As soon as our Lord’s Soul and Body were reunited, the latter, formerly subject to all human infirmities -- cold, hunger, weariness, the pains and sorrows of death -- became absolutely impassible and immortal: “Death shall have no more dominion over him.” (Rom 6:9)
How did Jesus, as man, merit such glorious gifts? By his death and sufferings, endured for his Father’s glory and man’s salvation. We shall receive the same gifts on the same conditions. Why fear death then?
Let us sanctify our sufferings by accepting them, as well as death itself, with total resignation to the will of our heavenly Father. Let us offer them up in expiation of our sins, and those of others, after the example of our Lord. The more we suffer with him, the larger our share in the wonderful perfections of his glorified body.
A ‘spiritual’ body has ‘spiritual’ properties, such as the power of penetrating matter, of passing at a single act of the will from one place to another, at whatever distance. How, we cannot understand, much less explain.
Nevertheless, such were the properties of our Lord’s glorified body. He proved this ability by appearing several times amidst the disciples, when the doors of the rooms in which they were gathered were shut. He disappeared again without their being able to follow him.
Such will be the perfection of glorified bodies of the just. “It is sown a natural body, it shall rise a spiritual body” (1 Cor 15:44); provided I endeavor to live a spiritual life. “If by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.” (St Paul) Does my conscience testify I have done this?
Those who walk in the dark provide themselves with a light. For Jesus risen there is no more darkness. His glorified body is its own light. The splendors of his divinity, flowing from his Soul to his Body, make him more radiant than the sun at noon. The apostles had seen something of this glory during his transfiguration.
If I share the resurrection of the just, such will also be the radiance of my body. Its brilliance proportional to the mortifications it has been subjected to, and labors endured for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp188-90
The enemies of grace
The grace we receive in Baptism, which is intended to reach its full development, is threatened by the same perennial enemies: selfishness, sensuality, doctrinal errors and confusion, laziness, envy, slander, calumny, etc. In all ages we can perceive the wounds of original sin and of personal sins.
We must seek the remedy and antidote in the only place where it is to be found: in Jesus Christ and in his saving doctrine. We must continue contemplating him on the Cross if we truly want to reach the Promised Land at the end of this short journey. That is all what really counts in life.
Since we do not want to reach our destination alone, we will strive to get many others to look at Jesus, our salvation. Place before our eyes his most Holy Humanity, contemplate him in the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, in the Way of the Cross, in the scenes that the Gospels narrate for us, or in the Tabernacle.
Only with great piety will we have the strength against the harassment of a world which seems to want our separation more and more from God, dragging with it anyone who is not on firm and sure ground. We cannot turn our gaze away from God, because we see the havoc that the enemy wreaks around us every day. By himself, nobody is immune.
“Thy face, Lord, do I seek; hide not thy face from me.” (Ps 26) We must grow in fortitude by means of a loving and constant conversation with Jesus, through prayer, keeping presence of God throughout the day, and visits to the Blessed Sacrament. We must remember, too that Our Lord is not only the remedy for our weakness. He is also our Love.
In order to keep Jesus present during the day, we will need ‘human devices’ -- acts of Love and reparation, aspirations, spiritual Communions, ‘glances’ at a picture of Our Lady (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Way", 272) -- some means to remind us that time has elapsed when we have not turned to Our Lord, Our Lady, our guardian angel. “Ejaculatory prayers do not hinder your work, just as the beating of your heart does not impede the movements of the body.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 516)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:214-9
With Baptism, Walk in a New Life
Baptism finds its deepest meaning in the fact that we are bringing a new and extraordinary relationship of grace into being between God and creatures ... With this Sacrament, God’s Fatherhood is imparted in a new way, and whoever receives it acquires a fresh relationship of preference in His regard.
A condition of intimate communion with Him is actually set up which represents the overcoming of all interior alienation because of sin and, as St Paul writes, formation of a “new creation” (2 Cor 5:17).
We rejoice keenly with profound spiritual delight. Ours is the joy of the divine family. A number of new members enter to become part of the family of God; and while they acquire a new Father in Him, they also find new brethren in us, ready to receive them, with concern and exultation, into the great community of the children of God.
After His Baptism, Jesus “went about doing good works and healing all” (Acts 10:38). Baptism must be made ‘manifest in concrete living’, with luminous and adequate testimony.
“Through baptism into his death, we were buried with him so, just as Christ was raised from the dead ... we, too might live a new life.” (cf Rom 6:4) Let us ask the Lord to “strengthen us inwardly through the power of his Spirit” (Eph 3:16), to live always for his greater glory. Amen.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p55
Our Lady -- “Have confidence. Return. Invoke our Lady and you’ll be faithful.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 514)
Feast of the miracles of Our Lady, at Cambron, near Mons, in the Low Countries. — Locrius. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of the Valley, Sicily (1040). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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