Now that we have had our time of engaging the gift of fortitude, we must become the gentle and modest models that we would like to see in others.
There is certainly nothing wrong with standing up for yourself and there is definitely nothing wrong with engaging others on matters of the faith. When we do this in a way that is not gentle and modest, we lose the ability to share the faith with any real love.
One might point to the situations in the Gospels where Jesus didn't appear particularly nice or was not "gentle" when speaking to the priests and scribes as well as demons.
That is different on two levels. On the first, Jesus is God and you are not. On the second, because Jesus is God, he can read hearts and more likely than not, the approach that Jesus was taking was probably more gentle than another human being would take if they knew the things that Jesus knew.
After all, rather than send Legion into hell, Jesus sent him into a heard of pigs.
There is a power in a saint that loves greatly and loves with a gentle strength. That engages all of the virtues in such a way that there is a subtle strength there. In many ways, this gentle strength is stronger and more intimidating than one that is "showy". This is because it is backed by a real strength. There is no need to make a show of it because it is simply there.
This engages modesty.
We have no need to show off what it is we are doing, even our call to sainthood. As you complete the challenge, if you were to then walk around with a pin, a button, or a strut proclaiming that you had "completed the sainthood challenge!" then there might be a few questions, but you might as well have painted a bulls eye on yourself.
That type of attention should be slightly intimidating.
Rather, the past forty days should call to mind just how serious this calling is and that we need to be continuously on guard for our very souls. There are certainly more than enough opportunities for temptation without us posting a giant magnet to attract them with our own immodesty.
The root of immodesty is always a certain lack of the realization of how loved we are by God. Because we lack that realization we try to make up for it by drawing attention and love for others. This immodesty many times can lead to a lack of gentleness.
Immodesty and a lack of gentleness has its root in the fact that we are not confident in a God that loves us. In a God that is calling us to holiness. In a God that is calling each of us to be saints.
Jesus repeatedly engaged sinners and asked them to tell no one who He was. Jesus repeatedly treated with gentleness the fragile souls who came to him for healing, that had been abused by the world and those that were supposed to show them compassion in the first place.
In our call to sainthood, if we forget the gentleness, than we forget that the sacrifice of love means our own egos, our own desire to be "lord of the castle" and to have others serve us. The heart of love is to serve. To serve with the gentleness of one who would "wash a traitor's feet." If at any time we forget the concept of gentleness, we need to realize that even in our best moments, we have had moments where we ourselves were the traitor. Yet Christ would wash our feet gently as well.
In our call to sainthood, if we forget the modesty, then we forget that to accept our call does not mean to make a big show of it. To advertise how great we are. We certainly are not hiding under a bushel, but our own egos can get in the way and we can forget that we are called to love and be loved by Christ. This means that for all of the "show" we would like to put on to prove to the world and God our loyalty, Christ doesn't demand a show, but a heart. As Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles, Peter made a point of asking Jesus to not wash his feet, then to wash his whole person.
Jesus doesn't want the show.
Jesus wants us to humbly, modestly, and gently answer our call to sainthood and to be confident in a Father that not only loves us, but wants us to spend and eternity with Him.
Questions for Reflection:
- How has society rejected gentleness to a certain extent? What are some less obvious ways that our society has rejected a sense of modesty?
- In your own life, have there been relationships that have been damaged by a lack of gentleness on your part?
- How have you displayed immodesty in the way that you live your faith?
- How can you more fully embrace the life of a servant the way that Jesus asks when he washes feet?
- How is Jesus calling you to more fully enter into a life of gentleness and modesty?
- Greet everyone with a smile. Especially the people that get on your nerves.
- Take the opportunity today to preach with your actions, not your words. Do not, under any circumstances do anything that would cause you to brag about your faith. Realize as you go through the day that even the good that you do is attributed to God in Heaven.
- Look for real opportunities to serve in ways that do not draw attention to yourself. Make an anonymous donation. Volunteer in a place where no one knows you. Help someone spontaneously and anonymously.
- Whenever you are confronted this week and you are given the opportunity to aggressively confront someone, make the choice to be gentle, but firm. If it appears on the surface that your gentleness has caused you to "lose" then reflect on the crucifixion.
- Take stock of the entire challenge. Take a look at two key points. Where did you start? Where are you ending? How much as improved? What do you need to continue to work on?
Pray one of the four groups of five decades of the rosary: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, Glorious
Ask for the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, who suffered intense temptations of gluttony for five years during what can only be referred to as her "dark night of the soul" whenever you feel the temptation to fill that God-shaped hole with food or other physical things.
Prayer to Saint Joseph
Glorious Saint Joseph, pattern of all who are devoted to toil, obtain for me the grace to toil in the spirit of penance, in order thereby to atone for my many sins; to toil conscientiously, putting devotion to duty before my own inclinations; to labour with thankfulness and joy, deeming it an honour to employ and to develop,
by my labour, the gifts that I have received from Almighty God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties; to work above all with a pure intention
and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone, and of my empty pride in success,
which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all in imitation of thee, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my motto in life and in death. Amen.
Act of Entrustment to Mary #3
Today we wish to entrust to you the future that awaits us,
and we ask you to be with us on our way.
We are the men and women of an extraordinary time,
exhilarating yet full of contradictions.
Humanity now has instruments of unprecedented power:
we can turn this world into a garden,
or reduce it to a pile of rubble.
We have devised the astounding capacity
to intervene in the very well-springs of life:
man can use this power for good, within the bounds of the moral law,
or he can succumb to the short-sighted pride
of a science which accepts no limits,
but tramples on the respect due to every human being.
Today as never before in the past,
humanity stands at a crossroads.
And once again, O Virgin Most Holy,
salvation lies fully and uniquely in Jesus, your Son.
Prayer to St. Dymphna
Courageous St. Dymphna, your strength was from God. His grace enabled you to resist evil, and to prefer exile to a life of sinful luxury. Christ's own power preserved you faithful to Him in life and in death. In your kindness help us to imitate your example in little things, and gain for us fortitude to bear with the misfortunes we meet, and strength to overcome our weakness. Amen.
Prayer to Christ King of the Universe
O Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the Universe. All that has been created has been made for You. Exercise upon me all Your rights. I renew my baptismal promises renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps. I promise to lead a good Christian life and to do all in my power to procure the triumph of the rights of God and Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You my poor actions in order to obtain that all hearts may acknowledge Your sacred royalty and that thus the reign of Your peace may be established throughout the universe. Amen.
