I find that while I want to do one thing, God wants me to do something else. For example, I love studying philosophy and my mind works well in dealing with philosophical ideas. On the other hand I’m not a natural with languages and learning a language comes very slowly for me. So my living here in Rome and studying again in the university is certainly a wonderful blessing for me, but not without a cross at the same time. This is only an example of the things we receive daily from the hands of God which are blessings, but not separated from the crosses which accompany them. Such daily crosses are typical.
We all find ourselves in similar situations in our daily lives. God puts us in situations in our daily lives in which we are tested. We find ourselves in situations in which our weaknesses are highlighted and we are challenged to deal with people and circumstances beyond (what we consider) our abilities. And these types of circumstances can become very complicated and very frustrating, even painful. This is what I mean when I say that just in fulfilling our daily duties we are doing much in the service and love of God.
All of us seeking to love God experience the ups and downs, the tears and joys, the sufferings and trials which lie on the road of life. But all these little crosses in our lives have important meanings. They come our way precisely because God loves us so much and invites us to love Him in return. St. Maximillian Kolbe once explained that those who run away from suffering do not understand what it means to love. The best thing we can do with all the little crosses in our daily lives is to accept them from the hands of God. Accept them and trust in God through every insecure or distressing situation. Use every cross to say to Jesus, “Here is my love for you.” They are ways of loving others and we should not let such profound opportunities to save souls be lost. They simply serve as requests from God for our help in saving souls.
All this can best be put in the words of our Blessed Mother when she spoke to the children of Fatima. She asked, “Do you wish to offer yourselves for the conversion of sinners?” When the children said “Yes,” our Lady told them that they should accept all their daily trials. She says the same to us.
Fr. Sullivan, M.J., is a priest with the Miles Jesu order. Miles Jesu is an Institute of Consecrated Life dedicated to promoting reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to our Lady and faithfulness to the official teachings of the Church. For information on Miles Jesu and its Seminary Program, please call 1-800-654-7945 or visit their website.
