Jesus, back to Jerusalem, spent most of the day in the Temple teaching, chiefly in parables. “He saw how the people put money into the collection box. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.
“He called his disciples, and told them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all those who donated to the treasury. They gave from their abundance, but she of her want cast in all she has to live on.’” (Mk 12:41-4)
The Scribes and Pharisees, in order to ensnare Jesus, hoping to make him look bad to the people, or a criminal in the eyes of the Roman government, came to him with a cunning question--
“Tell us what you think. ‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why do you test me, hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ They brought him a small Roman coin and he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose inscription?’ They replied, ‘Caesar’s’. At that he said to them, ‘Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ ... taken aback by this reply, they went away.” (Mt 22:17-22)
We do wrong to yield to fear and discouragement when we see the enemies of religion craftily endeavoring to ensnare us. Such a weakness is injurious to God and hurtful to ourselves.
After Jesus had confounded the Scribes, the Sadducees came on a similar task. “Master”, they said, speaking of a woman who had successively married seven brothers, “at the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven shall she be, for they all had her?” (Lk 20:32)
“Our Lord answered, ‘In the resurrection they will neither marry nor be married, but will be as the angels of God in heaven’.” (Lk 20:34-6)
What consoling words! Like angels who are pure spirits? Yes, as the Apostle says, because our body shall rise a spiritual body, possessed of angelic qualities -- agile, lucid, subtle, and incorruptible.
“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug in it a wine-press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went into a far country.” (Mt 21:33)
It must have been almost impossible for the Jewish priests and rulers not to have understood the meaning of this parable. So clearly does it refer to Almighty God and his chosen people, whom he blessed above all others, and who made so ungrateful a return.
The vineyard is our religion. The fence is our norms; the wine-press, pouring its costly juice, is an image of our spiritual life from which flows an inexhaustible stream of grace and merit. The tower represents the tabernacle, from where our Lord watches with a special care over those admitted into his vineyard.
He has let out to us this vineyard that we may labor in, and cultivate, it. He appears to be distant, hidden from our eyes, though near in reality, observing if we are faithful and diligent; preparing a reward proportioned to our efforts.
“When harvest time had come, he sent his servants to the tenants, to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; they were treated in like manner.” (Mt 21:33)
“Finally, he sent his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son’. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him and get his inheritance’. So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (Mt 21:34-9)
Here our Lord refers not only to the obstinate and ungrateful Jews, but to those unhappy Christians who despite warnings of their spiritual directors, the representatives of God, and the inspirations of their guardian angels -- leave the vine committed to their care uncultivated, and consequently, produce no fruit.
Jesus concludes, “When, therefore, the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” (Mt 21:40) The Jews reply, unconsciously pronouncing their condemnation: “He will put those wretches to a miserable death; and lease the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him the fruits at harvest time.” (Mt 21:41)
Jesus confirms it in these words: “I tell you, the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a people that produces fruits of the kingdom.” (Mt 21:43)
Many of us after long years in spiritual formation and direction, deserve such penalty. Let us be truly sincere with our spiritual director. As to our sins, temptations, fears and doubts, follow his advice.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp747-51
On the ‘Via Dolorosa’
“The Saviour walked, his body bowed down under the weight of the Cross, his eyes swollen and almost blinded by blood and sweat and tears; each step made painfully slow and difficult by his failing strength. His knees buckled as he virtually dragged himself along behind his two companions in punishment. The Jews laughed; the executioners and the soldiers pushed them forward.” (L de la Palma, “The Passion of the Lord”)
In the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, we contemplate Jesus carrying his cross. “We are sad, living the Passion of Our Lord Jesus. See how lovingly He embraces the Cross. Learn from him. Jesus carries the Cross for you: you carry it for him.
“But don’t drag the Cross ... Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your Cross, if you carry it like that, will not just be any cross ... It will be the Holy Cross.
"Don’t carry your Cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the Cross. When you really love it, your Cross will be ... a Cross without a Cross.
“And surely you will find Mary on the way, as Jesus did.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Holy Rosary”, Fourth Sorrowful Mystery)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:271-2
The little we do, Our Lord increases
Sometimes, Jesus makes us see the problems are too great for us, that we are helpless. He asks us not to focus on the material resources, because they may only cause us to be pessimistic. Instead, we should rely more on the supernatural means ie, to count on him and his power.
Our Lord wants us to avoid thinking the solution lies in human effort alone. He also wants us to avoid passivity, which under the pretext of total abandonment in God’s hands, converts hope into a disguised spiritual laziness. Jesus asks us for faith, obedience, daring and always to do whatever we can; not to omit available human means.
“The farmer, as he proceeds to turn over the furrows of his field, or scatter seed, suffers cold, bears the discomfort of rain, looks at the sky ... sees it overcast, nevertheless, continues sowing. The only thing he fears is he may be held by woes of life and time will go by, leaving him with nothing to harvest. Don’t put it off till later; do your sowing now.” (cf St Augustine, “Commentary on Psalm 125, 5”, PL 36, 164)
Do this even if probably the field will not yield anything. Don’t wait until we have all the human means or when all difficulties disappear. On the supernatural plane Our Lord blesses our efforts, multiplies them; always brings fruit.
As in the multiplication of the loaves and fishes Jesus makes use of whatever is available. He added the rest. But he did not wish to do without the human means (in reality he desires our cooperation) although they were few. To count on God always is a good sign of humility.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:367-70
• Confirmation of the Feast of the Conception of Our Lady, by the Council of Trent, in the year 1545. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Confirmation of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Council of Trent 1545). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Council of Trent confirms the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 1545. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Lyons, France (1643). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• “Notre Dame de Lyons”. France. 1643. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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