04 March 2008

The Little Things

A want of zeal in small matters is the cause of all our calamities; and because slight errors escape fitting correction, greater ones creep in. As in the body, a neglect of wounds generates fever, mortification, and death; so in the soul, slight evils overlooked open the door to graver ones. It is accounted a trivial fault that one man should neglect fasting; that another, who is established in the pure faith, dissembling on account of circumstances, should surrender his bold profession of it, neither is this anything great or dreadful; that a third should be irritated, and threaten to depart from the true faith, is excused on the plea of passion and resentment.

~St. John Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians

It's not just big sins that bring us down, little ones slowly eat away at our souls. Like neglecting an illness, the spirit gets sicker and sicker.

So, how are we healed? How are we delivered? Our recovery is also a gradual process. We don't need to make BIG sacrifices to be holy. St. Therese of Lisieux (Ta-rez of Lee-zyoo) wanted to be a martyr and do great things for God, but when she couldn't she discovered the "Little Way'. By making small sacrifices and little act for Christ she became a kind of martyr.

Of course, we also have the Church, which is a spiritual hospital where we are healed through the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist. We also have each other for fellowship, intercession, help and encouragement.

Prayer O Lord, You will increase Your gifts more and more in me, so that set free from all concuiscence my soul may follow me to you. ~ St. Augustine

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