We Are Made For Greatness

30 Mar

“The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort.  You were made for greatness.”  ~ Pope Benedict XVI

A definition of “heaven” just may be a place where doing great things comes easily and naturally, where there is no stress, strain, or worry.  Yep.  Wouldn’t that be great?!  However, for us, that is not the way to achieve greatness in anything.  Greatness means hard work, dedication, practice, determination, sacrifice and a whole host of other words that we would rather not reflect upon.

We always look for the simple way and for the easy way out.  It is generally not that easy to find.  Becoming spiritually perfect takes a lot of time and determination because, while we are working for the things of heaven, we are up against the powers of the world.  If the world would be immersed in the Kingdom of God, it would be a piece of cake.  However, the world is immersed in sin.  It beckons to a baser nature in each of us.  It doesn’t care about spirituality or God.  It cares more about sensuality and self.

That makes our Lenten journey difficult.  It makes the Lenten journey painful.  It makes the Lenten journey feel as if it goes on forever.  But, our Lenten journey is worth every sacrifice that we have to make.  It is worth every difficulty we encounter.  Why?  Quite simply, because God is worth it.

If we purchase a highly-designed sports car and use it for short trips at 25 miles an hour, we have wasted our money and we actually put too much strain upon a car that wants to be unleashed.  Just so, if we accept the comfort of the world, we are a sports car that is being wasted.  We were made for the Kingdom of God.  Getting there involves suffering and sacrifice.  Getting there involves dedication and struggle.  Getting there involves rejecting the values of the world.  That’s okay.  We were made for that.

Don’t settle and go for the world.  Instead, go for greatness.  Go for the Kingdom.

FAITH ACTION:  Strive not to be comfortable in your Lenten practice.  Strive, rather, to push yourself to performing good deeds.  For the times you may have slipped, consider going to confession this afternoon.