6 March 2010: Jesus scolds His disciples

“He comes to his disciples, and finds them asleep; ... he said to Peter, ‘So, you could not stay awake with me one hour? ... the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak’.” (Mt 26:40-41) The reproach surprised the three Apostles. “... they knew not what to answer him” (Mk 14:40). It especially embittered St Peter, who earlier had promised fidelity and constancy; the reason Jesus addressed him personally.

“Simon, I, thy master, have prayed and endured an extreme agony, you have not the courage to watch one hour with me in prayer, though I expressly commanded you to do so. ... Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation.” (cf Mk 14:38; cf Mt 26:41)

Spiritual lukewarmness is a very dangerous state. Whoever is lukewarm falls into fatal delusions. Intending to do well, and like the Apostles, liberal in grand promises, he falsely equates willing with doing. As if we have the strength to work out our salvation.

Jesus says, “The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt 26:41). That is why he immediately adds, 'Watch and pray'. Be always on your guard, always distrustful of self, always armed with prayer. If not, we will certainly fall under temptation, open to our enemies.

Jesus firmly meets tortures and death, showing the powerful effects of that long and fervent prayer to his Father. We also see, in the shameful flight of the Apostles at the first hint of danger, the loss to the soul which neglects to seek God in fervent prayer.

From prayer we draw the strength needed in times of difficulty. “... leaving them, he went again and prayed ... Then he comes to his disciples, and said to them, ‘Sleep now, take your rest; the hour has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go; he who will betray me is here.’” (Mk 14:41-2)

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p94-6

The Christian meaning of death

Original sin brought with it the loss of friendship with God and the consequent loss of that gift of immortality. Death, the wages of sin (Rom 6:23), entered a world which had been created for living beings. At death, man loses everything he possessed in life. The opportunity to acquire merit for eternal life ends with death. Night comes when no one can work. (Jn 9:4)

Death has been finally conquered with the Resurrection of Christ. Man is no longer a slave to death, but now has dominion over death, if he so chooses. (cf 1 Cor 15:54-8) We achieve this sovereignty insofar as we are united to him who holds the keys of death (Rev 1:18). Sin is the true death -- the soul separated from God.

The moment of death is difficult for every creature. But ever since the Redemption wrought by Christ, death has for us assumed a completely different meaning. No longer a just punishment for sin; but the culmination of our abandonment into the hands of our Redeemer, the passage to a new life of eternal happiness.

Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:412-5

A Path of Faith

Lent is presented ‘in the likeness of a path’, like that to which God called Abraham: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land I will show you.” (Gen 12:1) He set off, without lingering nor any support other than the divine promise.

Lent is a journey for us, too. We are called to face it with determination; to entrust ourselves to the plans God has for us. Even though the journey may be full of trials, St Paul assures us that, like Timothy, each of us is helped by “the strength which comes from God” (2 Tim 1:8).

And the country toward which we are heading is ‘the Christian’s new life’. It is a paschal Life, which can be realized only through the ‘power’ and the ‘grace’ of God: a mysterious power, “the grace held out to us in Christ Jesus before the world began but now made manifest by the appearance of our Savior. He has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the gospel.” (2 Tim 1:9-10)

The letter to Timothy also points out that the bread of new life is given to us because of a mysterious calling and assignment on God’s part “not because of any merit of ours but according to His own design” (2 Tim 1:9). So we ought to be men and women of faith, like Abraham; that is, who do not count so much on themselves as on the word, the grace and the power of God.

The Lord Jesus, while living on earth, personally revealed this way to His disciples.

Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp113-4

Your Grace Be Upon Us

The Lord Jesus took the path of Lent together with His disciples during His life on earth. He continues to follow it together with His Church. Lent is the period of a particularly intense presence of Christ in the life of the Church. So we ought to try to get closer to Christ in a more special way during this season.

We must live in intimacy with Him, open up our hearts to Him, our consciences: Lord, may your grace be upon us, because we hope in You. Lent is especially a time when grace ought to be ‘over us’ in a particular fashion. Hence, it is necessary for us simply to open up to it.

God’s grace is actually not so much something to be won as something available, like a gift without impediments being raised. This is concretely possible through an attitude of deep prayer; and an attitude of sincere humility, because faith is precisely adherence of heart and mind to the Word of God. Finally, through practice of authentic charity, which should reflect that love the Lord has already made us the object.

Just as the Lord commanded Abraham to set out on his path, so we, too set out once again along this path of Lent at the end of which is the Resurrection. We see that Christ overcomes death and causes life and immortality to shine forth by means of the Gospel.

Ref: Ibid, pp115-6

Our Lady of Nazareth, at Black Rock, in Portugal. This image was honored at Nazareth in the time of the apostles, if we may believe a writing, which was found by a hunter, attached to this image in the year 1150. — Triple Couronne, n. 13. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)

Our Lady of Nazareth (‘Pierre Noire’, Portugal, 1150) (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)

Nossa Senhora do Nazareth. Pierre-Noire, Portugal. 1150. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)