Salesian Literature

Chapter 2:  How easy our Lord has made it for us to grow in love

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That draught of cold water (Mt. 10:42), or the piece of bread, which some good soul gives to a poor man – little enough, God knows; scarcely worth a thought by human standards.  Yet God rewards it; he straightway repays it with increase of charity.

 

In fertile southern Arabia all plants – not merely the naturally aromatic ones – are sweet-scented, sharing the same beneficial soil.  So it is in a soul possessing charity: not only extraordinary actions, but little tasks too, feel the effects of charity’s influence; and their fragrance draws down from God an increase of charity.  From God, I say; because charity does not increase itself, like a tree putting forth branches.  Faith, hope and charity are virtues which the goodness of God brings to birth in our hearts; so also is he the source of their increase, their perfection.

 

Faith, hope and charity come to us from heaven, from God.  we ought ever to keep our hearts upturned, uplifted in his direction, to win a continuous, ever-growing supply of those virtues.  “Almighty, everlasting God, grant us increase of faith, hope and charity.”  Holy mother Church puts this prayer on our lips in imitation of those who begged our Lord: give us more faith (Lk. 17:5; cf. Mk. 9:23).  And the church is taking St. Paul’s advice, who assures us that God has the power to supply you abundantly with every kind of blessing (2 Cor. 9:8).

 

God it is, then, who gives this increase in proportion to the use we make of his grace.  For it is written: If a man is rich – that is, if he makes good use of favours received – greater gifts will be made to him, and his riches will abound (Mt. 13:12).  This way lies the practice of our Lord’s advice: Lay up treasure for yourselves in heaven (Mt. 6:20).  As if he were saying: “Always keep on adding new good deeds to those you have already done.  These are the coins – fasting, prayer, almsgiving – in which your treasure must consist.”

 

Two mites of the poor widow were valued by the temple treasury (cf. Lk. 21:1-4); well they might be, for it is by the addition of tiny pieces that treasures grow and gain in value.  The most insignificant of good deeds, in the same way, are pleasing to God.  Lazily done they may be, and not with the full powers of the charity we possess; yet God values them.  Although they are unable in themselves to add to the love from which they come, because they lack love’s strength, still God’s providence credits us with them.  His goodness sets a value upon them, instantly rewards them with increase of charity now and the guarantee of greater glory in heaven later.

 

God’s love for us – there you have it: his desire to see us grow in love we owe to him.  The delicate charm of God! – making everything worthwhile, weighing the scales in our favour the whole time, turning all our tasks – however feeble or lowly – into gain.

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