On Being Fruitful — No Excuses!

Today’s the feast day of St. Josemaria Escriva. Go figure. On a day today that has proven to be mildly earth-shattering in terms of wake-up calls about democracy and culture … he offers (as he typically does) a reminder that we have no excuses when it comes to our Christian call. We’re called to be saints every day. We’re called to share Christ, for real. Saint Escriva says:

There is no excuse for being unproductive. Some might say “I don’t know enough…” But that is no excuse. Or else, ‘I am unwell, I haven’t much talent, the conditions are not right, my surroundings…’ These aren’t excuses either. How pitiful the man who adorns himself with the foliage of a false apostolate, who has all the outward appearance of leading a fruitful life, but is not sincerely attempting to yield fruit! It looks as though he is using his time well. He seems to get around, to organize things, to be inventing new ways of solving all kinds of problems… but he has nothing to show for his efforts. No one will benefit from his works if they have no supernatural content.
Let us ask Our Lord that we may be souls who are ready to work with a heroism that proves fruitful. For there is no lack of people here on earth who, on being approached, turn out to be nothing but large, shiny, glossy leaves. Foliage, just foliage and nothing more. Meanwhile, many souls are looking to us hoping to satisfy their hunger, which is a hunger for God. We must not forget that we have all the means we need. We have sufficient doctrine and the grace of God, in spite of our wretchedness.

That’s via Magnificat today. Timely, as always.