What a great question! How does God define success? Mother Theresa once said, “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” This captures the Biblical idea of success. In answer to my friend, I referenced the story of Martha and Mary, a classic depiction of this “doing versus loving” dynamic.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10: 40-42)
Jesus commended Mary because her whole concern was with hearing the word of God that she might live by it profoundly. This the condition of all holy love, that we take the seed of God’s word into our hearts, and be transformed by the grace of God. “For you have been born again,” says St. Peter, “not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)
Catholic Tradition has always seen in the figure of Mary an ideal type of the contemplative life. This does not necessarily mean a life dedicated to seclusion and formal vows, but a life committed to the love of God and neighbor. St. Thomas says, “the contemplative life is to cling with our whole mind to the love of God and our neighbor.” (S.T. 2.2.18.1)
It is a mainstay of Catholic doctrine that this profound inner life is within the grasp of each Christian. Mother Theresa, again, says, “Everyone can reach this love through mediation, spirit of prayer, and sacrifice, by an intense inner life.” (Love, a Fruit Always in Season, 13) Jesus also presumes that we can live this life of love. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” he tells us, “and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Sacred Scripture gives us two tests that indicate whether we are living in this love of God. The first is how we treat our neighbors. “We know that we have passed out of death into life,” John says, “because we love the brothers.” (1 John 3:14) A second test is the time we give to God in prayer and adoration. St. Paul says that the Spirit of God in our lives moves us to cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) It is this Spirit that enables us to love like the Psalmist: “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) If we do not desire to sit, like Mary, at the Lord’s feet, then we may question our devotion.
If you are like me, you may feel that you fall short of this life of love. Fortunately, the Church gives us many helps to advance in our love of God and neighbor. None is more valuable than the Mass, if we use it rightly. A valid Mass is always efficacious. Christ is always substantially present. His sacrifice is always re-presented to the Father on our behalf. But its effects in us (St. Thomas says) are according to our disposition. (S.T. 3.79.7. ad.2)
What we are seeking in the Mass is Charity. We want the love of God “poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5) What disposes us to this charity is the act of sacrifice – joining ourselves to the Sacrifice of Christ in the Mass – and saying, “Yes, Lord” to whatever he sends our way. If we go to Mass this way then we shall certainly receive the graces necessary for a life of love. The spiritual writer and theologian Garrigou-Lagrange put it like this:
But whatever way we follow the Mass, one important point must be insisted upon. We must, above all, unite ourselves profoundly with the oblation of Christ, the principal Priest; with Him we must offer Him to His Father, remembering that this oblation pleases God more than all sins displease Him. We should offer ourselves also more profoundly each day; offer particularly the trials and contradictions that we already have to bear and those that may present themselves in the course of the day. (From Three Ages of the Interior Life)
How does God define success? Not to worry about tomorrow. Not to worry about food or drink or clothes. But to seek first Christ’s kingdom – not simply in deeds and words, but in truth. To love God, and neighbor. It is for this that God gave us the Catholic faith.