In front of me at Mass this morning is Sister Ann. She remembered her Creator in her youth (Eccl 12:1), giving her entire life to God in her religious vocation. For fifty years she taught young women in Catholic high schools and led them to know, love, and serve God. Now retired, Sister wears a hearing aid. For her, "the sound of the mill is low" (Eccl 12:4). Beginning this spring, Sister can no longer stand up and kneel down with the congregation during Mass; she has to remain seated, for her "strong men (legs) are bent" (Eccl 12:3). Yet she never complains about her situation, and daily radiates the joy of the Lord to all she meets at Mass.
When we live the lifestyle of a disciple of Christ, we constantly work at dying to ourselves in Jesus (Lk 9:23), day by day, year by year. It becomes second nature to joyfully offer our body, life, soul, heart, mind, health, and our all to Jesus in every situation of life. "Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be revealed. While we live we are constantly being delivered to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor 4:10-11). Thus, when our bodily abilities decline in old age, we adjust to it readily, even with joy and gratitude, for it is second nature to abandon everything to Jesus. We rejoice to have even more to offer Him.
The opposite of old is not young, but new. As each year passes, instead of growing old in the Lord, grow new in Him (2 Pt 3:18).
| PRAYER: | Father, "teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart" (Ps 90:12). I give my entire life to You. |
| PROMISE: | "God will bring you to judgment." –Eccl 11:9 |
| PRAISE: | St. Vincent ministered to the poor by forming organizations of charity, constant communication and appeals to those in power, and the humble, loving spirit of a pastor of souls. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College