4 September 2012 Jesus foretells His Passion: He teaches self-denial The Apostles believed in our Lord’s divinity, but still dreamed of his future royalty on earth which gratified their vanity. Jesus corrected them at once by teaching that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and scribes, chief priests; be put to death, and on the third day, rise again. Peter, actuated by a mistaken zeal for his Master’s glory, cried, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” (Mt 16:22). He was opposing the designs of the Son of God to redeem by the mystery of the cross. Turning towards Peter, Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Hebrew for ‘adversary’, given to Lucifer as the great enemy). “Your thoughts are not from God, but from man.” (Mk 8:33) Does this reproach apply to us when we prefer secular reading or studying to increase our reputation over the study of sanctity, practice of humility, mortification and piety? Man, redeemed from eternal ruin by the death and resurrection of Jesus, can attain eternal life and glory only by following him. Jesus made a total denial of himself which he wished his Apostles and all to fully understand. And calling the multitude together, with his disciples, he said to them, “If any man want to follow me” (to eternal life), “let him deny himself ...” (Mk 8:34). The self-denial Jesus rigorously exacts of us extends to everything which is an obstacle to eternal salvation. Even life is not excepted. For, Jesus said, “whoever will save his life” (at the expense of what he owes to God) “will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the Gospel, will save it” (Mk 8:35). He means: The true life of man is not his fragile existence in this world, but his future eternal life (happy or unhappy). He who would save or prolong his present life at the expense of his debt to God, will lose that life of eternal happiness. On the contrary, he who prefers to lose it rather than be false to God, will be sure of a happy eternity. He will have saved all, while the other will have lost all with nothing in return. Jesus adds, “What do you win by gaining the whole world but suffer the loss of your soul? There is nothing you can give to recover it.” (cf Mk 8:36) After saying, “If any man will follow me, ...” he continued, “take up his cross daily and follow me” (Mk 8:34). Though very contrary to our inclination, it is far easier to do than the first. It is not ‘his’ cross that Jesus obliges us to carry, but ‘our’ own, much lighter than his. Besides, he does not lay it on us. A cross is inevitable in life. But to bear it after him for supernatural motives, to resemble him more closely and earn a greater share in his heavenly glory, it will be light to us. We will slowly come to love it and be happy. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp556-8 Jesus Foretells His Death Three great holy days recall Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. The words which the Lord uses to announce his, by now, imminent end therefore make reference to glory. “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified ... Now my soul is in distress. Shall I say: ‘Father, save me from this hour’?” (Jn 12:23, 27) He then says the words which manifest the mystery of the redemptive death so profoundly: “Now judgment has come upon this world ... and when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself.” (Jn 12:31-2) That elevation of Christ from the earth is anterior to his elevation into glory. It is the elevation on the wood of the cross, the elevation of martyrdom, a mortal elevation. Jesus foretells his death in mysterious words: “I solemnly assure you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat.” (Jn 12:24) His death, the pledge of life is the source of life for us all. The Eternal Father pre-ordained that death in the order of grace and salvation, just as the death of the grain of wheat in the earth is ordained in the order of nature, so the seed may sprout and the ear bear much wheat. This then becomes daily bread and man feeds himself on it. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p157 Humility is indispensable for perseverance All miracles that Jesus worked manifested his loving and merciful heart. He never performed a miracle which hurt anyone. Nor did he work a miracle for its own sake. He was hungry, but did not ask for bread. He is thirsty and asks the Samaritan woman to give him to drink. (cf Jn 4:7) He was silent when Herod asks for a sign. The purpose of the miracles is so people “may believe that you sent me” (Jn 11:42). He transforms the corporal works of mercy into means of spiritual growth. Thus, the centurion became closer to the Lord after his servant was cured. (cf Mt 8:5-13; Lk 7:1-10) He could be among the first Gentiles to seek baptism after the feast of Pentecost. Our faith unites us to Christ the Redeemer with his dominion over all creation. It gives us a security greater than any human activity can provide; but we need to see ourselves as nothing before him. We must resolve always to follow his lead, no matter how we feel. Humility will teach us about our inherent weakness. St Augustine said: “Receive the Faith and persevere in it to the end of your life.” (St Augustine, “On the gift of perseverance”, 17, 47; 50, 641) Pride truly blocks faith. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) We must always pray for humility. Our Lady shows the perfect synthesis of faith and humility. Her cousin Elizabeth, moved by the Holy Spirit, greets Mary: “Blessed is she who believed.” Similarly, Mary responds with her 'Magnificat': “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; for he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. ...” God has seen Mary’s great humility and has decided to fill her with grace. (cf Lk 1:45 ff) Let us go to Mary that she may teach us how to grow in humility. “The Handmaid of the Lord is today the Queen of the Universe.” (A Orozco, “Looking to Mary”, Madrid 1981) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:22-3 • In the year 1419, Our Lady of Haut, in Hainaut, restored to life a young woman named Jane Maillard, who was drawing water from a very deep well, when the stone work at the top giving way, she fell to the bottom. She was taken out quite dead; but her mother having offered her by vow to Our Lady of Haut, she immediately showed signs of life. — Justus Lipsius, Our Lady of Hal, c. 10. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Haut (in Hainaut, France) commemorates a miracle of Our Lady. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Haut commemorates a miracle of Our Lady restoring life to a young woman. Hainaut, Belgium 1419. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Haut, Restores Life to a Young Woman. Belgium (1419). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of Haut (Belgium, 1419). (http://mariedenazareth.com) • Our Lady of the Cincture. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Consolation (celebrated in all Augustinian Communities worldwide) (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)