18 March 2013 5th Week of Lent -- Monday Pilate interrogates Jesus Jesus Christ was not King of the Jews, nor of this world, in the ordinary sense. His kingdom is the Church, the assembly of all those who willingly follow his teaching and observe his laws. The Church is in the world, but not of it. She came down from heaven, and earth is but the place of her pilgrimage and her trials. She will return to heaven where the glorious and everlasting kingdom of Jesus and his disciples shall last forever. This was the kingdom he meant when he said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn 18:36); and again, when he says to his disciples, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Lk 12:31). How great is our happiness in becoming, by holy Baptism, children of the Church and subjects of Jesus Christ by professing the Christian faith! If we choose, the kingdom of heaven is ours. Although ‘in’ the world, we are not ‘of’ the world. We must live in spirit in heaven, as the Apostle says, ‘Our conversation is in heaven’. Pilate’s conduct is a striking example of human instability. He really desired to know the truth about the wonderful Being whom the world thought of so differently, and who was now before him. This desire increased after he had heard him say, “For this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth” (Jn 18:37). Naturally he asked, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38) Apparently, he eagerly awaited the reply. Yet, when given, he ignored it and quickly left the judgment-hall. We fully condemn Pilate’s weakness and vacillation; but has our conduct been similar? Before acting or deciding in difficult circumstances, we usually invoke: ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, thus begging to know his will. But, we often decide hastily without awaiting to hear his reply. Do we thus imitate Pilate’s lack of resolve? Pilate, wise and experienced, initially was sure the crimes alleged against Jesus could not be proved. As judge, however, he questioned Jesus about his kingdom. Jesus’ answers clearly showed that his kingdom was not opposed to the earthly rulers. Thus, he pronounced -- “I find no case against him” (Jn 18:38). Pilate, although vacillating, was just and a lover of truth. If he had been as firm as he was just, he would never have condemned Jesus. Afraid to get into trouble, human respect prevailed on him. Weak and timid, the Jews craftily worked upon his fears, and extorted the unjust sentence from him. This is the devil’s way with us -- he studies our weak points, and takes advantage of them. Once we are off our guard, he entraps us with subtle snares. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp126-8 A life close to the Cross To be a disciple of Our Lord means to follow his advice: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt 16:24) It is not possible to follow Our Lord without the Cross. The words of Jesus are relevant in all ages, since they are directed to each and every man. To take up the cross -- acceptance of the contradictions that God permits, the costly fulfilment of our duties, Christian mortification voluntarily accepted -- is the indispensable condition for following the Master. “What would become of a Gospel, of a Christianity, without the Cross, without pain, the sacrifice of pain? It would be a Gospel, a Christianity without Redemption, with no Salvation; a Redemption and Salvation of which, and we ought to recognise with unmitigated sincerity, we stand in absolute need. The Lord has saved us with the Cross; with his death. He has given us hope again, the right to life. ...” (cf Paul VI, “Address”, 24 Mar 1967) It would be a valueless Christianity, useless in reaching Heaven, for “the world cannot be saved except with the Cross of Christ”. (St Leo the Great, “Sermon 51”) United to the Lord, mortifications, voluntary or passive, acquire their deepest meaning. They are a ‘participation’ in the mystery of the Redemption. To some, mortification can signify madness or stupidity, some kind of relic carried over from earlier eras which is inappropriate to the progress and cultural development of the twenty-first century. But none of this should surprise us. St Paul had already written that “it is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23). Christians who lose sight of the supernatural meaning of their lives fail to understand that we can only follow Christ through a life of sacrifice, beside the Cross. “If you don’t deny yourself, you never will be a soul of prayer. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 172) “To suppose that He would admit to his close friendship pleasure-loving people who want to be free from all trials is ridiculous.” (St Theresa, “The Way of Perfection”, 18, 2) Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:113-5 In Christ we contemplate the sorrows of mankind In him led publicly to execution and exposed to a humiliating death; -- the Man of sorrow -- predicted by Isaiah, is summed up and sanctified every human sorrow. Servant of the Father, Firstborn among many brothers, the Head of humanity, he transforms man’s suffering into an offering that pleases God, a redeeming sacrifice. The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, the faithful Witness who sums up in himself, and ennobles, every martyrdom. On the ‘Via Dolorosa’ and on Golgotha is his Mother, the first Martyr. And with the heart of his Mother, to whom he consigned as his testament from the Cross every disciple and every man, we contemplate, with emotion, Christ’s sufferings, learning from him obedience until death, even death on the Cross; learning from her to accept every man as our brother, to be with her near the innumerable crosses to which the Lord of glory is still unjustly nailed, not his glorious Body but the suffering limbs of his mystical Body. Ref: Cf “The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II”, 1993, p69 St Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and Doctor of the Church -- He is known mainly for his Catecheses which remain relevant, conclusively showing that Catholic doctrine is the same then (+386) and now. (Fr James Socias et al [Eds], Daily Roman Missal, p1493) • In the year 1686, Our Lady of Loretto, was erected into a cathedral by Sixtus V., having been previously a collegiate church.—(Tursellini, Historia Lauretana, v. 10.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Loreto. (The house where Mary and Joseph raised Jesus.) History and links. Cathedral built by Pope Sixtus V. 1586. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Loretto (Cathedral built by Pope Sixtus V). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Mercy. Patroness of Savona, Italy. Pope Pius VII freed from Napoleon's captivity in Savona this day, 1814. Connection to Our Lady of Mercy Sept. 24. Marian apparitions in Savona, including 1536 event which this feast commemorates. John Paul II speech on Pius VII and Savona. Statue in Buenos Aires. Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy. Saves Ajaccio, France, from the black death, 1656. Paintings from Savona Shrine. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Cathedral of Our Lady of Loretto, erected (1586) (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of Mercy of Savona. (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)