A fact Evangelists tell us shows how affable and gentle our Lord was; always gracious and easy of access.
While discussing with the Scribes and Pharisees the laws of marriage and prerogatives of virginity, “little children were presented to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray” (Mt 19:13). It was a difficult time on the part of the mothers; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them ...” (Mk 10:13).
Affability, that virtue of gently receiving and listening to whoever come to us is desirable especially in those devoted to works of charity. Do we pass in this respect? Is our manner often cold, sometimes brusque or repulsive? Are we gentle and affable to strangers; but harsh towards our colleagues and subordinates?
Jesus not only allowed these mothers to approach him and present their little children; but chose to show his interest and fatherly tenderness. “... embracing them, laying his hands, he blessed them” (cf Mk 10:16). He saw in each of the children the living image of his Heavenly Father: a soul of infinite price created for heaven, but coveted by the devil.
We may also feel tenderness for the children we have to raise and educate, but is it founded on supernatural motives? Animated by faith? Free from over-natural, earthly, or sensual affection?
Let us be careful on this point. Those more confirmed in virtue than we, have been led, slowly, into errors which were terrible for themselves and their group.
There is another circumstance about this presentation of little children to Jesus. Immediately after saying, “Suffer the little children to come to me”, he added, “for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mk 10:15)
By these words Jesus warned against the example of the proud and obstinate Pharisees; urged his listeners to abide by his teaching with the simplicity and docility of a child.
Do we seek and seize upon occasions of promoting the salvation of others as Jesus did? Is this zeal shown in our behavior? God will demand an account from us.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp695-7
The call to participate in God’s interior life
God repeats many times his desire to engage in a loving dialogue with his creatures which will take definitive form in Heaven. How have we responded to the numerous invitations we constantly receive from the Lord?
Does our prayer bring us into close friendship with Him? Do we feel responsible for bringing this invitation to others?
To reject the Lord’s invitation is a very serious matter as if God were of little relevance and not prepare for his coming. The problem is in giving priority to earthly realities over eternal truths.
It is very alarming to find so many rejecting intimacy with God and eternal salvation for the sake of worldly interests! And yet God excludes no one.
Whoever ignores our Lord’s repeated invitations excludes himself out. If we are true disciples, we must unite ourselves to the saving Will of God and make everyone a focus of our apostolic concerns especially the willfully ignorant. Like Jesus, we must be interested in the salvation of all souls: young, old, laborers, professionals.
It is very essential that we bring souls to the Lord one by one. We must have the same concern for the people we work with every day. “Bear with all, just as the Lord does with you.” (St Ignatius of Antioch, “Epistle to St Polycarp”, 1, 2)
We should open new horizons for our friends who may suffer from a limited human outlook. We must show them the need to confidently approach God.
Let us encourage them to offer their work to Him; to get to the root of that interior emptiness they may experience. Everyone who passes close to us should grow in the knowledge of God through our words and example. We should seek every opportunity to patiently speak to them about the bearing of eternal life to earthly happiness.
Our Mother Mary will teach us how to treat everyone with the interest and respect she showed for her Son.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:211-4
To All Christians
Among Christians today there exists a deep awareness of the necessity to be perfectly united in Christ and in His Church: to be according to Christ’s prayer only ...
The work of reconciliation, the path towards unity may be long and difficult. But, as on the road to Emmaus, the Lord is with us. He will be with us until the much awaited moment comes when we shall be able to rejoice together in acknowledgement of Him in the Sacred Scriptures and in “the breaking of bread” (Lk 24:35). Internal renewal of the Catholic Church, in full fidelity to the Second Vatican Council, is in itself an indispensable contribution to the work of the unity of Christians.
While, in our respective churches, we make progress in sanctity and authenticity of Christian life, we must also become more and more united with Christ, therefore more united among ourselves in Christ. He alone can bring our hopes to fulfilment. “Things that are impossible for men are possible for God.” (Lk 18:27)
Let us go on examining the necessity for common service to a world which needs it. All Christians ought to rise together in defense of spiritual and moral values against the pressure of materialism and moral permissiveness. Christians ought to unite in promoting justice and defending the rights and dignity of every human person.
We must urge citizens, communities and politicians towards the paths of tolerance, cooperation and love.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p66
Struggle
79 “I will not stop repeating until it is deeply engraved in your soul: Piety, piety, piety! For if you lack charity it will be for want of interior life, not for any defect of character.”
83 “Interior life is strengthened by a daily struggle in your practices of piety, which you should fulfill, or rather live, lovingly, for the path we travel as children of God is a path of Love.”
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”
• Our Lady of the Pond, near Dijon. This image of baked earth was discovered in the year 1531, on occasion of an ox stopping always in this place, and though he grazed there constantly, the grass was always found still more abundant. — (Triple Couronne, n. 42. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• “Notre-Dame de l'Étang”. (Our Lady of the Pond). Dijon, France. 1531. Poem, Pèlerinage à Notre-Dame-de-l'Étang, by Aloysius Bertrand. ..., citing François Poiré, Triple Couronne ... (Bénédictins de Solesmes, France, 1849), n. 42. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Pond, Dijon, France (1531). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
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