George Matulaitis Journal

38 needs. The Church must be given priority over all earthly possessions, goods, ideals, and goals—even the best of them. II. Each one of us in his personal life should, it seems to me, (1) put his spiritual development, his personal holiness in first place. (2) After that he should sincerely try to do his share in maintaining the discipline, order, and spirit of the Community. III. The Congregation should hold to the following: (1) not sparing any effort, it should first of all be concerned with the spiritual development of each member; (2) it should educate and train each member not only to perform his duties well, but also to be an example and a living sermon to people in the world. It often happens that we become preoccupied with the difficulties we see in our way or even with those that may occur sometime in the future, if at all. We complain that we do not immediately have at hand the means we need, etc. Then we start worrying about how to overcome all these difficulties and how to obtain all the things we need. And that is how it all ends: we do not even approach our goal. We should go about it differently. If what we mean to do is both good and useful and if it is likely to bring greater glory to God and good to the Church, then we must boldly set to work to accomplish it. Insofar as we have truly renounced ourselves and abandoned ourselves to God, we will find a way to eliminate the difficulties or at least to get around them, and our plans will be realized. Only let us not be afraid to suffer for the glory of God and the good of the Church; let us not be fearful of taking a risk. After all, the future is veiled from our earthly sight, and besides, life often demands that we take risks. We can afford to take a chance all the more, since we need not fear the outcome. Even if our work or plan proves to be unsuccessful, God will accept our good will, our initiative, and our efforts. In God’s sight we have lost nothing, only gained. And what about human opinion? What is there to lose and why should we be so afraid? If we have really given up the self and abandoned all to God, what can people do to us? They cannot take God away from us; they cannot close the gates of heaven against us or force us into hell if we do not want to go there. They cannot even push us off the earth. No matter where we are sent, we will find people for whose salvation we can work. Finally, God is everywhere and the way to heaven is everywhere the same.