Be resolute in the good...
February 1, 2022
Dear Family of Mary!
"Little children, do not forget that Satan is strong and that he wants to attract all the more souls to himself. That is why, you be vigilant in prayer and resolute in the good." (01/25/22)
We need to be resolute in the good!! Let's look at the definition of "resolute". Here are two simple definitions:
"admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering."
"having or showing a fixed, firm purpose; determined; resolved; unwavering"
This phrase, "resolute in the good", is very powerful. It presents itself to me as someone who has decided what is the right thing to do, and who sets out to do that good thing, with great determination, much like these four men (in the picture above) who are carrying a pilgrim up Apparition Hill so she can pray with Our Lady! Being resolute means that you don't look back or have second thoughts, but you follow through on the good thing to be done.
In Luke's Gospel there is a moment when Jesus sets out in just such a resolute manner. Instead of saying that Jesus was resolute, Luke uses the phrase, "he set his face".
Luke 9:51-62
When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head."
To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:51-62)
In this Scripture passage, Jesus had finally decided to go to Jerusalem, to face the music, so to speak. He knew it was the road to His Crucifixion, but this did not deter Him. He was "admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering."
On His way, He was rejected by the Samaritans. He just kept going. He was bombarded by those who wanted to follow Him. In each case, His response demonstrated His resolve to go to Jerusalem without delay. He would not be distracted or slowed down by burying the dead or saying goodbye. No looking back!
This is a good picture for us of what Our Lady is asking of us. We need to be resolute in the good. We must not be distracted or delayed in our efforts to do the good, to do what God is asking of us. We must do the good as it is revealed to each of us in our personal lives. Like vigilance in prayer, resolutely doing the good will keep us safe from the enemy and on the right path.
Jesus, show me the good that I must do, and give me a resolute spirit, that I might do it!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
Mary TV 2022
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