Sometimes we can feel guilty and ask ourselves, “Am I being holy enough? Did I fast enough? Did I give enough? Did I spend too much for myself?”
While all of these things can help us examine our conscience, they can also result in anxiety and guilt if not offered up to God.
Instead of living with thanksgiving, we may live in constant fear. Instead of focusing on charity and generosity, we may focus on how austere our lives should be.
Let us remember that even the saints had different vocations. Not all were priests. Not all were monks. And not all spent their lives in austere practices and sacrifices.
These have their uses and they can help us detach ourselves from earthly things. But taken to an extreme, we may derive satisfaction from our own idea of righteousness instead of allowing God to lead us and thank us for His grace.
I once read a Bible verse that gave me a little shock:
“Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself? Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time? It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.
– Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 (NRSVCE)
Reading those reminded me that God is a God of reason and common sense.
The saints have been given to us by God as models of love, not as exact templates to imitate their lifestyles and callings.
Too much concern for our perfection, if combined with a spirit of vexation, may be signs that we are veering away from true holiness.
“Fits of anger, vexation,and bitterness against ourselves tend to pride and they spring from no other source than self-love, which is disturbed and upset at seeing that it is imperfect.”― Francis de Sales
It is not self-righteousness that God wants for us but true love. And true love looks outward to others and upwards to Him who is our all.
Dwelling inwards can keep us in a loop of despair. It draws the voice of the accuser, causing us to be anxious about our sins instead of being thankful for God’s mercy.
St. Therese of Lisieux once found a way to grow in holiness without being weary of our imperfections:
“I have always wanted to be a saint. Alas! I have always noticed that when I compared myself to the saints, there is between them and me the same difference that exists between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and the obscure grain of sand trampled underfoot by passers-by.
Instead of becoming discouraged, I said to myself: God cannot inspire unrealizable desires. I can, then, in spite of my littleness, aspire to holiness. It is impossible for me to grow up, and so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections.”
She found the “little way”, the way of children who can draw near to the Father who cares and understands our littleness.
“God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you. Why do you worry?”― St. Francis de Sales
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”- 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NABRE)
You may also want to read “What Is the Remedy for Our Struggle Between Good and Evil?”
See the answers to some common questions about the Catholic faith in Jocelyn Soriano’s book Defending My Catholic Faith.
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” – 1 Peter 3:15 (NABRE)
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