Gratitude, not Hardship, Makes the Saint

Ronald Rolheiser recounted an old Jewish folk tale. A young man, aspiring to be holy, approached his rabbi and said, “Rabbi, I think I have achieved sanctity. I fast from sunrise to sundown, work hard all day without expecting thanks, roll in the snow or thorn bushes when I have temptations of the flesh, and whip myself before going to bed.” The rabbi paused and then led the young man to the window and pointed to an old horse. “That horse,” he said, “doesn’t eat or drink during the day, works hard all day and never gets thanked, rolls in snow or bushes as it sees fit, and frequently gets…