Wisdom From An Elderly Irishman: God, Life, Love

A wise old Irish Catholic gentleman and fellow parishioner that this blogger once knew, three decades ago or thereabouts, said that three things lie at the heart of all people's satisfaction or unease. He spoke in shorthand.

1. God, i.e., issues of faith and belief.
2. Money, i.e., issues of employment and debt.
3. Sex, i.e., a relationship or the end of a relationship.

To put it another way, man finds meaning or is wounded by

1. what he believes in or by what he has lost faith in.
2. what he does, by how he sustains himself, or by a loss of livelihood.
3. who he loves and trusts or by who has betrayed his trust, or whose trust he has betrayed.

That Catholic gentleman provided a litmus test in aid of helping a wounded person identify himself, his needs versus his wants, his virtues and vices, to provide him with wisdom when he is in most need of a true perspective, understanding, and mercy.

Can we be honest with God and others if we are not willing to be honest with ourselves?  Can we expect to find others who are capable of being honest with us if we are blinded by fantasy?  We might cross paths with another who exceeds our own capacity for truth, but will we be able to reciprocate his or her virtue?

Knowing what motivates a man or a woman enables one to get to the heart of a matter with someone who is suffering and in crisis.  Give someone a moment to consider the question, "So... what is it that is unsettling you - God, money or sex? Faith, work or a relationship?"  The response will provide an opportunity for another question.

It may be that he or she is clinging to a false hope, or has invested in something or someone to a degree they feel let down or confused or angry or all of the preceding.  The question, "How is that working out for you?" will likely provoke consideration of his or her commitment to a previous assumption or conviction.

A person who is conflicted must acknowledge his (or her) part if he expects to find healing.  A person must be honest with himself if he expects to learn - if nothing less - how to avoid further conflict and to learn from his mistakes.

If a man has had conflict undeservedly inflicted upon him by another, he merits an opportunity to confront his situation with another, with a friend or stranger.  He must consider a reasonable path forward.  If he cannot be honest with himself, he will fall into future traps and repeat his mistakes.  If he invests in sinful pursuits he shouldn't be surprised to find himself devastated and destitute again.  If he does not turn to God for the grace to change, and for the grace of prudence, he may inflict his pain on others and could be the cause of another person's suffering.

If a man refuses to turn to God, then he will compound his misery and could succumb to self destruction and, worse, become the destruction of another person. Sin and ignorance consume life and hope and joy, and excrete misery and despair.

Jesus, I trust in Thee

It may be that, during recovery and rejuvenation in Christ, as we turn from sin toward virtue, one must suffer through a fog of conflicting and burdensome thoughts.  If one is tempted to despair, turn your gaze toward the tabernacle and the Blessed Sacrament.  There He is - Jesus - the innocent one crucified for our sins.  He deserved nothing of the pain inflicted upon Him.  Are you sinless?  Like the good thief, we hang beside the Lord.  We understand culpability for our sins.  We can reach out to Jesus for mercy, and He will welcome us into His kingdom.

In Christ is found relief from the pattern and prison of misery brought about by pride or timidity.  To escape the burden of habitual sin, one must commit himself to the Sacrament of Penance.  To undo the knots that bind a man's soul to things beneath his dignity as a person created in the image and likeness of God, his freedom begins by turning to Jesus to ask Him for His saving embrace.  To die to self is to die to the prison of pride that keeps a man from the necessary honesty to commit himself to the way of life and love, of forgiveness and healing, that Jesus offers.  No one is beyond the reach of Jesus in this life.  As long as a man lives, he is vulnerable to Jesus' gift of mercy, love and restoration to goodness and childlike innocence.  He need only ask - with sincerity of heart - for Jesus to reveal Himself to him.

St Luke 7:36-50 

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at table.  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was sitting at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”  And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “What is it, Teacher?”  “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?”  Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”  Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”  And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”