Thought of the Day July 19, 2019 Dependence on God
One
day, while St. Ignatius was passing a field, a group of farmers began to deride
him and call him names. In order not to deprive them of this pastime, the saint
stopped and waited serenely until they finished. Then he blessed them and left.
They were so astonished by his conduct that from then on they told everyone he
was a saint.
What
did he do that was different?
While
traveling, three monks lost their way and had to cross through a field of
wheat, crushing quite a bit of it. Upon seeing this, the farmer yelled at them
angrily, calling them fake monks. The elder of the three exhorted the other two
not to answer him. As soon as they were near he said to the farmer: “You are
right, my son, for if we were real monks we would not have done so much damage.
But now forgive us, for the love of God, because we acknowledge our mistake.”
Amazed at such meekness, the farmer fell to his knees before the monks and
begged their pardon.
What
did he do that was different?
As we reflect on the other seven Beatitudes we realize that they
depend on the first. For without a poverty of Spirit, a total dependence upon
God, we will not be able to put the others into practice.
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