Spiritual Effort | Reflection
It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a mans progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken. – St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier is making two distinct points that counter the lies of the enemy namely, our pride, and the lies of the world, which could fall into the camp of avarice.
1. Imagine if you will, you car has broken down, and you need to physically push it to the side of the road. You put your hands on the bumper or back door and begin to push. It seems impossible at first, while every ounce of effort you have is spent, your breathing intensifies, and you begin to sweat. But eventually, the car begins to move, and in fact, as soon as it starts rolling it almost rolls on its own. However, now imagine someone is in the front seat with their foot on the break. No matter how hard you push, or how much effort you expend, that car will not move. Your effort means nothing if God has his foot on the break of your life. And why would he be thwarting you? Because he is in the drivers seat and can see what you can’t. He is also steering the car. If your attempts are seemingly in vain, as if you are against an immovable object, it may be because you’re not heading in the direction you should be. Or even more simple, he may be protecting you from harm.
2. Some think that they must do Grand gestures and movements in order to progress spiritually. A certain number of prayers or intense penance and mortification. On the other hand, there are those who seek no progress at all, happy to be stagnant in their routine. Both of these options are fed by the person and their idea of what they need rather than surrender to the Divine will.
Whether it’s pushing the car, or daily spiritual routine, no matter how big or small, none of it matters much if it isn’t rooter in the Divine Will. What is the spirit of faith in which you undertake these tasks? Are you seeking God first? Or your own understanding?
Find the written reflection, and quote used for todays show on @DoThe_HarderThing Instagram.
Disclaimer: Not all views expressed in this show by the host or any of the guests, past or future, represent Catholic Spiritual Direction or anyone associated with Catholic Spiritual Direction.
The purpose of the show is to facilitate an engaging and thoughtful conversation with the desire and goal of deepening all aspects and understanding of the Catholic Faith. This requires asking hard questions, engaging in conversations that may be uncomfortable, intellectual honesty, and above all, full allegiance and surrender to Christ and His Church. Thank you for listening.
