There is nothing in this world I want more than our Lord | Feast of Saint Dorothy

What was it? What enabled Dorothy to be so willing, at such a young age, to not only consecrate herself to Christ in chastity, but also to freely throw away her life for her love for our Lord.

You see, our culture (and this is not new by the way, it happens generation after generation) has this basic heresy, this idea, that the only real things are what your senses can perceive. Touch. Taste. Smell. Hear. See. Only the physical things, only the world around you that you can touch and measure and evaluate, only that is real.

Of course we know better, it's a great error on their part. But it's a very common mistake. . . .

 

The only thing that would allow any human, at least on a purely human level, to be willing to give up the natural goods of this life is if they truly believe that there is something greater than anything in this physical world. That even their physical lives are not worth the reward that they will get for remaining faithful to Christ and sacrificing themselves for Him and for the Gospel.

But to have that kind of belief, to have that kind of conviction, is not an easy thing to come by. This is why, as Catholics, the Church requires us to do so many ritual things. Jesus Himself is the One Who gave us the seven Sacraments. All of our rituals are based out of that structure, that design, that theology, that philosophy. . . . There's a reason for the habit, for the action we perform. It's because we believe that this is really Jesus. This poorly tasting cracker is really the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord. And we have good reason to believe it. That's what informs our choice to genuflect for example. Those little actions and rituals that we as Catholics perform throughout our day - the little things the Church asks of us - are constantly trying to reinforce the fact that what we believe is real. It's not imagined. It's not just a nice idea. . . .

 

I find that I'm happier following the teachings of the Catholic Church - as difficult as they may be at times. But I'm happier with this than with anything the world has ever offered me. . . .

We know this intuitively. It's written on our hearts. Our patroness Saint Dorothy saw this so clearly. She realized: There is nothing in this world I want more than our Lord.

 

I encourage you on this day to reflect on her willingness to suffer and die. To sacrifice all for the Lord. What things are you holding onto in this life? What things would you not let go of for Jesus?

 

What would you be willing to sacrifice for our Lord? . . . It's hard enough to endure when God takes something from us. But how many of us are willing to give it up freely?

 

If there is something that you still inappropriately hold on to in this life, give it to Saint Dorothy. She will give it to the Blessed Mother, who will give it to Jesus. Then even if God never takes it from you while you're in this world, at least it won't have a grip on your heart. Your heart will open up, and there will be more room for the Lord to become the most important thing. So that if, God willing, He ever calls you to imitate the example of martyrs, you'd be ready and willing to do so.

 

1Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; 1Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Jn 12:24-26

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 27:00