"Brother Modestus was sure to make a mess of it," "Brother Modestus was a fool for his pains," --exclaim worldly worldlings and worldly churchlings in chorus.
A "mess" and a "fool" undeniably, according to their standard who in their generation are wiser than the children of light.
Inflated bladders, puff balls, loud and hollow drums: such symbols as these tally with too many of the successes and of the successful of this world.
And by comparison, Brother Modestus and his career are mere collapse: drum him out of the world!
But behold! he wishes nothing better. He has made his count for nothing to-day, all to-morrow; nothing on earth, all in heaven. He knows Whom he has believed, and is persuaded that He is able to keep all things committed unto Him against that day.
Now, he that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city.
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Credit: Fra Modesto, a trappist monk, by Balli (19th century). / De Agostini Picture Library / V. Pirozzi / The Bridgeman Art Library
http://www.bridgemanart.com/asset/535768/Fra-Modesto-a-trappist-monk-by-Balli-19th-centu?
I think my father was Brother Modests!
ReplyDeleteActually, now that you mention it, I think mine was, too! And now he has his reward--the thing he valued most--to be in the presence of his Lord.
ReplyDelete