Do you suffer from an all too common
malady? The malady or sickness of COMPLAINITUS??? The weather is too hot or too cold; these
people drive my nuts! Why do I have
this work situation, family problem, health issue???? Why? Why? Why? Woe is me!
My favorite party is the PITY PARTY! Surely on the day of the picnic,
rain will come! If only I were born in
another century, in another country and under different circumstances! The Jews complained in the desert because they
got sick and tired of their daily portion of manna! So do I find reasons to
complain about anybody, anything and any circumstance! May God grant us a true
conversion of heart!
FIGHT AGAINST NEGATIVISM! If we are disciples of Jesus then we should
fight vigorously against negativism and the infirmity already mentioned of
COMPLAINITUS!
Shakespeare expressed it forcefully, “More painful than a serpent’s tooth is that
of an ungrateful child.” A poet has
penned a concise one-liner apropos to
the topic: “I complained because I had no
shoes until I met somebody without any feet!” Jesus was amazed that after healing the ten lepers
of their terrible and incurable disease that only one of them returned to give
thanks. (Lk. 17:11-19)
Let us fight against COMPLAINITUS by
cultivating an ATITUDE OF GRATITUDE. The reasons to explode in this attitude
of gratitude are countless, but we will limit it in this short essay to five!
First, LIFE! Thank God for your life. Thank the generous
Lord for having given you human life, but even more supernatural life through
the life-giving Sacrament of Baptism.
This Sacrament infused you with supernatural life and union with God who
is LIFE in His very essence. Through
the Sacrament of Baptism you became a son of God the Father, brother to Jesus
the Lord, and intimate friend of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I praise you and thank
you!
Second, THE EUCHARIST! The word “Eucharist” from Greek actually
means “thanksgiving”. How exceedingly grateful should we be that we believe in
the “Real-Presence” of Jesus in Mass, in Holy Communion and afterward present for
us to visit in the Tabernacle. “Come to
me all of you who are weary and I will give you rest…” (Mt. 11:28-32).
Third, MERCY! “Give
thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.” In a cut-throat world where is it “Eye for eye
and tooth for tooth” where mercy is quickly evaporating from the modern scene,
we know and believe that our God is a merciful God. As the Psalmist emphasizes:
“Our God is slow to anger and rich in
mercy.” Even though we may fall, we know that the arms of the Father (The
Prodigal Son: Lk. 15:11-32) are always wide open to receive us, in a mere heartbeat,
as soon as we say, “Jesus, mercy!” As St. Paul so clearly reminds us, “Where sin abounds, the mercy of God abounds
all the more.”
Fourth, HOLY SPIRIT. Many are the sublime names for the Holy
Spirit: The Sanctifier, Counselor, Consoler, Advocate, Paraclete, Gift of
Gifts, Breath of God, Love between Father and Son, Finger of God, and finally Sweet Guest of the
soul. By maintaining the state of sanctifying grace in our souls, the Blessed
Trinity lives within us--- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, at any
time, we can enter within the depths of our soul and begin a colloquy with the
Holy Spirit. He should always be your best Friend!
Fifth, MARY OUR MOTHER. Saint Juan Diego suffered an enormous
problem: his uncle Juan Bernardino was dying.
On the way to Mexico, searching for a priest, Our Lady of Guadalupe,
stopped him and dispelled his fears and anxieties with these words: “Do
not be afraid! Am I not your mother? I have you in the crossing of my arms…” Rejoice and give thanks to God for the great
gift of Mary. Remember always but especially in moments of trial that Mary is
your mother, she has you in the crossing of her arms. She has you hidden in the
inner recesses of her most pure and Immaculate Heart. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for
His love endures forever.”
