Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time
My grandmother had a nine-month-old daughter pass away because of an infection, and I remember my grandmother telling me, “one of the nuns who I knew said, ‘you don’t know how lucky you are! You have your own personal saint!’ Br. Maximilian, I have never wanted to hit a nun so hard in my life, but looking back on it now, she was absolutely right! Call me crazy but I can see Mary (her daughter) right now sitting on Jesus’ lap.”
What a beautiful witness! In the alleluia verse today, we hear, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” My grandparents, at the time of my aunt Mary Joel’s death thought, “how could things get worse?” But by the support that they had and my grandfather coming up to Conception Abbey for spiritual direction, they both told me before they passed away, “we had faith in God that everything would be alright, looking on it now, it was easier with his help.” I owe my grandparents a debt of gratitude for sharing that faith to all of their children which has been passed down to their grandchildren, and now their great-grandchildren.
Things always look rough when we see obstacles come our way. Even St. Claire of Assisi knew this when her monastery was under attack. The only thing she had to do was to take Christ Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament out of the tabernacle into a monstrance and raise him high so that He may conquer and protect the Poor Claire’s. That is what we are called to do, receive Jesus and raise him high in our hearts to show people whom we are fighting for so that we may conquer the enemies of evil.
I challenge you in a special way to speak out in your own humble way to say, “I fight for Christ the King!” That can be praying for someone who we don’t particularly care for or showing someone an act of charity. Always remember that we fight for the one who gives us life on the cross.
Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources