A PURE INTENTION
by VP
Posted on Sunday November 10, 2024 at 10:56AM in Sermons
Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
"All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."-COL. 3. 17.
I. Self the cause of failure.
2. A pure intention to do all for Christ blesses and ennobles all we do.
3. A little thing: fidelity needed.
4. The change it would work in us.
5. Examples of the saints.
How often in our life do we feel disappointed—yea, despondent-at finding so many of our good beginnings and endeavors turning out to be failures. Our confessions make this very evident to us. Do we not find that we have done the very things that we should not, and have omitted those that we should? It is not astonishing, for we are weak of purpose and prone to evil. Is it not very often because we thought that we of ourselves could do better; because it was self making the resolutions; self trying of its own powers to make its way to heaven? Whereas we should have obeyed St. Paul, "All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
A pure intention would have rectified so much and have saved us from many a failure. It is not what we do merely, but why we do it, that makes our lives words and works-pleasing unto God. For instance, even munificent charities can be made valueless in the sight of God, if vainglory and seeking the applause of men were the motives. On the other hand, even the widow's mite, given humbly, lovingly for Christ's sake, will find its eternal reward in heaven.
A moment's thought, the raising of our mind to God, the intending every word or work to be said and done in the name of Christ, for the love of Christ, would spiritualize our lives, and make of them an offering acceptable to God and blessed by Him with an eternal reward. And this pure intention, this morning offering, must be a daily work. We are so fickle, so inconstant, that even then self-love or yearning for praise will creep in. The fairest bud may have a canker in its heart.
No longer let our days be profitless for want of a little thought. With our morning prayers-yea, before them; as soon as our mind awakes-a moment's earnest thought will do-all for Jesus-and the day and all its thoughts, and prayers, and words, and works are offered to God and blessed by Him. "Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
You may say that is a trifling thing indeed, and can that bless and ennoble our daily life? Yes, it is a little thing, but, as St. Francis of Sales says, "Little things are but little things, but fidelity in little things is a great thing." And the fidelity in making this pure intention, this offering to do all in the name of Jesus, and for the love of Jesus, is a great thing. For it is this being united to our Blessed Lord that gives its value, its eternal value, to all we do.
Let us picture to ourselves what this pure, heartfelt offering would mean. Sloth and tepidity would instantly stand abashed and ashamed. Sin and all desire for sin would be warned off, for our souls are giving themselves to Christ. The evil one would see that his plans and intrigues were detected and thus rendered powerless. In a moment the bright thought of Mass, of Holy Communion, perchance, would irradiate our soul. Our thought would question-Have we time? Can we make time for them? What an offering indeed to our dear Lord if we can; yea, a pleasing offering indeed for only wishing that we could. The daily toil, whatever it may be-laborious, poorly paid, wearisome-also, offered humbly, without a murmur, according to the blessed Will of God. Recording Angels are busy throughout the day adding up the wages due to such a worker.
This offering, made morning after morning, simple as it may seem, is certain to be lovingly received by our Lord. That blessing gives the value to everything, and graces flow down and intensify the love of the offering and the purity of the intention. Gain the habit, persevere in it, and by degrees you will find yourself renewing it time after time in the day. Every prayer will end by repeating it; every fresh work remind you of it. And especially after some little fall-temper, impatience, uncharitableness, whatever it may beat once, penitent but not disheartened, you will begin again more devoutly and trustfully than ever. Even a fall can help us to rise, through humility and sorrow, and receive fresh help and strength from God.
Yes, doing all with a pure intention for the love of Christ explains to us the mystery how the saints from such humble beginnings became so illustrious in their sanctity, and such models and encouragement to us all. It was because they were doing all for God that they were chosen from the lowliest employments and called to such noble work, in which they devoted their lives to the de fence of the Church and the salvation of countless souls. For instance: St. Vincent of Paul, tending his father's cattle-a slave in Morocco-and yet to become the father and founder of the Mission Fathers, the Dames of the Cross, and the Sisters of Charity. Behold the humblest of beginnings and the greatest of achievements. And St. Peter Damian, abandoned by his mother, feeding his brother's swine, patient in ill-treatment and starvation-and afterwards a monk, a bishop, a cardinal, a trusted counselor of Emperors and of Popes. And the shepherd,
St. Pascal Baylon! Was it not his pure intention, his union with God in
his lowly calling, that made him a saint? When he could not leave his
flock and attend Holy Mass, his soul was at the church, rapt in adoration at the very tolling of the Mass bell. His devotion to the Blessed Sacrament has been honored by the dignity conferred upon him by Pope Leo XIII., as “special and heavenly patron of all Eucharistic Confraternities." Yes, "little things are but little things," and the morning offering, and the pure intention of doing all for love of Jesus, is a little thing, but fidelity to it is a great thing. “All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Short Sermons on the Epistles & Gospels of the Sundays of the Year By Francis Paulinus Hickey (25th Sunday after Pentecost - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany)
