A 12th Sunday after Pentecost Thought About Our "Nothingness"

 It's the 12th Sunday after Pentecost - and the last Sunday, no, the last day of August. That's it. Poof! What was something will become nothing.

And there's our lead in to our "nothingness" - which will lead into some helpful advice from a trusted source. We'll get to that in a moment.

But first, a few thoughts about this past month. The fact that it's past should tell us something. Here's one such something.

We'll soon be past. All of us. Just as August, indeed the summer itself, has come and gone might ring a bell for us Catholics. We too come and go.

Now, there should be nothing sad or scary about this. Of course, those feelings may be triggered for some - maybe all - of us. We struggle with the truth we know: that this life on earth is a passing thing. That this world in which we live is a kind of way station. That our life will never really end. 

Opposed to this is the somewhat daunting fact that, in fact, life as we know it will cease at some point. And that point may be closer than we think.

When August began all those 31 days ago, did the thought that it would pass in a heartbeat happen to occur to you? Likely not. And why should it. Days in this world march on, but they don't just jump from, for example, August 1st to August 31st. It only feels that way sometimes when month end arrives - just as it can feel that way when a year passes or, as we get older, we look back and think "Where did the time go?'

Then there's the whole thing about dying and death itself. Even if we've witnessed someone dying, witnessed the death of a loved one, we don't really know what it'll be like for us. And if we remain stuck in this world, if our way of thinking and behaving remains purely natural, that could be quite a stumbling block for us. We're supposed to be thinking of - even yearning for in a sense - death. It's our door to eternal life, isn't it?

So what to do now? It's what we should always do: Think and act in a "supernatural" way. Think and act not as we typically see and understand things, but as God does. He's the Father of our supernatural life. He's the Savior Who opened the Gates of Heaven so that our eternal life might be one of unending, unimaginable happiness and peace. He's the Spirit that will guide us with the Light to allow all this to sink in and become part of our daily thoughts, words and actions.

With this in mind, let's start a ground zero. Let's begin where we began this post - with our own nothingness. And let's let our trusted source help to lift us up and find a way to know and, to live, with the supernatural as the foundation of all we think, say and do. 

 

    “Bury yourself profoundly in the abyss of your nothingness. Try to realize the full extent of your unsightliness in the eyes of the infinitely pure God, then lifting up your heart with the confidence and temerity of a little child, say: ‘Jesus! I am only a child in the spiritual life, but I want to love You as the great saints have loved You. By the strength of my love, I long to occupy a place one day among the greatest of saints in Paradise. I will repeat this prayer unceasingly to You, I will attach myself to it so obstinately and cling to it with so audacious a confidence, that I will force You to work prodigies in me.’ We shall see in eternity who is the stronger: Jesus, the all-powerful, or His wretched little creature! ‘If after all, You do not sanctify me, it will be said in heaven that a simple and trustful soul has been disappointed in its hopes. No, Jesus! You would not bear such confusion as this before Your angels and saints!’     Entrench yourself on these heights of confidence. Ask Jesus constantly to maintain in your soul the desire for holiness; ask Him to take from you all trust in yourself; then, let the worldly-wise say what they will or be shocked by this childlike boldness. But remember this: heaven and earth shall perish, rather than the word of Your beloved Jesus should cease to be effective. ‘Amen, Amen, I say to you: if you ask the Father anything in My Name, He will give it you.’ (Jn. 15:13)
    Saturate the whole work of your perfection with these sentiments of absolute confidence in God, and entire diffidence in self. And above all, in your spiritual life, act rather from love than fear. Love dilates the heart and stimulates energy; fear narrows and paralyses the heart. Love engenders confidence and peace; fear begets trouble and agitation. If your eyes are constantly fixed on self and its miseries, fear will invade your heart; if you turn them on Jesus, Who is ever good and powerful, love will take possession of it. Allow yourself to be drawn by Jesus; do not permit fear or distrust to trouble your soul. Stifle at once all disquieting thoughts, all depressing ideas, and every sentiment of sadness or discouragement. These things are the fruits of the forbidden tree. ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ (Jn. I. 4:18)” (Fr. Joseph Schryvers, C.SS.R.)

 

Happy 12th Sunday after Pentecost!