George Matulaitis Journal

52 to the things of this world, to its trinkets and trifles, to vain dreams of worldly glory. We must shake off the heavy and useless burden of human respect that weighs down our shoulders and oppresses us like some debil- itating disease. We must boldly clear away all obstacles from our path and destroy all those spectres which the fear of crosses and hardships often presents to the eye of our imagination. In a word, we should not be afraid to die like the grain of wheat in the Gospel. “Unless the grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest” (Jn 12:24). Only when a person truly dies to himself and to the world, can he rise again and be reborn in God, thus bearing much fruit. Whoever loses his soul in God and for God, will regain it—renewed, radiant and holy—and he will save it and many others as well. But if a person stubbornly clings to the bonds of self-love and remains overly concerned about his own soul, he will be left all alone, dried up and sterile, like that little grain. “Anyone who loves his life, loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world, will keep it for the eternal life” (Jn 12:25). If, on the one hand, we truly seek God, and on the other, surrender ourselves totally to God’s will, then there is no doubt that God himself will lead us to all things. Not all the saints achieved a high degree of holiness in a single leap. Many were able to reach a higher stage of sanctity only gradually, after many long years of toil and strug- gle. But they did reach it because they refused to bargain with God. They did not resist His will, nor did they obstruct the workings of His grace, but freely, willingly, and without hesitation they abandoned everything, gave up anything that God required of them and were not afraid to offer Him all they had. As a result, God led them to attain all things: to per- fection and to many good and useful achievements for the Church and for souls. November 18 “For their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth” (Jn 17:19). 1 As we try to reach perfection ourselves, as we ourselves make an effort to become holier, we must 1 The author has in mind the sense of the original Latin: “Sanctifico meipsum, ut et ipsi sanctificati sint.” The older translations have “sanctify” or “make holy,” while the modern ones use “consecrate” or “dedicate.”