“Pilate said to them, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus, called Christ?’ They all say, ‘Let him be crucified!’”(Mt 27:22) Pilate’s efforts to rescue Jesus only incensed his enemies further. They thought Jesus would elude them. Three classes were concerned in bringing about his death -- Pilate, the people, and the priests.
The priests had the greater guilt. Jealous, they invented and sustained the accusation; excited and seduced the people who overpowered the judge by cries of rage and fury which they made the crowd shout. Their sin was great. The sanctity of their office, the greater light and grace they had received, ought to have made them models to their people.
Here is another sad proof of the truth of the old saying: ‘The best when corrupted become the worst.’ And this unhappily continues nowadays.
“The governor said to them, ‘Why what evil has he done?’”(Lk 23:22) This question ought to have reminded the Jewish people of the public life of Jesus which had brought blessings on them. Among them might have been many he had miraculously cured -- given sight, hearing, or use of their limbs. A still greater number delivered from the possession or tempations of the devil.
All our life, and especially since we entered into our state in life, we can remember many wonderful graces and blessings. They constantly flash across our minds, and ought to increase our love and devotion to Jesus. How is it, then, that we correspond so little with these graces, that we are so lukewarm in his service?
“He said to them the third time, ‘I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him, and let him go.’” (cf Lk 23:22) Three times Pilate had declared Jesus innocent.
Still, he condemned him to a cruel and shameful punishment. He aimed to save his life by exciting compassion for his sufferings; but did not see what the Jews were aiming at. Scourging often preceded crucifixion.
How often have our passions -- pride or sensuality -- made us act like fools? Have we tried to escape from the humiliations and mortifications which we ought to seek? Have we sought pleasures and distinctions which we knew well would harm us? Are we then, on guard against our passions? Do we earnestly fight them?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp136-8
The impact of the Incarnation in our life
The Incarnation should have a pronounced and dramatic impact on our life. This event is the central moment of human history. Without Christ, life has no meaning. “Christ the Redeemer ‘fully reveals man to himself’.” (John Paul II, Encyclical, “Redemptor hominis”, 4 March 1979, 11)
It is only through Christ that we will come to understand our inner self and everything that matters most to us: the hidden value of pain and of work well-done, the authentic peace and joy which surpass natural feelings and life’s uncertainties, the delightful prospect of the supernatural reward in our eternal homeland.
“Unceasingly contemplating the whole of Christ’s mystery, the Church knows with all the certainty of faith that the Redemption which took place through the cross has definitively restored his dignity to man and given back meaning to this life in the world, a meaning that was lost to a considerable extent because of sin.” (Ibid, 10)
The human testimony of the Son of God teaches us that all earthly realities ought to be loved and offered up to Heaven. Christ has transformed the human condition into a pathway to God. Consequently, the Christian’s struggle for perfection takes on a truly positive character. It does not mean erasing man’s humanity so that the divine might shine out instead.
Sanctity does not require total separation from worldly affairs. For it is not human nature that opposes God’s will, but sin and the effects of original sin which have so severely damaged our souls. Our struggle to become like Christ brings with it a life-long battle against whatsoever degrades our humanity -- egoism, envy, sensuality, a critical spirit ...
The authentic struggle for sanctity involves every aspect of the proper development of human personality: professional work, human and social virtues, love for everything that is truly human. Similarly, the humanity of Christ is not effaced by his divinity. Thus, through the Incarnation, the human condition preserves its integrity and finds its final end.
“Through his Incarnation, through his work at Nazareth and his preaching and miracles in Judaea and Galilee, through his death on the cross and through his Resurrection, Christ is the centre of the universe, the firstborn and Lord of all creation.
“Our task as Christians is to proclaim this kingship of Christ, announcing it through what we say and do. Our Lord wants men and women of his own in all walks of life. Some he calls away from society, asking them to give up involvement in the world, so they remind the rest of us by their example that God exists. To others he entrusts the priestly ministry. But he wants the vast majority to stay right where they are, in all earthly occupations in which they work: the factory, the laboratory, the farm, the trades, the streets of big cities and the trails of the mountains.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 105)
This is the context of our vocation.
Let us go to the Mother of Jesus who is also our Mother. “O Mary! ... by your conception you have brought our Saviour to the world ... O Mary, blessed be you among all women for ever ... the Godhead has become one with our humanity in such a permanent bond that nothing can break it -- not our ingratitude, not even death itself.” (St Catherine of Siena, “Elevaciones”, 15) Blessed are you!
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:179-180
Our Lady of Soissons, occupied by Benedictine nuns. In this abbey is seen one of the shoes of Our Lady. — Hugo Farcitus. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Soissons / 'Notre Dame de Soissons' (France, 1128). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
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