuality. In order to belong entirely to the Sacred Heart, we must renounce everything and declare war upon our corrupt nature. Aided by God’s grace, we must daily battle with our evil inclinations, until we can give the keys of our house to Jesus living within us. Then the Sacred Heart will be really enthroned in our hearts, and we shall be able to enjoy His sweet peace and manifold other blessings.” (Fr. Thilges, S.V.D)
Self-denial may not gain many fans among those steeped in the ways of the world. Indeed, that's why the language and practice of self-indulgence inebriates so many of us. As always, our Catholic Faith provides the perfect anti-dote by informing and inspiring us in ways that lead to our eternal happiness, if not our immediate self-gratification.
We would be wise to avail ourselves of every opportunity to learn from the example of the saints and the wise words of good spiritual writers like Fr. Thilges. Maybe this Sunday will find you spending some quality time doing just that.
Happy Sunday!
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