"........In other words, it is the law of things as they actually are that we must continually suffer from others; it is the condition of our being that we shall be the victims of others' abuse of their free wills; it belongs to our position that our desires and inclinations should be continually thwarted and that we should be at the mercy of circumstances. And it is our duty to bear that without resentment and without rebellion. To rebel; is to assert practically that such things are not our due, that they do not belong to our position. It is to refuse to recognize that we are fallen members of a fallen race. The moment we feel resentment at anything painful that happens to us through the activity of men or things, at that moment we are resentful against God's Providence.
If we expect or look for a mode of existence in which we shall not endure harshness, unkindness, misunderstanding, and injustice, we are actually rebelling against God's Providence, we are claiming a position that does not belong to us as creatures. This is to sin against humility. It is Pride."
Reverend Father Edward Lee, In the Likeness of Christ
A most timely truth for we Catholics! However the words are merciful. They say we must ENDURE the injustices of others (mostly non-Catholics!) and SUFFER continually. But the good Father doesn't say that we have to delight in the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or maintain the "happy faces" of pagan businessmen.
ReplyDeleteSORROW and ENDURANCE are within our Christian grace. But at times blithe serenity and perfect peace of soul may be a little more than we can manage. And for the men: Some occasional enjoyment of the holy battle fury may prove helpful too!
How I wish this had been explained this clearly and seriously to me years ago! I just did not realize how much Pride was at the root of it all! It has caused me to weep bitter tears of sorrow for my past behaviors. I thought I was doing the right thing, but realize how wrong I really was. Grasping this principle firmly and accepting could certainly have made life flow far more smoothly - how blind I have been!
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