MEDITATION TIPS 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
August 10, 2025

“You too must be prepared” (Luke 12:40)

　There is a well-known story in Western Europe called “Columbus’s Egg.” After a difficult voyage, Christopher Columbus discovered the New Continent of America. Upon his return to Spain, he was greeted with a warm welcome, like of a triumphant general.

　However, there are always those who envy those who have achieved great things. At a welcome party, a man saw Columbus and said sarcastically, “Discovering the New World? Wasn’t it just a matter of sailing westward?” Columbus replied, “That is indeed true. However, I was the first to realize that if we sailed westward, we would surely reach the continent.” Then, he proposed a challenge: “Now, here is an egg. If anyone can make it stand upright, please do so right now.” The man who had mocked Columbus, along with everyone else present, tried, but no one could do it. Then he said, “It’s not difficult at all,” and gently tapped the tip of the egg to make it slightly concave, and sure enough, the egg stood upright. Those who had been watching laughed and said, “What's the big deal? Anyone can do that.” He replied, “Yes, anyone can stand an egg upright. However, none of you noticed this method. The discovery of the New World is the same. What matters is being the first to think of it. Anyone can criticize after someone else has accomplished it, saying, ‘What’s the big deal?’” He then turned his gaze toward those who had mocked the discovery of the New Continent.

　In the same way, what God asks of us is also very simple, and at first glance, it may seem like “What’s the big deal?” This year marks the 100th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. She lived in a Carmelite convent until her death at the age of 24. All she did was the work assigned to her by the abbess, such as laundry, cleaning, and cooking. However, by putting love into each of these acts of service, she reached the peak of heaven. She became a great saint through her “Thérèse-style Columbus’ egg” idea of putting the greatest love into simple acts of service.

　Inamori Kazuo, who transformed Kyocera from a small-town factory into a global corporation, was also a devout Buddhist. When asked about the secrets of his management style, he reportedly always replied, “Never forget to be grateful, do not lie, do not cause trouble for others, be honest, and do not pursue personal gain but consider others.” However, those who heard this response would all look puzzled and say, “Can business really be run based on such simple principles? We’ve heard such things from our parents and teachers since we were children.” Yet Inamori Kazuo remained steadfast in his belief that it is precisely because these “simple principles” are not practiced that many companies, despite temporarily achieving success, eventually collapse.

　“You too must be prepared.” What Jesus asks of us is the “sanctification of simplicity”—offering our daily, simple lives “by faith” (see Hebrews). Ichiro, who was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame this year, said, “Accumulating small things is the only way to reach extraordinary heights.” The same applies to the life of faith.

 　　　　　(Contributed by Father Yutaka Akabae)