“Eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.” —Ezekiel 3:1 

Rebellion against the Lord entails not only doing evil but also refusing to totally consume and be consumed by His callings (Ez 2:8). We must eat the scroll of God’s plan for our lives. We must internalize it, digest it, and make it part of ourselves. As we consume God’s callings, we are consumed by God (see Heb 12:29). When we internalize God’s plan, God lives in us and we in Him (see Jn 17:23). We lose our lives (Lk 9:24), and it is no longer we who live but Christ Who lives within us (Gal 2:20). Then, paradoxically, as we lose our lives, we find our lives in Christ (Lk 9:24).

Therefore, eat the scroll. Be a Christian in the fullest sense of the word. Seek first the Lord’s kingdom (Mt 6:33); share your faith; suffer for Jesus; grow in holiness; let zeal for God’s house consume you (Jn 2:17). Throw yourself into your marriage; love your spouse with abandon; have as many children as the Lord will give you; make these children disciples of the Lord. Live your life as a single person with an undivided heart (1 Cor 7:33-35); be the light to the world (Mt 5:14); build Christian communities. Be the best priest, sister, brother, or deacon you can be. Eat the scroll.

 Prayer: Father, give me the grace to give You my “all” always.

Promise: “It is no part of your heavenly Father’s plan that a single one of these little ones shall ever come to grief.” —Mt 18:14

Praise: Suffering a near-fatal illness only deepened St. Maximilian’s efforts in spreading God’s truth and defending the faith.