I thought I’d post a bit tonight before hitting the sack. I haven’t been doing much spiritual reading lately. But I decided to check out the second reading for today’s mass and found the following verses nearby. Thought I’d share it because it helped me today directly or indirectly in my struggle.
Galatians 6:1-10
" My brothers, if someone is detected in sin, you who live by the spirit should gently set him right, each of you trying to avoid falling into temptation himself. Help carry one another’s burdens; in that way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he amounts to something, when he in fact he is nothing, he is only deceiving himself. Each man should look to his conduct; if he has reason to boast of anything, it will be because the achievement is his and not another’s. Everyone should bear his own responsibility.
“The man instructed in the word should share all he has with his instructor. make no mistake about it, no one makes a fool of God! A man will reap only what he sows. If he sows in the field of the flesh, he will reap a harvest of corruption; but if his seed-ground is the spirit; he will reap, he will reap everlasting life. Let us not grow weary of doing good; if we do not relax our efforts, in due time we shall reap our harvest. While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all men–but especially to those of the household of the faith.”
These verses resounded in me because of a few reasons(which may be different from how they strike you).
First if all, there can be pitfalls and challenges in helping each other and particularly in a group of fellow strugglers or Courageous. And the verses perhaps describe how we should be charitable to each other in this context. Perhaps.
Secondly, as the verses mention, it can also be tempting to either think that one is better than another. One might refuse another’s help thinking that he doesnt need it. Or one, who is in the position to help another, might think of himself too highly to even want to help someone who could benefit from him.
Lastly, the verses also mention bearing one’s own responsibility. I usually think of myself as a responsible guy. But often, in times of “loneliness,” I have the urge to find someone so I wouldn’t have to be lonely. Perhaps to depend on him…perhaps. Recently, I’ve been experiencing support from a number of people. But nonetheless there remains times when I feel that loneliness in spite of everything that’s been done or that others could do. So I found myself in a place where I had no other alternative than to accept that that lonely moment was God’s will. Maybe a time for growth. A time when I needed to take responsibility for myself and do the right thing…whatever that can mean…taking care of myself, turning to God, resisting temptation to sin, doing to do something for others in spite of that lonely feeling.
I was told that I shouldn’t need to continually seek consolation. That part of spiritual maturity is to do God’s will even without the consolations. (In other words, that I was seeking consolations continually is a sign of spiritual immaturity
) One friend told me this quote, “Do we seek the consolations of God or the God of all consolations?” Furthermore, one Courage chaplain said that in the beginning God helps us by giving us all these consolations in our journey. But later the consolations become less and less…we could even experience spiritual dryness as some saints do. And yet we have to take the responsibility and do God’s will. Sin no more, do works of mercy, reach out to others.
I guess that to be a real man of God, we need to bear that cross and do the right thing out of love for Him and others…even without consolations or even in loneliness. Somethings you are responsible for alone. We can help carry each others burdens but it’s still ones own responsibility.
The other verses speak for themselves. Just thought I’d post something because I havent done so in a while.
