Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 3, 2005)

Suggested Emphasis

"Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yolk upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light."

Salesian Perspective

Being humble and gentle is about trying to embody the words of Jesus found in St. Matthew's Gospel: "Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart."

Humility might be described as 'living in the truth.' The truth is that we are created in God's image and likeness. The truth is that we are good. The truth is that we do not always live up to that goodness. The truth is that we need God's forgiveness and grace to make that goodness real. The truth is that we need the support and encouragement of one another.

Gentleness might be described as the practice of proportionality. It is about keeping things in perspective. It is about knowing when to stand firm. It is about knowing when to give ground. Most of all whether in good times, tough times or in all the times in between, gentleness is about relating to ourselves and others with profound respect and reverence, a graciousness rooted in the recognition that each of us - all of us - are sons and daughters of the living God.

The daily practice of these two virtues fashions a particular kind of heart in those who follow Jesus: a heart that longs and strives for justice. "Be just and equitable in all your actions," wrote St. Francis de Sales in Part Three, Chapter 36 of The Introduction to the Devout Life. "Always put yourself in your neighbor's place and put your neighbor in yours, and then you will judge rightly."

He continued: "Imagine yourself the seller when you are buying; imagine yourself the buyer when you are selling. In this way you will sell and buy according to justice."

This is not always easy to do. We are frequently tempted to relate to others in ways that are not just, that are not reasonable. We are tempted to promote only our own concerns, to first ask "What's in it for me?" or to always be concerned about taking care of "#1."

At times like these "we have two hearts. One heart is mild, favorable and courteous toward ourselves; the other is hard, severe and rigorous toward our neighbor." At times like these we have "two balances: the one to weigh out conveniences to our own greatest advantages, and the other to weigh those of our neighbor to their greatest possible disadvantage."

St. Francis de Sales challenges us: "Do not neglect to frequently examine whether your heart be such with respect to your neighbor as you would desire your neighbor's to be with respect to you, were you in the other's situation."

Such an ordinary thing. Such an everyday thing. In the Salesian tradition, such a powerful, life-giving thing. In the end, claims St. Francis de Sales, we "lose nothing by living generously, nobly, courteously, and with a royal, just and reasonable heart."

Not only do we lose nothing; Jesus promises us that by living humbly and gently we will find something for which we all long…rest for our souls: not later in heaven, but even right here, right now, on earth.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS is Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.