6 July 2010: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’

Our Lord chose the twelve apostles that he might “send them to preach” (Mk 3:14), and thus transmit by them and their successors in the apostolate, his divine doctrines to all nations and all generations. He began immediately to teach them what they were to say.

On arriving at the foot of the mountain where the people could see and hear him, he found a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea-coasts of Tyre and Sidon. He had drawn them there by his Providence, to accomplish his will of having many witnesses to the truth that the doctrine preached by the Apostles and their successors was indeed his Gospel, the pure Word of God.

On being seated, his disciples came to him. He began to speak and delivered a long ‘Sermon on the Mount’ which contains the substance of the law of God.

Let us show our gratitude to God who allowed us to be born in the bosom of the Catholic Church, the only guardian of the eternal truth taught by the Son of God. Whoever makes it the rule of his life shall be saved.

Our Lord commenced his discourse by laying down the principles of true happiness. These had been corrupted by pagan vices and Jewish prejudices; as they are nowadays by a proud and sensual world. And there is a great contrast between the beatitudes which the world proclaims, and those of Jesus Christ.

The world says, ‘Blessed are the rich’. Our Lord says, “Blessed are the poor” (Mt 5:3), not exactly poor by birth, but poor in spirit, detached in heart and mind from the possessions of earth for the love of God. Why are they blessed? “Because, theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:4); because even in this life, having neither fear nor anxiety, they are in peace, a foretaste of heaven.

Among the poor whom Jesus Christ calls blessed we can distinguish three classes: First, the actual poor, perfectly resigned to the will of God; second, the rich who are really poor in spirit; and third, the voluntary poor, who have stripped themselves forever of all things to follow Jesus Christ in poverty.

Let us try to make the worldly (who love this world) understand the folly and disappointment of the pursuit of riches; and how noble and wise a thing it is to exchange the fleeting and perishable possessions of earth for the eternal treasures of the world to come.

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp422-4

Thanksgiving after Mass and Holy Communion

In our relationship with Our Lord we should thank him many times every day, because he surrounds us with his care and his gifts: “my soul will be filled to overflowing” (C Journet, “The Meaning of Grace”). However, there is a very special moment in which Our Lord fills us with his gifts and during which we should be particularly grateful, namely thanksgiving after Mass.

There should be acts of adoration, petition, humility, atonement and thanksgiving. “The saints have constantly told us the most precious moment of our spiritual lives must be the thanks we give for receiving the Eucharist.” (cf R Garrigou-Lagrange, “The Three Ages of the Interior Life”)

In Holy Communion we see Jesus the physician. He has the remedy for all our illnesses. We approach Communion as he was approached by the blind, the deaf, the paralytic ... Let us not forget we have the Source of all life putting himself at our disposal within our souls: The Life.

Jesus is The Teacher who has the words of eternal life; and we are so ignorant! He is constantly teaching; but we must be attentive. If our imagination, our memory and senses go wild, we will fail to hear him.

Through Communion we look at our True Friend, from whom we learn about friendship. We tell him what is happening in our life. He will always encourage and console us. At times we ask the help of our Guardian Angel: ‘Thank him for me; you know how to do it better.’

There is no one better than Our Lady, who carried God’s Son in her womb for nine months, to teach us how to treat him better in our thanksgiving after Communion. Let us have recourse to her.

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:444-6

Contact with Jesus

Christian life is not made up of rigid norms for the Holy Spirit does not guide souls collectively, but inspires each one with resolutions, inspirations and affections that will help it to recognize and fulfil the will of the Father. Still, I feel that, on many occasions, the central theme of our thanksgiving after holy Mass, can be the consideration that our Lord is our king, physician, teacher and friend.

He is our king. He desires ardently to rule our hearts, because we are children of God. But we should not try to imagine a human sort of rule -- Christ does not dominate or seek to impose himself, because he “has not come to be served but to serve” (Mt 20:28).

His kingdom is one of peace, joy, justice. Christ our King does not expect us to spend our time in abstract reasoning; but deeds. “... not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven ...” (Mt 7:21).

He is our physician, and heals our selfishness, if we let his grace penetrate the depths of our soul. Jesus has taught: the worst sickness is hypocrisy, the pride that leads us to hide our sins. We must be totally sincere with him, then say: “Lord, if you will”, -- and you are always willing -- “you can make me clean” (Mt 8:2).

He is a teacher with a knowledge only he possesses, the knowledge of unlimited love for God, and, in God, for all men. Jesus expects us to nourish the desire to acquire this knowledge, so that he can repeat to us: “If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink.” (Jn 7:37)

He is our Friend, the Friend. He calls us his friends; the one who took the first step, because he loved us first. Still, he does not impose his love -- he offers it.

Ref: cf Fr M Guzman, “Encounters with Christ”, 1990, pp130-32

Our Lady of Iron ('Notre Dame d'Iron'), near Blois in Dunois. It was in this chapel that, about the year 1631, a child who had been smothered by struggling in its cradle, came to life the moment its parents had devoted it to Our Lady of Iron. — Archives of the Chapel. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)

'Notre Dame d'Iron'. Blois, Dunois, France. 1631. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)