The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” -- Pope Benedict XVI
One of things I really enjoy about strength training is that it is hard. To lift weights requires focus, trust in our bodies and perseverance to get it done. Strength training is not comfortable, and those thoughts of “why am I doing this?!” challenge me to finish. But when I’ve done it, it feels so good to have persevered through a hard challenge. In some small way, I hope this physical and mental challenge makes me stronger in other areas of my life, most importantly, in my spiritual life.
Our lives are so cushy. We like to be comfortable. I suppose that it’s normal, but I think that getting attached to the comforts of the world to such a high degree is what gets in the way of us growing into the “greatness” that Pope Benedict invites us to consider.
During Lent, I tried different ways to become less comfortable, with fasting from certain foods to forgoing conveniences and offering up aches and pains, sleepless nights and so on. I realized how much I like and seek comfort, and that challenged me to pray about it.
I also started walking with a backpack filled with weights. As you might expect, it makes a simple walk much more difficult, and I offer the discomfort for those people and causes I’m praying for. Men and women in the military use this method of training to build physical and mental strength for their highly physical jobs.
When we are so used to being comfortable in our everyday lives, will we fight and claw and kick and scream when the hard things come? Or will we give our fiat, like Our Lady did, “Let it be done to me according to thy Word.” With so much comfort, can we unite our physical, mental and spiritual hardships with Jesus on the Cross to be an example of redemptive suffering, love, peace and a joy that is not of this world?
I want to get tougher for Jesus so that when big sufferings come, whether with myself or with my loved ones, I’ve trained my body, mind and soul to be lovingly united with Jesus.
St. Teresa of Avila said, “Courage, courage, my daughters. Remember that God does not give anyone more trials than can be suffered and that his majesty is with the afflicted. For this is certain, there is no reason to fear but to hope in his mercy.”
I am blessed to take Holy Communion to a retirement center. We gather for a communion service and before we begin the service, we offer prayer intentions. I’ve noticed that the intentions are for others and rarely for themselves. The residents don’t complain about their physical ailments, and even when I ask, they really would rather spend the time praying for another than focusing on themselves.
Suffering is part of life, they tell me, and at their advanced age, they say that every day is a blessing. They have a beautiful gratitude for each other, for receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, for their families and for the beautiful memories of their lives. They are truly brave soldiers for Jesus.
St. Therese of Lisieux said, “I always want to see you behaving like a brave soldier who does not complain about his own suffering but takes his comrades’ wounds seriously and treats his own as nothing but scratches.”
May we go deep and strong in all circumstances with love and compassion for others, keeping our focus not on the comforts of the world but on uniting our sufferings with Jesus. May we accept His invitation to greatness — which is eternal life with Him.
