Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” (Lk 9:23-25).
I recently read a commentary on this passage by St. John of the Cross, that great Carmelite mystic who lived in sixteenth century Spain. Specifically about this passage he said, “A genuine spirit seeks rather the distasteful in God than the delectable, leans more toward suffering than toward consolation, more toward going without everything for God than toward possession, and toward dryness and affliction than toward sweet consolation. It knows that this is the significance of following Christ and denying self, that the other method is perhaps the seeking of self in God – something entirely contrary to love. Seeking oneself in God is the same as looking for the caresses and consolations of God. Seeking God in oneself entails not only the desire to do without these consolations for God’s sake, but also the inclination to choose for the love of Christ all that is most distasteful whether in God or in the world; and this is what loving God means.”
Perhaps this can be the focus of our Lenten meditations, seeking God in self rather than self in God. How often I have to catch myself when praying in chapel when the focus is on me and my interests verses God and His interests. Oh the value of meditating on the passion of Christ!
Recently someone I know quite well said, “Father, I am going to go through my closets and donate everything I do not need to CSS. You should tell others to do the same.” She continued, “If everyone did that – just think of the donations you will receive!”
Items donated to Catholic Social Services are either given to those who need them, or sold at one of our four thrift stores in the diocese and the proceeds used to fund emergency services or grants for counseling for those who are un-insured or under-insured.
Whether it is a graduate of St. Gianna’s who is able to move in a house, or a homeless person or family that is moving into an apartment or home or a newly resettled refugee family, CSS has been able to give furniture and appliances, household items and other essentials to those in need to make their new house or apartment a home.
Whether it is food, clothing, furniture, appliances, kitchen or housewares items or even a car, a good Lenten exercise is to consider donating any items in your apartment, home or farm not needed. With these donations we will be able to help more individuals and families that come to us in crisis. In doing so, you will be heeding the advice of St. John of the Cross by finding God in self, rather than self in God. St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
