Monday, January 5, 2015

Imagine

Before Advent, I began looking (here) into our calls to be heroes of the faith in our everyday lives. 

Little you and little me: heroes of the faith.

Imagine.

Throughout history, there have been those who actually could imagine such possibilities. St. Therese, the little flower who practiced a very little way, wrote "already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul!"

This thought helps my soul too, as does the realization that Therese was not always a great saint. From most accounts, she was a willful little girl given to occasional tantrums.  But of course, that was in her youth. What about those of us who carried our willfulness and rebellion all the way into adulthood? Is there any hope for us?

There was hope for a man named Augustine, even as he was pleading "Lord, make me chaste - but not yet!" Anyone who heard him say these words would be unlikely to think "now, that is a saint." 

But there was hope. There is always hope.

"To him who still remains in this world, no repentance is too late. The approach to God's mercy is open." (St.Cyprian)

"In the moment of temptation think of the Love that awaits you in heaven: foster the virtue of hope." (St. Josemaria Escriva)

We are all called to be with God in heaven, for all eternity. We are invited to begin (or to begin anew), answering that call at this very moment. We were created to be more than just nice people, more than folks who are fun to be around.

We are called and graced by God to become true heroes of the faith.

Little you and little me.

Imagine.

Painting at top: Winslow Homer
Painting at bottom: Edmund Blair Leighton (detail)




12 comments:

  1. I love this Nancy!!! Gives hope in our struggles. The little way...the way of Gospel living is the way of humility, the way of love. Thank you for your beauty here once again!!!

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  2. What does it matter if you have the whole world against you, with all its power? You... keep going!

    St JoseMaria also said: Repeat the words of the psalm: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom need I fear? Si consistant adversum me castra, non timebit cor meum. — Though an army pitched camp against me, my heart shall not be afraid'.

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  3. Nancy,

    Your blog is new to me, however, your wisdom is like words shared between life-long friends.

    Thank you for creating such a wonderful place to visit.

    Sue

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    1. Sue, I just visited your blog and - oh my heavens. THANK YOU for commenting so I/we could find you. Obviously we are on quite a similar journey. I am now looking forward eagerly to your next post.

      Thanks be to God!!!!!

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  4. I love this. And what a wonderful way to start a new year with these holy thoughts and wishes!

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  5. Nancy,

    Thank you so much for following my blog. How do I sign up to follow your blog?

    Sue

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    1. Sue, I am delighted to follow your blog, and I'm glad I can do this via Google followers. I have never had that on this blog, but did on my other (Breadbox Letters) for a time. I had such trouble with it that I finally removed it. It kept disappearing, taking everything below it on the sidebar along for the ride! I discovered this was a problem for a few other bloggers as well, but only for some. (?)

      Which isn't really answering your question, is it? One way to keep up with this blog is via e-mail. There is a "follow this blog by e-mail" gadget just below the picture of the Sacred Heart, near the top of my sidebar. I don't even know who or how many are following that way, but I know it works because I follow it myself to be sure it DOES! I follow various blogs myself via e-mail... I find it convenient for keeping up. There is also a way to follow which is apparently the same as using the google followers gadget, except that it can't be seen on the blog, but I've never been able to figure that one out. If anyone would like to clue me in about that, I'd enjoy learning ! :)

      Thank you, Sue!

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    2. And I forgot to say.....the way to follow that's like the google followers IS already on here. Somehow.!!!

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  6. Nancy,

    Thank you for the information.

    Happy Friday!

    Sue

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