Day 96. The Reward: The Four Treasures Revisited
Certainty of death, small chance of success... well, what’re we waiting for?
Gimli, Return of the King :
Lord of the Rings
“What’s in this for me?” Having heard about the Cost of sacrifice and considered the Roads by which you may follow Christ – all very steep and demanding – you might find yourself wondering about the Reward. You need not feel guilty for this seemingly selfish concern. St. Peter put the same question to Jesus. “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” (Mt. 19:27) Aware that he had left behind his family, his business and his community, Peter turned to the Master to ask what would be his compensation. I can picture the other disciples cringing. Peter, you recall, often managed to wedge the sole of his sandal against the roof of his mouth. More than once, the Lord roundly rebuked him for saying something foolish.
That’s why Jesus’ response is such a surprise. No anger or correction. When Peter asks if he can expect a reward, the Lord is quick to answer in the affirmative: “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” (Mk.. 28, 29)
Notice that the first promise of reward is directed specifically to the disciples – to be seated on thrones judging the tribes of Israel. The second promise, however, is more general – directed toward everyone who makes costly sacrifices for “the sake of my name.” The promise is expanded in a similar passage from Luke to say that the hundredfold reward will be given in this life along with the promise of eternal life (Lk. 18:30). Finally, in Mark, the Lord also warns that these gifts will come with persecutions besides (Mk. 10:30).
Jesus promises rewards for our sacrifice both in this world and in the next. Today, we’ll consider the earthly rewards of a celibate vocation. Tomorrow, we’ll see them from the perspective of heaven. As we’ve already learned, God is never outdone in generosity. There is no precious gift given for which he is sparing or stingy in his response.
To those who surrender their freedom to God, whether by a vow of obedience or a promise of fidelity to a bishop, the Lord gives the gift of freedom in return. As we have already seen, true freedom is the power to choose goodness and to become fully the person God made you to be. One who embraces a life of obedience experiences increasing freedom for self giving and a corresponding freedom from fear. “Obedience, far from lessening the dignity of the human person, by extending the freedom of the sons of God, leads it to maturity.”
As we learned in the Allegory of the Three-Legged Table, there is no greater poverty than not knowing who you are. Submission of your will to God and his appointed human authorities leads you to a deeper understanding of your identity as a daughter or son – even if the human authority you find yourself under isn’t the most competent. As you come to understand that God is your Father (be patient, it takes time), you experience that growing lack of self-concern we’ve come to know by the name detachment.
So many of us labor under the dark cloud of fear – Will I succeed in life? Will I always have enough to eat? Will I find love? Will I be happy? The truly obedient disciple is free from fear because he knows deeply the loving provision that meets these needs. “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” For those who choose to radically “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” they learn from direct, personal experience that “all these things will be given you besides.” (Mt. 6:32f)
The sacrifice of possessions through simplicity of living is also a gift which moves God’s generous heart. He gives the poor a liberating joy. Did you ever notice that even in the natural world, it is the poor and not the rich who laugh the most? Go to the upper west side of Manhattan and you’ll see many sad faces. Go to the slums of Puerto Rico and there is music and dancing. What is true on a natural level is more so when we turn to the spiritual plane. In a spiritually healthy religious community, where poverty is visibly and faithfully lived, you will almost always hear laughter. Similarly, a priest who lives a prayerful, simple lifestyle is usually a cheerful and a pleasant companion.
The self-gift of celibacy prompts from God the richest of his rewards. In our spousal “yes” we become joined to Christ. The Lord himself becomes our reward. If you recall the Temple of Relationships, you remember that in marriage, the spouse has a certain priestly roll, alongside Jesus the High Priest, in the heart of his or her partner – before the curtain in the inner sanctuary. When the celibate woman or man takes Jesus as spouse, we said that the glory of the Lord fills the temple. Jesus fills the heart of the celibate person with a satisfying joy and peace. We did not mention, however, that the Lord also permits the celibate deepest access to his own body – within the veil of his Sacred Heart.
In contemplative prayer we receive the grace to encounter Christ in this life as he truly is. So much of our human interaction with God is mediated – put through some kind of filter or translation so that we “get it.” In the gift of contemplation, also called infused prayer, God touches our souls with his love directly. Contemplation is not the exclusive domain of celibates – many married and single people over the centuries have also received this great gift. Yet the celibate heart experiences a greater availability for this kind of prayer. In the ecstatic union of hearts – human and divine – there is a fire enkindled that is more passionate and enduring than any merely human love.
Yes, it is You, Jesus! You have become my delight. I look to you and grow radiant in love. I am transfixed by your beauty, filled with wonder as I consider your works. You calm my soul and guide my step! What a gift you are, my dearest Savior. In you my heart has found its home. Never again will I wander restless and alone. Though trials will come, I will cling to you, my Lord. In you I find all that I am and all that I need.
The love shared between Jesus and the celibate heart overflows. It cannot be contained if it is authentic. Others experience it, find themselves touched by it, and sometimes drawn up and embraced in it. The celibate heart participates in the all-loving heart of Christ. “For God so loved the world…” As God has loved the world, so also the celibate does. Universally, ardently – not for selfish motives, but for the genuine good and salvation of all. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life so that a friend may know Christ. The sacrifice of my marital union opens the way for union with Jesus. The sacrifice of family brings the reward of a universal love for the whole human family and in particular for my family, the Church. These are the promised hundredfold “brothers…sisters…father…mother…children (and) lands.”
I don’t want to paint a rosy picture. This sacrificial way of following Christ is hard. Every Christian vocation, lived with integrity, is a tough journey. There may be days when you are tempted to ask, “Have I made some terrible mistake?” Yet for those who have the courage to persevere; to choose at every stage of their vocational journey (which is really the path of conversion), to simply take the next step, the rewards are remarkable. Still, they are also not easily seen at certain points along the way.
These four treasures we sacrifice for Jesus – freedom, possessions, sex and time – prompt an abundant response. We’ve taken some measure of the Lord’s rewards for three of these today. We have one more to go. When we give the Lord the treasure of our time, he gives us the great treasure of eternity. This reward we’ll consider more closely tomorrow.
Novena Prayer
Jesus says: Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
Pier Giorgio responds: We who by the grace of God are Catholics must steel ourselves for the battle we shall certainly have to fight to fulfill our program and to give our country, in the not too distant future, happier days and a morally healthy society. But to achieve this we need constant prayer to obtain from God that grace without which all our powers are useless.
Let us Pray: Blessed Pier Giorgio, show me how to bear all wrongs patiently. Help me to accept the sufferings which others inflict on me because of my desire to be faithful to Jesus.
Blessed Pier Giorgio, I ask for your intercession in obtaining from God, Who protects the innocent, all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I confidently turn to you for help in my present need:
(in your own words, ask for the Lord to grant you the grace of a priestly vocation. Also, pray for priestly vocations to increase in the Church).
A Book of Prayers in Honor of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, by Rev. Timothy E. Deeter
Make it My Own
Daily Discernment Workbook
THIS IS MY HOUR
1. My Hour: An Overview of the Spiritual Life Continued…
Our Survey of the Spiritual Life continues to the second phase which is “E.”
Spiritual Life Survey Phase: “E”
PROCESS: Experience. In “E” the Process is Experience. God responds to our Decision to follow him by allowing us to experience his love deeply and personally. He works with each of us according to our nature and his wisdom. In other words, Experience will be felt differently for each disciple. Some will have powerful, emotional experiences. Others will feel quiet, steady growth and insight. Whatever kind of experience we receive, the purpose is to transform us from sleep-walkers in the life of faith to runners in the race.
RESULT: Energized. The direct Experience of God’s love Energizes us and brings new life to our spiritual journey. We become more aware of the Holy Spirit working in our daily lives. We want to understand the Bible better as scripture starts to come alive. In short, we start living the kind of Christian life we always felt like we ought to be living; that somehow we couldn’t get ourselves to do. What was once so hard is now relatively easy. And although we still have moments of doubt and apathy we also experience a new desire to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to stay close to God.
OBSTACLE: Extremism. The obstacle at this stage is Extremism – as we’ve already seen, the spiritual battle is very real and the Evil One will tempt us to go overboard once he realizes he can’t keep us from making a personal faith commitment to Christ. Here we learn the value of community and the wisdom of elders. There are some, no doubt, who try to take advantage of these newborn, enthusiastic followers, drawing them into cult groups or, more commonly, pressing them into a particular vocational path prematurely. But thankfully there are many more – prudent, seasoned spiritual guides – who will lead this young, excited disciple to employ her or his new energy towards personal growth, gaining freedom from serious sin and establishing a strong foundation in the life of faith. In other words, the priority here is not discernment. It is discipleship.
Reflection: In my journal, I write about a time I had an Experience of God’s love or God’s presence that made me feel Energized in my faith.
Recalling this experience, did I feel tempted to over-react and become somewhat Extreme in my newfound love for Christ? What are some examples of things I wish I hadn’t done? Or, did fear of doing too much lead me to squelch my response – to harden my heart and reject the grace God was offering me?
Night of the Sense
The “E” phase ends with the Night of Sense. This transition represents a severe trial for most beginning disciples. The more powerful the feelings associated with our Experience of God the more painful is this period of emptiness, absence and spiritual darkness. We feel abandoned and, to be honest, betrayed. We wonder if we’ve done something wrong to offend God or push him away. While this is possible, a long dry period following a time of deep Experience is to be expected.
Why does God permit this? The Night is, in fact, a very good sign that God is taking us seriously and moving us closer to himself. The darkness and dryness of this transitional time (and it feels much longer than it really is) brings us back to a more humble path. We realize how much we depend on God for even the simplest spiritual practices like prayer or faithfulness to confession and mass. We learn a lesson that is possibly the hardest of all…
Feelings Are NOT Faith. The Night of Sense teaches us that feelings of God are not the same as faith in God. In fact, feelings can become a barrier between us and God if we make the Experience of God into a false idol: the “god” of Experience. So our feelings fade and we feel as though nothing really has changed after all. We feel like we’ve returned to the tiresome chores of prayer, scripture reading and mass attendance. If we don’t give up, unknown to us, hidden faith begins to grow faster than it has ever grown before. Why? Because the slow, plodding practice of our faith suddenly becomes a vivid expression and fulfillment of its very definition as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
What was my Night of Sense like? Can I remember it? Does it feel like I’m I still in it?
What lessons do I feel I’ve learned from times of dryness and spiritual darkness in my faith journey? Remember, darkness doesn’t mean times of guilt over wrongdoing. Here it refers to the absence of faith-feelings.
SAINTS SAID IT
2. A Poem of Faith
St. John Henry Newman’s moving poem of faith serves as our closing prayer. I offer this to God entrusting my path and my discernment to him.
Lead, Kindly Light
Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Meantime, along the narrow rugged path,
Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life."
Newman, 1833
For meditation today:
“Lord, I don’t need to know my whole future.
I just ask you to help me take the next right step.”
BE PREPARED FOR THE FINAL CONSECRATION ON DAY 98
In two days the Final Consecration will require a trip to a cemetery followed by a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in a chapel. Plan on spending at least an hour and a half. Have the rite with you (on your phone or printed) and follow the directions provided. If this doesn’t work with your schedule, find a suitable time to perform this last consecration rite.
Conclude with
“Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be.
World without end, Amen.”
[0] Gimli, Return of the King: Lord of the Rings, New Line Cinema 2003
[1] Perfectae Caritatis #14