Catholic Hermit: See What St. John Chrysostom Says We Can Do

I love this selection--these thoughts of St. John Chrysostom (4th c. Bishop, Doctor of the Church) from his sermons on the Gospel of St. Matthew.  We don't stop to think just what we can actually do, what we are doing, in being part of the Body of Christ.  Then when we show the love and light of Christ in subtle ways, or even have an occasion to speak of God, of holiness, of faith, hope, love--all the more do we help increase the good news of God's loving, saving power and might forever.

"Our Lord next puts forward the parable of the yeast.  'Just as yeast communicates its invisible force to the whole lump of dough, so will the force of the Gospel transform the whole world by means of the apostles' ministry....Don't ask me:  'What can we twelve, miserable sinners do in face of the whole world."  This is precisely the vast difference between cause and effect between a handful of men before a crowd, which will demonstrate the stunning effect of your strength.  Isn't it by mixing the yeast into the dough, by 'hiding' it as the Gospel says, that it transforms the whole lump?  In the same way apostles of mine, it is by being mixed into the great mass of peoples that you will impregnate them with your spirit and win victory over your adversaries.  Even as it disappears into the mass, yeast does not lose its strength.  To the contrary, it changes the whole dough's nature.  In the same way, your preaching will change all peoples.  Therefore, be full of confidence....

"It is Christ who grants such great strength to this yeast....  So don't blame him for the small number of his disciples; it is the strength of the message that is great.... A spark is enough to change a few sticks of dry wood into a blaze that will afterwards set even all the green wood at the edge on fire."

Consider that we are each Christ's disciples, and what part we have as yeast when we accept our places in the Body of Christ, the Church.  As for consecrated Catholic hermits, though hidden and unknown as such to those around us, our purpose and mission not expressed, our prayers and penances are mixed in with the rest of the yeast and into the dough.  Our praise of God simply by loving God and devoting our life to His glory and for the salvation of all souls, has effect without individual or distinguishing external notice.

This is the way, also for all in the Body of Christ, whether in holy orders or consecrated vocations or the strong and victorious persons in lay vocations, married or single--we all are like the spark of which St. John Chrysostom concludes his sermon--strong enough together to create a blaze that ignites even the souls of those on the outskirts, like green wood at the edge of our fire of Christ's love!

God bless His Real Presence in us!