Do you find yourself pursuing Jesus Christ, yet afraid of what he may ask you to do for the sake of the Kingdom? I know I have! With all the martyred Saints (historical and modern day), it can appear downright scary to be a follower of Jesus Christ. After all, most of us want to avoid pain. Yet, we are called to sacrifice if we are to be a true follower of Christ. So how do we do this? How do we fully surrender to Jesus and receive the peace he promises in the process?
The Apostles Were Afraid Too
If you are afraid to fully surrender to Christ you are in very good company indeed. Jesus’ Apostles were also afraid. Remember, their fear lead most of them to abandon Jesus in his time of need. Yet, these men would be used as pivotal instruments in Christ’s plan for our glorious entry into God’s Kingdom.
A quick look at the lives of the Twelve and we see that most of them suffered martyrdom for the sake of the Kingdom. Only John the beloved disciple who took Mary into his home and Judas who betrayed Jesus did not experience a martyr’s death. Our beloved Peter, who denied the Lord three times, requested that he be crucified upside down stating that he was unworthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus. Talk about a turn-around! As a matter of fact, it is well documented that multitudes of Christian martyrs throughout history have experienced martyrdom with a look of countenance and peace on their face. Something bigger than mankind is at play here.
Our Kingdom Roadmap
Throughout life we will be presented with multitudes of challenges and temptations that promise to get us off track. Today Paul talks about our need to resist temptations if we are to experience the Kingdom. Temptations abound in this world, temptations that “promise” to fill our hearts with happiness – temptations that will only steal life from us in the end. True happiness of heart can only be experienced through Jesus Christ.
Now the question points to resisting temptations. How can we resist temptations and receive true happiness and peace? I believe we must first seek the healing our hearts desire, healing that our Triune God alone can offer. As we become more whole and healed worldly temptations will fail to appear attractive. And somewhere along this journey we will find ourselves naturally seeking God’s Kingdom along with its divine offerings and requirements.
On our journey we need a Kingdom Roadmap (I have also called this a Divine Roadmap). Without such a roadmap we will easily fall into envy, rivalry, and all sorts of painful patterns that will rob us of our peace and joy. Sometimes we hurt inside and, as a result, our path becomes a bit crooked. This is ok my friends – there is value in the pain and brokenness of life.
When we sidestep a bit on our journey and fall into temptation our hearts desire to get back on the right track. In order for proper redirection to happen we must first find out where we are on our journey. Once we know where we are we can then find the path forward into healing and transformation. Knowing thyself is indeed important. Jesus Christ is our road-map. He will show us where we are and he will reveal to us the path forward into healing. Because after all, it is in him that we live.
The Women Who Stayed
During his earthly ministry Jesus mixed things up. He hung around with sinners, he dined with tax collectors, and he invited unaccompanied women to follow him. This was all done with an invitation of love. Jesus knew what mankind needed to reach the Kingdom – the ability to love and be loved in return. The people (like people today) needed comfort and nurture to heal from their wounds. Offering comfort and nurture is something women are innately good at when they are in alignment with God’s plan for humanity. (Yes, men can comfort and nurture as well; however, that is a story for another day). So it’s no surprise that women followed Jesus. They needed the healing the Jesus alone could offer, in return the people of the world could receive increased comfort and nurture through them.
While most of the male Apostles fled during Jesus’ hour of need we know that the three Mary’s, along with John the beloved disciple, were there at the foot of the Cross. Perhaps Jesus found a bit of respite in what comfort and nurture these women could offer him. Whatever was going on I can’t help but think that these women had moved beyond fear and temptations, they had already surrendered to Jesus and given themselves to him.
“We can do nothing ourselves; God must do it. To speak to Him thus is easier by nature for woman than for man because a natural desire lives in her to give herself completely to someone.” – Edith Stein
(And as a side note, Mary Magdalene was NOT the repentant whore mentioned in scripture. That was another Mary. Saint Pope Gregory the Great, in one of his homilies, pronounced her to be the prostitute in Luke’s Gospel and this has since been rebuked.)
The Way
Something big happened to the Apostles who deserted Jesus. They moved from fear into unabashed strength and power! How did this happen? Well, they didn’t do it on their own accord. And this is the whole point of today’s reflection. There is a power bigger than man at play here – it is the power of our Triune God. It is Love. Like the Apostles, we too have access to this loving power. The loving power of God will move us along our divine path into the Kingdom, much like it moved through the Apostles. On our journey we will receive the comfort, nurture, and healing we need to easily resist worldly temptations. We will begin to desire real life in Christ, a desire that can eventually lead to full surrender if nurtured.
Our Catholic faith offers abundant richness for us to experience as we journey towards full unification with Christ Jesus. While you and I may not be called to martyrdom, after all most are not, a faith-filled journey towards him is the only way to experience the countenance of heart experienced by those martyrs who died for the Kingdom.
One of my favorite prayers is the Suscipe by St. Ignatius of Loyola. This prayer has helped me to more fully surrender. Over the years I have gone from feeling resistance to some of its words to a heartfelt desire for Christ – a desire that I know Love ushered into my heart. I invite you to experience this prayer with me as well my friends
Suscipe
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
The Seven Stages of Healing
We are all at various stages of our spiritual journey towards Christ. Remember, every journey begins with a first step and where you are right now is perfect. You may experience significant internal peace and love on a regular basis, or you may be tormented by what St. Teresa of Avila calls the reptiles – the parts of ourselves that hold us back from fully loving and forgiving ourselves and others. In an attempt to help others, and myself, find the way towards Christ I have written about The Seven Stages of Healing in my blog. I invite you to explore: The Seven Stages of Healing
God bless all of you – see you next week Friday! – Carolyn
Sacred Heart of Jesus – have mercy on us.
Father God – consume us.
Holy Spirit – enter into us.
Saint Mother Mary – pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalene –pray for us.
