On the Memorial Day reflection on 5/27, Rusty reminds us, quoting Pope Gregory the Great, about being mindful about our attitudes during the highs and lows of life:
“Faith is the foundational quality upon which we learn to appreciate the good in our lives as well as the adversity.” This devotion brought to mind a reflection from Pope Gregory in today’s Liturgy of the Hours. “On the day of prosperity do not forget affliction, and on the day of affliction do not forget prosperity. For if a man receives God’s gifts, but forgets his affliction, he can fall through his own excessive joy. On the other hand, when a man is bruised by scourges, but is not at all consoled by the thought of the blessings he has been fortunate to receive, he is completely cast down. Thus both attitudes must be united so that one may be supported by the other: the memory of the gift can temper the pain of the affliction, and the foreboding and fear of the affliction can modify the joy of the gift. And so the holy Job, to soothe his soul’s depression in the midst of his wound, weighs the delightful gifts he has received even while he suffers from the scourges, saying: If we have received good from the hand of the Lord, why should we not endure evil?” Have Faith, Perseverance, and Stay the Course and one day we will reach the summit and enjoy the gifts of our labor.
