Not looking back

The other day Msgr. João was commenting on how we can't look back to our old life when we start anew. He gave the wonderful example of how our spiritual life when renewed is like a cat that is given the gift of having an immortal soul, therefore can think and has merits and defects which determine his eternity. This cat is certainly not like other cats. While other cats lay around all day and entertain themselves with trivial things, this cat reads books, prays and thinks about God, for whom he was created and now even more since he is capable and expected to love Him.

Yet, just like us, when we are baptized or even when we restart our spiritual lives, when all the sensible graces are gone and the spiritual dessert begins, we stop giving our all. Returning to our example of the cat, we see this cat start doing things like his old life. He starts by not reading so much and instead play with yarn. Then prayer starts to bore him as well, so he begins playing on trees. After all the legitimate things are over, he starts doing other things that before he did by instinct but not he know is wrong. We see a couple of broken vases, etc.We would say this cat is a fool, who received an inestimable gift and throws it away.

Now we are worst than this cat, because we have a much higher vocation. In a time of crisis in society and even in the Church, we are called to be greater saints than in other times. We cannot look at all that we did in the past and even our lingering defects with longing. All the times we preferred even legitimate delights over saying our daily Rosary, every time we preferred talking with friends (and what friends exist today!) over spending time with Our Eucharistic King, a show over Mass, etc. we say to God we can careless about Him and all that He gave us.
Some might jump at this and say God wants us to be happy and even have fun.We agree, but not that entertainment is the ultimate goal. Having fun is a way of resting our body from the prosaic daily life and give us courage to keep on going, but still must have an elevated purpose.

How is this achieved? Quite simply, never stop praying. Every single action should have high intentions behind it. When we are at work, we can offer this sacrifice for the sanctification of our families, when we eat so that we have energy to better serve Him and have more hunger for the Eucharist than for earthly meals. Even when we sleep! Oh My Lord! I am obligated by my body to rest now, leaving all thoughts of you behind, but I offer you my sleep, every beat of my heart so that I may serve you to the fullest for that which you called me for.Amen!

Msgr. João's homilies and formational meetings

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