289th Meditation
“Whatever good others do, prompted by us, will increase the splendour of our glory in heaven” (St. John Bosco).
This phrase fits very well into our daily reflections on God the Father, and we can place it in context with the Father’s Message, in which He asks us to pass on to people a deeper knowledge of God. How much will the splendour of our glory increase if others, prompted by us, begin to turn again to the Father and praise Him!
A Jewish proverb says: “Whoever saves one person saves the whole world”. It is a great mystery of love that, by doing good, we can cooperate day by day in the expansion of the Kingdom of God and, at the same time, lay up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:20).
The way is very simple: we just have to trust in the Father and seize the opportunities that come our way to do good, being attentive also to the new occasions that we may discover. We must also always ask the Holy Spirit to awaken in us the fervour to do good. And if we do good and give ourselves to it, we will see how true are these words of Gilbert Chesterton: “Being good is an adventure far more violent and daring than sailing round the world”.
Indeed, “being good” means giving oneself totally to Him who is good in Himself, putting aside all reserve and no longer living for oneself. And this One who is good in Himself is God, as Jesus tells us: “No one is good but God alone” (Mk 10:18).
If the One who is good in Himself permeates us with His love, it will spread through us to those who seek Him and will warm those who still live in the cold. It will speak to the other persons, inviting them in turn to do good. And if they, moved by our example, do so, then – as Don Bosco says – it will increase the splendour of our glory in heaven and also the praise of God among mankind.