Everyday Holiness - Carolyn Humphreys

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my life and only way,

      Christ my lantern, night and day.

      Christ be my unchanging friend,

      Guide and shepherd to the end.

      ~Irish folk song

      Faith: The Eternity Connection

      What opens the eyes of the heart and the ears of the soul? It is faith. Faith opens all eyes to see the wondrous love of God. Benedict XVI wrote: “Faith is foremost a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus. . . . It is in this way that we learn to know him better, to love him, and to follow him more and more.” Church bells, sacred hymns, or a priest’s homily are among the many ways to hear the call to faith. Deep faith is a profound respect and love for the truths of Jesus and his Church. This occurs when faith moves beyond superficial devotions, a cultural label, or rote reception of the sacraments. Faith is the most beautiful gift from God, and the most demanding.

      If we are not rooted in faith, the strong winds of modern thinking will scatter us asunder. At times, it seems we are so buffeted by confusion, conflict and contradiction that we do not know what is happening. Many aspects of society hide the importance of God from humanity. There is so much activity, so many attractive new age programs, changing morals, popular movements and useless talk, noise and stimulation. What a challenge contemporary culture offers those of us who appreciate the sacred.

      People have lost the ability to sit down and be quiet. The beauty of faith gently calls individuals away from the rapid pace and negative pull of society. An overactive contemporary life is a warning to sit down and ponder the prayer attributed to Cardinal Richard Cushing of Boston (1895–1968). Stillness begets an appreciation for the wonders of faith.

      Slow me down, Lord.

      Ease the pounding of my heart

      By the quieting of my mind.

      Steady my hurried pace

      With a vision of the eternal reach of time.

      Give me, amid the confusion of the day,

      The calmness of the everlasting hills.

      Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles

      With the soothing music of the singing streams

      That live in my memory.

      Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.

      Teach me the art of taking minute vacations—

      Of slowing down to look at a flower,

      To chat with a friend, to pat a dog,

      To read a few lines from a good book. . . .

      Remind me that there is more to life

      Than increasing its speed.

      Let me look upward into the branches

      Of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong

      Because it grew slowly and well.

      Slow me down, Lord,

      And inspire me to send my roots deep

      Into the soil of life’s enduring values

      That I may grow toward the stars

      Of my greater destiny.

      Faith is a gift, always a gift. Many people do not open this gift. Their greatest poverty is not knowing God. With the help of grace from the Holy Spirit, we respond to this gift with every choice we make each day of our lives. How do our choices reflect our belief in God? How does our lifestyle resonate with the attributes of Jesus? We must live what we profess.

      To state views assertively, with forethought and grace, and to support human rights without infringing on the rights of others are sure signs of being steadfast in faith. Saying things others want to hear or being a people pleaser does not fit into the teachings of Jesus. When an individual lives the teachings of Jesus well, she receives so much more than she gives.

      Another steadfast sign of faith is to be a promise keeper. Marianne, a young wife and mother, planned to make a retreat. She promised three friends she would give them a ride to this retreat. These women were filled with joyful anticipation. However, a few days before the retreat, Marianne received an invitation to meet Mother Teresa, and it was on the same weekend as the retreat. Marianne had really wanted to meet a “living saint” ever since she was a young girl. She felt conflicted. However, she knew she had made a commitment and that a promise is a dreadful thing to break. She prayed and declined the invitation.

      In the quiet of the retreat chapel Marianne realized that there were saints all around her. Her retreat companions looked normal; there was nothing outstanding about them. However, there was an unexplained peace and joy radiating from these women. Was this intangible something sanctity? We are reminded by Anthony of Padua: “The saints are like the stars. In his providence, Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet, they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their hearts the invitation of Christ.”

      Faith is lived with an upright heart and hard work. In other words, to believe in Jesus is to do what he commands. Faith is ever watchful. We watch what we say: Is it necessary? Is it true? Is it kind? Augustine, a bishop and Doctor of the Church, advises us: “Do not rejoice in earthly reality, rejoice in Christ, rejoice in his word, rejoice in his law. . . . There will be peace and tranquility in the Christian heart, but only as long as our faith is watchful; if, however, our faith sleeps, we are in danger.”

      Pilgrim’s Progress

      God’s faithful pilgrims make the love and goodness of God visible on earth. The holiness in their lifestyle counteracts and diminishes the power of sin and evil. Belief in God is a serious, sacred trust that grows stronger as long as there is growth in holiness. Faith is the prime motivator that gives witness to God in words, action and conduct. The best response to God and his love is an increase in faith. Faith is actualized by prayer, participating in the liturgy, receiving the sacraments, living a virtuous life and serving others. Faith filled decisions and actions stir up the desire to continually seek the Triune God and abide by his word. We live our faith through the teachings of our religion, a sound and sturdy guide. Living the tenants of religion goes hand in hand with respecting others for their religion beliefs.

      I grew up in a very Protestant area. The majority of the populace belonged to a Lutheran sect that was at best wary and at worse downright bigoted when it came to Catholics. There was no parochial school attached to our little mission church so we few Catholic kids merged with our Lutheran neighbors on buses, bikes or on foot each day to make our way to the public school. Most days you couldn’t tell a Catholic from a Lutheran, but when Lent came along the distinctions became noticeable. The Catholics were recognizable by the black smudge of ashes on their foreheads. The Catholic kids generally didn’t eat candy during the week but instead hoarded it away for consumption on Sunday which didn’t count as a day of Lent. The Catholics could not eat meat on Friday during Lent and here’s where egg salad sandwiches take on significance.

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