Monday, April 7, 2008

The Way


"The body must be given a little less than it needs. Otherwise it will turn traitor. "


-St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way # 196



About two years ago I was given this book by Father Scott. I have been reading it a little at a time during my lunch break and each day I am confronted in one way or another. St. Josemaria tells us to give our flesh less than it needs. Why? Because we either control our appetites, or they control us. St. Josemaria gently reminds us as St. Paul does in Philippians 2:5-11:

For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. Emptied himself, made himself as of no account. 8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. 9 For which cause, God also hath exalted him and hath given him a name which is above all names: 10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: 11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

Jesus emptied himself completely. That is real love. Every day we have opportunites to empty ourselves. We have the opportunity to love. But often we miss those opportunities because we have allowed our wants to get in the way. We allow our bodies to turn traitor.

Lord, let us run the race set before us without hindrance. Give us the grace to empty ourselves in love as Jesus did.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

so i'm not making any claims here:) but do you think you could apply this comment to the end times?
--marie

David Cox said...

How so?

Anonymous said...

i was just thinking that if i was the antichrist... and i'm not! that i would make it very comfortable to follow me. i might have control over the food supply, or any number of products or services that might entice others to follow me. how hard will it be for us on that day if we have not learned how to be hungry? or tired? how hard will it be for those of us who have even convinced themselves that the greatest evil is discomfort?
-marie-

David Cox said...

Marie
Great point! I would have to say yes, learning self mastery is a way of detaching ourselves from this world. Jesus tells that we must hate our life in order to save it. I think you are definitely on to something.