The Catholic Woodworker

How is your Lenten journey so far?

This Lent I am reading "This Tremendous Lover" and thumbing through other spiritual readings. I hope that upon reading the wisdom and advice I found that it may prove fruitful and helpful to you this in Lent and beyond.

Everyday we are presented with opportunities to practice self-denial and resignation to God's will. If we can't handle a mild irritation, how will we be ready when God calls us to make a truly great sacrifice?  The ordinary day filled with ordinary and seemingly mundane tasks is our training; it's where real saints are made.

This begs the question: Would I recognize Jesus? 

I think it's safe to say that most of the time the answer is no, and the main reason is found in Fr. Sebastien's words above.  "Grace...is a reality that conditions our humanity to attain the purposes God has for us."  There is a great lesson here if we have eyes to see it.  

On my worst days I can fall victim to being anxious about my anxiety where I'm convinced that this cross is a barrier to God's will being realized in my life.

If instead we surrender that struggle to God, offering up our efforts in battle for the conversion of sinners and resigning the outcome to God, I think we'll find peace there.