Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:4
“It is characteristic of holy men that their own painful trials do not make them lose their concern for the well-being of others. They are grieved by the adversity they must endure, yet they look out for others and teach them needed lessons; they are like gifted physicians who are themselves stricken and lie ill. They suffer wounds themselves but bring others the medicine that restores health.”
Gregory of Nyssa (c. 540-604) in Job as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 488.
Jenni and I will head to Ukraine with Michael and Nina Cherenkov, in part because the adversity our brothers and sisters face there grieves us deeply. To help send us, make a gift to GTP here.
But we don’t have to go to a war-weary land to serve like a gifted physician.
The key is to entrust ourselves into the hands of Jesus and look around us to see the needs of others and consider how me might minister to them with what we have.
It’s the Surrender Novena that comes to mind again: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”
When you pray that 10 times a day, you become free to see and serve those who suffer. Want to grow in generosity? Ask God to sort your situation and show you someone you might serve.