A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
In the newer (Novus Ordo) Church calendar, we recently said "good-bye" to the Christmas Season. Since then we've been trudging through what has been dubbed "Ordinary Time." Our readings during Mass no longer focus on Christ's birth, but shift to the words and actions He left us during what we call His "public" life or ministry. Today, though, let's recall that most of Our Lord's life was spent at Nazareth with Mary and Joseph. He lived a quiet life, the details of which - with few exceptions - remain a mystery.
Many spiritual writers have considered this so-called "hidden" life of Jesus. Just as we can contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation and learn lessons to inform and inspire us in our struggle to grow in holiness, so too we might contemplate this hidden life. Bishop John Hedley, O.S.B (1837 - 1915) left us with a brief meditation on the hidden life of Our Lord. Let's take some time on this Third Sunday of "Ordinary" Time to see what we can learn.
“For the Hidden Life itself consists in that which is the only end, the only act, the only state, for which the soul was created; that is to say, the loving worship of its God. This is essential perfection – the more or less continuous and intense exercise of the act of charity. This it is which sanctifies, and which also leads to success. This act is what occupied the Sacred Heart of Jesus all these years. … Contemplate, one by one, the characteristics of His life at Nazareth. Observe the simplicity of His view – God alone. O my Savior, give me grace to aim at God alone! Hitherto I have aimed at many things – the satisfaction of my vanity, of my flesh, of my ambition, of those about me! Hitherto my best actions have been tainted and spoilt by earthly, human, carnal and degrading motives! All this I now turn away from. Do Thou pierce my heart and penetrate it with the one grand purpose of my creation – the will to live for my God! Then observe His Holy Indifference. The Everlasting Word handles the tools of the workmen, and shapes mean material into humble articles of use! Give me, O light of my life, the grace to take up what is low as heartily as what is dignified, and what is flattering as simply as what is humbling, and to see Thee beneath it all, and Thee alone! Last, His continuous and intense elevation of the Heart. Oh! Foolish and mistaken this heart of mine! I fatigue my brain, my fancy, my tongue, my limbs – and all the time, one thing is really necessary – to worship, to love, to offer up, to accept, to beg forgiveness! My Jesus, give me Thy Spirit! O Jesus of Nazareth, obscure, silent, and suffering, I detest all that is contrary to that Spirit of Thine. I detest unnecessary talk, which empties my spirit! I detest that coveting, that clinging, that having and holding, which binds me down to the earth! I detest the vanity of esteem and success! I long and pray that my life may be hidden with Thee in God!”
If we keep Sunday as the Lord's Day and a day of rest, we can find some time to right a "foolish and mistaken heart." Rather than "fatigue my brain, my fancy, my tongue, my limbs," we might finally understand that "one thing is really necessary - to worship, to love, to offer up, to accept, to beg forgiveness!"
This week, as we return to our daily labors, we can bring this understanding with us. As we put our shoulders to the plow and get on with the work that occupies so much of our time, we can beg for the grace to unite ourselves to Our Lord in His Hidden Life. Whatever our work, we can work beside Him as He "shapes mean material into humble articles of use." Perhaps our own work will prove useful as well.
Happy Sunday!
Many spiritual writers have considered this so-called "hidden" life of Jesus. Just as we can contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation and learn lessons to inform and inspire us in our struggle to grow in holiness, so too we might contemplate this hidden life. Bishop John Hedley, O.S.B (1837 - 1915) left us with a brief meditation on the hidden life of Our Lord. Let's take some time on this Third Sunday of "Ordinary" Time to see what we can learn.
“For the Hidden Life itself consists in that which is the only end, the only act, the only state, for which the soul was created; that is to say, the loving worship of its God. This is essential perfection – the more or less continuous and intense exercise of the act of charity. This it is which sanctifies, and which also leads to success. This act is what occupied the Sacred Heart of Jesus all these years. … Contemplate, one by one, the characteristics of His life at Nazareth. Observe the simplicity of His view – God alone. O my Savior, give me grace to aim at God alone! Hitherto I have aimed at many things – the satisfaction of my vanity, of my flesh, of my ambition, of those about me! Hitherto my best actions have been tainted and spoilt by earthly, human, carnal and degrading motives! All this I now turn away from. Do Thou pierce my heart and penetrate it with the one grand purpose of my creation – the will to live for my God! Then observe His Holy Indifference. The Everlasting Word handles the tools of the workmen, and shapes mean material into humble articles of use! Give me, O light of my life, the grace to take up what is low as heartily as what is dignified, and what is flattering as simply as what is humbling, and to see Thee beneath it all, and Thee alone! Last, His continuous and intense elevation of the Heart. Oh! Foolish and mistaken this heart of mine! I fatigue my brain, my fancy, my tongue, my limbs – and all the time, one thing is really necessary – to worship, to love, to offer up, to accept, to beg forgiveness! My Jesus, give me Thy Spirit! O Jesus of Nazareth, obscure, silent, and suffering, I detest all that is contrary to that Spirit of Thine. I detest unnecessary talk, which empties my spirit! I detest that coveting, that clinging, that having and holding, which binds me down to the earth! I detest the vanity of esteem and success! I long and pray that my life may be hidden with Thee in God!”
If we keep Sunday as the Lord's Day and a day of rest, we can find some time to right a "foolish and mistaken heart." Rather than "fatigue my brain, my fancy, my tongue, my limbs," we might finally understand that "one thing is really necessary - to worship, to love, to offer up, to accept, to beg forgiveness!"
This week, as we return to our daily labors, we can bring this understanding with us. As we put our shoulders to the plow and get on with the work that occupies so much of our time, we can beg for the grace to unite ourselves to Our Lord in His Hidden Life. Whatever our work, we can work beside Him as He "shapes mean material into humble articles of use." Perhaps our own work will prove useful as well.
Happy Sunday!
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