Jesus left Capharnaum for Jerusalem to celebrate the Pasch publicly for the second time, the second year of his ministry. As the sovereign lawgiver, he was not bound to observe the Jewish Pasch.
This should teach us how we ought to faithfully observe the laws, rules and established customs of society. In certain cases we might claim exemption; but let us keep them for love of regularity and to give edification. Jesus chose to observe it by a wonderful miracle. At one of the gates of Jerusalem is a pool of water, named Bethsaida in Hebrew, with five porches.
In these porches lay a great multitude of sick, blind, lame and withered, waiting for the moving of the water. An angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pool and the water was moved. Whoever goes first into the pool afterwards was cured of any infirmity.
There was a man who had been infirm for thirty-eight years. Jesus, touched with compassion when he saw the man, said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The poor man thought the question was a reproach, and replied, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. For while I am going, someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Arise, take your mat and walk” (cf Jn 5:5-9).
It is a great consolation to learn that the paralytic’s extreme misery is what drew our Lord’s attention to him in preference to so many others. Our miseries and spiritual infirmities, however great they may be, must not bring distrust or discouragement.
Let us go to Jesus, through our spiritual director, that ‘faithful friend’ whom the paralytic needed, and we shall obtain the cure of our spiritual diseases. But after we are cured, let us remember what our Lord said to the paralytic: “See, you have been made well! Do not sin anymore, so nothing worse happens to you.” (Jn 5:14)
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp410-12
Apostolate: An overflow of the interior life
Closeness to Jesus makes us learn how to be joyful, to be more understanding, and to love. In short, we learn how to be good Christians. The life united with Christ necessarily goes beyond the limited sphere of the individual. “The apostolate, of whatever kind it be, must be an overflow of the interior life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 239)
“This life of intimate union with Christ in the Church is maintained by the spiritual helps common to all the faithful, chiefly by active participation in the liturgy. Laymen ... while meeting their human obligations in ordinary conditions of life, do not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary lives; but carrying out their daily tasks, whose performance is God’s will for them, actually promote growth of their union with him.” (cf Second Vatican Council, “Apostolicam actuositatem”, 4)
Holy Communion, the Mass (true center of the Christian life), personal prayer and mortification enhance this union with God. This union will show itself in how we set about our daily work, in dealing with others, whether believers or not, and in the way we carry out our civic and social duties.
If we neglect this intimate union with God our apostolic effectiveness will weaken in the lives of people we habitually contact. At best, our advice becomes merely common sense devoid of supernatural content. Instead of Gospel doctrines, our personal beliefs emerge. If our heart is not in God we cannot share the words and the life that come from him.
Let us take a look at our prayer. Do we have a set time for it? Are we punctual? Do we ask Our Lady, St Joseph and our Guardian Angel to help us maintain a lively dialogue with God? Do we make at least one small but definite resolution about what needs correcting or improving in our daily life?
What efforts do we exert in preserving presence of God while walking along the street, at work, at home? How can we make God be more present there?
We ask St Joseph for fortitude of spirit in bringing Christ in all realities. With faith we see the example of his life: “... as a remarkably sound man who was in no way, fearful or diffident about life. On the contrary, he faced up to problems, dealt with difficult situations; and showed responsibility and initiative in whatever he was asked to do. ...” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 40)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:659-63
No Apostolate without Interior Life
A special recommendation, which I entrust to the Christian hearts of all laity. No apostolate exists, no apostolate can exist (either for priests or for laity) without interior life, without prayer, without a persevering striving toward holiness ...
Such holiness is the gift of Wisdom, which for the Christian, is a particular actuation of the Holy Spirit received in baptism and in confirmation: “May God grant me to speak suitably and to have thoughts at their worth: for he is the guide of Wisdom and director of the wise. For both we and our words are in his hand, as well as all prudence and knowledge of crafts.” (“Wisdom” 7:15-6)
May you all be called to sanctity! You have need of the abundance of the Holy Spirit for accomplishing the new and original task of the lay apostolate with his Wisdom! Hence you have to be united to Christ, for sharing in his sacerdotal [priestly], prophetic and royal office, in the difficult and marvelous circumstances of the Church and the world of today.
Yes. We must be in his hands so as to be able to accomplish our Christian vocation!In his hands for bringing all things to God. In the hands of the eternal Wisdom, for participating fruitfully in Christ’s own mission! In God’s hands for building his kingdom in the temporal realities of this world!
Dear brothers and sisters, I ask the Lord today for a holiness that may flourish in an original and creative apostolate, impregnated with divine Wisdom, I so pray for all of you, for all laity.
I implore this through the Virgin’s intercession.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp314-5
Dedication of the church of Jumieges [in honor of Mary (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)], in Normandy in the year 1067, by Maurice, Archbishop of Rouen, at the instance of King William. — Thomas Walsingham. (“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)
Dedication: Church of Jumieges, Normandy, France (1067). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
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