The early chapters of ‘Genesis’ as the constitutive content of the mystery of creation, outline the reality of this gift and the act of giving. It confirms that the radiance of Love is an integrating part of this same mystery.
Only Love creates Good. In the last analysis, it alone can be perceived in all its dimensions and profiles in created things, in man above all.
The original happiness of man whom God created “male and female” (Gen 1:27), the spousal meaning of the body in its original nudity, all express rooting in Love.
This coherent giving goes back to the deepest roots of the conscience and the subconscious, to the ultimate strata of subjective existence in both man and woman. It is reflected in their reciprocal ‘experience of the body’, it ‘testifies to their being rooted in Love’.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp94-5
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
Fulfilling our duties
The will of God for us is found principally in the faithful fulfilment of the commandments and the other teachings proposed to us by the Church. We find there what God wishes for us. And in their fulfilment, done with human nobility and with awareness of the constant presence of God, we find God’s love and holiness.
Love for God does not consist in sensible feelings, although Our Lord may give these too so as to help us to be more generous. It is essentially the full identification of our will with that of God. Love is repaid with love, but it must be genuine love, which is seen in specific ways in fulfilment of our duties towards God and towards others.
Our feelings may not incline us to do this and it may be an uphill struggle. “The highest perfection consists not in interior favours or in great raptures, but in the bringing of our wills so closely into conformity with the Will of God that, as soon as we realize that he wills anything, we desire it ourselves with all our might.” (St Theresa, “Book of the Foundations”, 5, 10)
True love includes all aspects of our existence, in a true unity of life. It leads us “to insert God in everything, which otherwise would be insipid without him. A pious person whose piety is not superficial strives to fulfil his duty: sincere devotion leads to work, to the willing fulfilment of the duties of each day -- even when this is hard; ...
“Professional work, human relationships of friendship and companionship, striving -- shoulder to shoulder with our fellow citizens -- to achieve the well-being and progress of society, are the natural fruits, a logical consequence, of this sap of Christ which is the life of our soul.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “In Memoriam”, EUNSA, Pamplona)
“As soon as you truly abandon yourself in the Lord, you will know how to be content with whatever happens. You will not lose your peace if your undertakings do not turn out the way you hoped, even if you have put everything into them, used all the means necessary. For they will have turned out the way God wants them to.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 860)
Let us say to Our Lord: “I want whatever you want, I want because you want, I want as you want, I want as long as you want.” (“Prayer of Pope Clement XI” in “Roman Missal”)
Our Lady who pronounced “be it done unto me according to thy word” (Lk 1:38) and put it into practice, will help us fulfil God’s Will in everything.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:358-60
• “Notre Dame de Boulogne-sur-Mer”, France. Photos of 19th Century basilica, damaged in 1941, subsequently rebuilt. Contains statue which was a popular pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages based on 7th Century miracles. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of “Boulogne-sur-Mer”. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Restoration of the chapel of Our Lady, at “Boulogne-sur-mer” by Claude Dormy, bishop of that city. — Triple Couronne, n. 53. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Re-establishment of the chapel of Our Lady, at “Boulogne-sur-mer”, by Bishop Claude Dormy. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Our Lady of Holy Cross (Jerusalem). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of the Holy Cross, Jerusalem. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
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