18 April 2013 The best of our life is for God The book of “Genesis” (4:3-5) records that Abel offered to God the first fruits of his works and the finest of his cattle. God was pleased. In contrast Cain, his brother, did not offer his best harvest. Abel was ‘just’, that is, holy and pious. It is not the intrinsic quality of Abel’s offering that makes it better; but his dedication and generosity -- his intention. Thus, God looked favourably on the victims Abel sacrificed. According to an ancient Jewish tradition, God sent down fire to consume them as a sign of his acceptance. (“The Navarre Bible”, note to Heb 11:4) In our lives, too we must offer the best to God -- our time, our goods, our life. We cannot give him the worst, the surplus to our needs, what makes no real demand on us or what we don’t need. The whole of our life is for God, including its best years. When we want to make an offering to God let us use the most precious things. Man is not just a body or merely a soul. As matter and spirit, he must show his faith and love of God in visible acts. How pitiful are those who find time for everything except for God -- for talking to him in prayer or visiting the Blessed Sacrament which takes only a few minutes. Pitiful too are those who spend for so many things but are selfish when it comes to expenditure on God or on other people. Giving always dignifies and ennobles the heart of the giver. Meanness, on the other hand, becomes ingrained and leads to an envious soul, like that of Cain: he could not bear Abel’s generosity. “We should offer the Lord the sacrifice of Abel. ... a sacrifice of hearts that have one love alone -- you, my God. A sacrifice of minds that have been shaped through deep study and will surrender to your Wisdom; of childlike souls who will think only of pleasing you. “Lord, receive even now this sweet and fragrant sacrifice.” (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 43) The best of my life, work, talents, and possessions are all for you, Lord. Even of those I might have had. For you, my God, totally and unconditionally everything you have given me in life. Please teach me to deny you nothing, to offer you always the best I have. We ask God that we may learn to give him our best in all circumstances. Let us pray that there may be many sacrifices like those of Abel, the generous offerings of men and women who give themselves to God from their youth; and of hearts that at any age give what is asked of them, without haggling, without counting the cost. Let us ask Our Lady to teach us to be generous as she was with God, in big things and little things, in youth and in maturity. That we offer, as Abel did, the very best we may have at any time, and in all circumstances of our life. Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:299-300, 305 Charity unites, pride divides St Paul wrote to the Christians of Ephesus: “I beg you to lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, with forbearing for one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Cf “The Navarre Bible, Captivity Epistles”) He lists the virtues: humility, gentleness, longanimity; various manifestations of charity, the bond of unity in the Church. “The temple of the King is not ruined, or cracked or divided: the cement of the living stones is charity.” (St Augustine, “Commentary on Psalm 44”) Charity unites, pride separates. The first Christians showed their love for the Church through a charity which overcame all barriers. One of the earliest Apologists, in the second century, described the behaviour of the first Christians as follows: “they love one another, they do not despise widows and they rescue orphans from those who treat them with violence; and he who has, gives unbegrudgingly to him who has not.” (Aristides, “Apology”, XV, 5-7) However, the greatest charity was directed towards strengthening the brethren in the faith. The ‘Acts of the Martyrs’ recount in almost every page specific details of this concern for fidelity of the others. Truly “it was Love that enabled them to make their way through that corrupt pagan world”. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 172) Love for the brethren and the pagans. Let us have recourse to our Mother Mary. “May she, the Mother of love and unity, bind us closely, in order that, like the first community born from the Cenacle, we may be ‘one heart and one soul’. May she, the ‘Mother of Unity’, in whose womb the Son of God was united to humanity, inaugurating mystically the nuptial union of the Lord with all men, help us to be ‘one’ and to become instruments of unity, among Christians and among all men.” (John Paul II, “Homily”, 24 March 1980) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:352-4 • Grant of plenary indulgences, by Urban VI, to whoever visit the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. — Balingham on the Calendar. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Grant of Plenary Indulgences to whoever visit Church of Our Lady of Loretto (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Pope Urban VI grants plenary indulgence to those who visit the Church of Our Lady of Loretto (l4th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Pope Urban VI grants Plenary Indulgences to all visitors of the Church of Our Lady of Loretto / Loreto. 14th century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)