A Bit of Genesis, a Bit of Exodus
- robertdbishoppx
- Sep 7, 2023
- 4 min read
As I prepare the last few things prior to entering into formation with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, something from the Gospel comes to mind:
Tunc Iēsus dīxit discipulis suīs: sī quis vult post mē venīre abneget sēmet ipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequatur mē.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. -Matt 16:24
We have all heard these words from our Lord. It is a Truth that has echoed throughout Christian history by way of preaching, study, and example. The preaching tells us what Jesus is saying--that we must embrace the crosses He lays out for us. Sometimes, that preaching includes practical tips on what "embracing" the cross even means. In studying these words, we meditate and reflect on where our crosses burden us. From here, we spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit for help and guidance on where to follow Him. So far, so good; but how will we understand the "example." This, my friends, is where the rubber meets the road in living the Christian life.
I am by no means an expert on living the example, but I like to look towards great saints that I consider experts. Paul the Apostle, Teresa of Ávila, Maria Goretti, and Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows are a few that come to mind. These men and women show us, by the virtue in life they lived, that no matter the type of cross we must bear, we can be holy. If we look at the definition of 'holy', it means to be set apart; to be devoted to God. These men and women embody that definition of holiness, and the Church rightly recognizes them as saints because of it. We can be like them, too, because we are all called to holiness, regardless of our state in life.
Now, you may be like me and think, "Oh, I can do that; e a s y!" Yet, despite your holy and passionate desires, you put off a morning offering until scrolling a mile on Instagram, or you grumble under your breath about how dumb your spouse is for forgetting what you told them a million times, or you emphasize putting a $50 bill in the collection basket so everyone around you sees how charitable you are. These are ordinary moments we often encounter. Are we truly living an example that is "devoted to God"?
One of the things that sets those men and women apart (i.e., made them holy) was living the ordinary moments of life in an extraordinary way. They practiced heroic virtue each day in little things. When they were granted a great cross, like martyrdom in the case of St. Maria Goretti, they rose to the occasion. For many of us, extraordinary moments will rarely, if ever, come. This is why God calls us to take each ordinary moment and use it to be an example. It can be at work, in the supermarket, or at your bible study class. He wants us to be us in every moment. Hopefully that idea of ourselves is a life of embracing each cross well, no matter how small. To be that example of a Christian is action.
St. Francis de Sales has the perfect line for this call to holiness: "Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly." God has made us in His image and likeness (Gen 1:27). He wants us to be authentically ourselves. When we live closer to Him in love, the more we grow to understand who the person looking back at us in the mirror is.
This sense of identity is critical to growing in wisdom as we try to live out the universal call to holiness. It has been especially crucial for my preparation of heading into priestly formation. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to remain oriented on growing in holiness. As a wonderful priest from the Archdiocese of Seattle once told me, "We don't need more priests--we need more holy priests." In order to reach this ideal, one must constantly suffer death to self for Christ. For me, I believe I will be most authentically me at the service of the Church: to spread the reign of Jesus Christ to every aspect of every moment in our lives, seven days a week. Fun fact: you're Catholic more than one hour each Sunday!
But to succeed in this mission, I need to learn to submit my will to God. This will come in the form of my religious superiors, the other men I will live with, and the way of life itself. Each time I submit myself to my superiors and obey their orders, it will be a small death to my self-will. Living in a community will be a furnace of humility as I bear the cross of charity for my fellow man. The routine of prayer and work will be a stable test of perseverance. If it be God's Holy Will, He will give me the grace to remain steady for eight years of formation so I can become the good example I desire to be. One could say that this moment is a bit of a Genesis for me, and a bit of an Exodus as I leave my home into "the desert" where I will be tested.
Luckily, I have all of you that are willing to pray for my courage and fortitude to endure the trials ahead. I also have Our beautiful Blessed Mother, the Queen of all the Angels and Saints of heaven. She will lead me to the Sacred Heart of Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, who tells us in Matthew 11:
Venīte ad mē omnēs quī laboratis et onerati estis et ego reficiam vōs. Tollite iugum meum super vōs et discite ā mē quia mitis sum et humilis corde et invenietis requiem animabus vestrīs: iugum enim meum suāve est et onus meum lēve est.
Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light. -Matt 11:28-30
May God bless you; please pray for me as you rest assured of my prayers for you.
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!
-Robert D. Bishop
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