I am reading various books during this time of isolation.  One of them is Day by Day with the Catechism by Peter A. Giersch.  At the time of writing this post, the reflection for the day included these words which have remained with me: 

“We rise from the dead with Christ… If he rises, we rise.” (p. 78)

The simplest words are often the best aren’t they?  They can make the most difference.

What does this mean?

First of all I reflected on the importance of words and especially the Word of God.  Words have power – great power.  I do not think we truly understand how powerful and wonderful spoken and written words can be.  Words can pull us down or lift us up.  For example, I know someone who expressed their sorrow and struggle about coping in this time of pandemic.  Another person who thought differently asked why they should be feeling this way.  Perhaps this was well-meant, but the suffering person was, in essence, not really supported or comforted by being shut down so quickly. 

Another phrase which is staying with me throughout this time is “if one person suffers, we all suffer”.  It does not mean that if we are truly joyful that we should be dragged down into another person’s desolation, but we must treat others with tenderness and heed their cry for help. That person is our brother or our sister in Christ.  We must help them and choose our words carefully to uplift them. If one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer.  The body should not say to its sore arm: “don’t feel that way” or “get over it”, but the whole body instead needs to understand, rest, comfort, and support the arm by giving it time to recover.

Secondly, the phrase above means that because Christ has risen from the dead so shall we if we believe in Him and follow Him.  As Christ ascended into Heaven to prepare a place for us, so shall we.  Death, sorrow, pain, plague, and pestilence cannot conquer Christ.  Therefore it follows that as “little Christs” this also applies to us.  Do you see how words can give us hope?

You can be assured that you can find comfort in words.  I find it in Scripture, sacred books, the stories of the saints, the beautiful and passionate writings of the mystics, and in many other resources which fill my mind with faith and light.  I urge you to do the same during this time of pandemic and at any time when you are suffering under the weight of a cross, especially if you are alone, single, or feel abandoned by people and the world around you.  There is hope.  It is fundamentally found in the Words of Christ in Scripture and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  This is the foundation and template for our life.  You cannot consistently find it in people or the world because these things change and will fade away, so always turn to God’s eternal Word.  The Holy Spirit’s Words can enliven us when we least expect it.  He will never forsake you, for He is love.  Always.

Over the last few months we have been exposed to a lot of upheaval, sadness, death, and continuously gloomy news in the world.  There have been some wonderful miracles and positive stories too if we take the time to look for them.  While we want to remain informed as intelligent people and citizens, we need to evaluate what we are focusing on.  Do we make time to switch off and turn to holy words, conversation, and reading?  None of us would want to eat dirt and dust for our sustenance, so why do we often find ourselves filling our minds with shallow things?  We need to question ourselves about what we are feeding our minds.  How are you nourishing your mind these days? 

Spend at least one day, one hour, or even ten minutes observing what you are doing with your time and what you are putting into your mind.  If it leaves you feeling down, change your behaviour and do something else.  Spend the next day, hour, or ten minutes dwelling in the Word of God, a book about a particular saint, or memorising a favourite Bible quote.

If you prefer to absorb information visually or by listening, you can find positive Catholic podcasts, audiobooks, Scripture YouTube videos, soothing Catholic meditations, or read uplifting short Bible quotes and committing them to memory.  If you prefer the Word to be delivered through music, find what speaks to your soul.  Your mind and life will change slowly over time, but you must be persistent and consistent.  Even if you only have five minutes a day, spend that five minutes connecting with eternity.

Like a best friend, a sacred book is always by your side.  God speaks through words – His direct Word in Scripture and through the written words of others.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1).  Powerfully uplifting words can then manifest as powerful action in your life if you hold onto them.  You will encounter negative words, but you can then counter them with the words of Scripture.  When Our Lord was in the desert for forty days the devil tempted Him several times, but read and notice what Jesus did (Matthew 4:1-11 – bold emphasis is mine):

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Can you see what is happening here?  Satan repeatedly tries to tempt Jesus by his false words, but Jesus rebukes him every time by quoting the Words of Scripture: he repeats “it is written”.  He rebuts Satan with the power of the sacred Word.  When we do the same, the devil will flee from us too.

Every time a negative thought, temptation, evil suggestion, or base idea enters your mind, find a Scripture quote to challenge it.  Find positive Words – the Word of God’s Truth – to rebut and reject the devil.  If you cannot remember Scripture quotes keep a Bible close at hand or memorise one powerful phrase that you can repeat slowly until the negative thoughts disappear.  Repeating the Holy Name of Jesus is also effective, or a “Hail Mary” or “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph”. 

Please persist in wiping the dirt away from your mind.  You are worth it and time is precious.  In this year of clearer vision – 2020 – let us focus only and above all on the Lord.

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