If you’ve ever lived in an area that experiences all four seasons, you know what it’s like to enjoy the vivid hues of autumn. Bushes and trees that once shared the same spectrum now burst into different shades of yellow, orange, red and purple. Summer flowers are replaced by multi-colored mums on front porches and pumpkins, hay bales, and scarecrows adorn the streets. Yet as we enjoy the fall spectacle, in the back of our minds we all know that winter is just a breath away.
And that is where we find ourselves right now. In the midst of this mid-winter day where we could all surely use a splash of color by now. We are beyond Christmas but not yet into Lent, so what are we to do with the mundaneness of this inbetween season?
Perhaps it would help us to remember the reason for nature’s change in the first place. Leaves change colors as they are preparing to die and fall to the ground. The reason they are so beautiful is because they will soon cease to exist. They will either be mulched into the ground, blown away or bagged up and disposed of. In much the same way, we become more beautiful as we die to ourselves on our path toward sainthood.
During these cold, dark days, we can bring the warmth and the light of Christ’s love into the world. Our cheeks become rosier and our smiles become brighter as we seek the good of others above our own, as we spend more time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, as we seek His will at all times. We die during our own life’s winter that He might spring forth in us with new life.
During a recent conversation with my brother, we were sharing how we try so hard to be the best spouse we can be, the best parent we can be, the best sibling we can be, the best son/daughter, friend, parishioner, coworker, etc. We try to do so much, almost as if we are checking off imaginary tally marks in our heads, but is that really what it’s all about? Driving ourselves crazy just trying to be good enough? I doubt it. What if we had the mindset of simply letting God love through us instead?
So let us be like David in today’s first reading, who “[w]ith his every deed he offered thanks to God most High…With his whole being he loved his Maker.” Just as the disciples of John the Baptist “came and took his body and laid it in a tomb”, so may we die to ourselves, laying to rest our vices and sins so that God can love through us. May His warmth and light change this humdrum winter into cause for joyful humming.
Si alguna vez has vivido en una zona donde se experimentan las cuatro estaciones, sabes lo que es disfrutar de los vibrantes tonos de otoño. Arbustos y árboles que antes compartían el mismo espectro ahora estallan en diferentes tonos de amarillo, naranja, rojo y morado. Las flores de verano dan paso a crisantemos multicolores en las puertas principales, y calabazas, pacas de heno y espantapájaros adornan las calles. Sin embargo, mientras disfrutamos del espectáculo otoñal, en el fondo de nuestras mentes todos sabemos que el invierno está a la vuelta de la esquina.
Y ahí es donde nos encontramos ahora mismo. En medio de este invierno cruel donde, sin duda, a todos nos vendría bien un toque de color. Ya ha pasado la Navidad, pero aún no llega la Cuaresma, así que ¿qué hacemos con la monotonía de esta estación intermedia?
Quizás nos ayude recordar la razón de los cambios en la naturaleza. Las hojas cambian de color mientras se preparan para morir y caer al suelo. La razón por la que son tan hermosas es porque pronto dejarán de existir. Serán trituradas, sopladas por el viento o embolsadas y desechadas. De la misma manera, nos volvemos más hermosos al morir a nosotros mismos en nuestro camino hacia la santidad.
Durante estos días fríos y oscuros, podemos traer al mundo la calidez y la luz del amor de Cristo. Nuestras mejillas se sonrojan y nuestras sonrisas se iluminan al buscar el bien de los demás por encima del nuestro, al pasar más tiempo con Jesús en el Santísimo Sacramento, al buscar su voluntad en todo momento. Morimos durante el invierno de nuestra vida para que Él pueda brotar en nosotros con la primavera de nueva vida.
Durante una conversación reciente con mi hermano, compartimos cuánto nos esforzamos por ser el mejor cónyuge, el mejor padre de familia, el mejor hermano, el mejor hijo, amigo, feligrés, compañero de trabajo, etc. Intentamos hacer tanto, casi como si estuviéramos llevando la cuenta mentalmente, pero ¿de eso se trata realmente? ¿Volviéndonos locos solo por intentar ser lo suficientemente buenos? Lo dudo. ¿Y qué pasaría si simplemente dejáramos que Dios ame a través de nosotros?
Seamos como David en la primera lectura de hoy, quien “Por todos sus éxitos daba gracias al Dios altísimo y lo glorificaba. Amaba con toda el alma a su creador…” Así como los discípulos de Juan el Bautista “fueron a recoger el cadáver y lo sepultaron”, que muramos a nosotros mismos, dejando atrás nuestros vicios y pecados para que Dios pueda amar a través de nosotros. Que su calor y su luz transformen este invierno monótono en motivo de alegría.
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adult she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
Feature Image Credit: Aaron Wilson, unsplash.com/photos/photo-of-turned-on-street-lights-near-railing-qIHtrP2V3C8
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.