22 March 2013 5th Week of Lent -- Friday Barabbas compared with, and preferred to, Jesus “So after they have gathered, Pilate said, ‘You have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch. Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’” (Mt 27:17) Pilate had declared the innocence of Jesus. It was against his conscience to condemn him; but self-interest prevails to gratify the Jews, or lose favor before Cæsar. Conscience and interest put Pilate in a dilemma. He offered the people their choice between a hated criminal and the Saviour, whom till then they had reverenced so much. But his efforts proved futile. Always shirking from doing his duty and after some more futile attempts, he completed his evil work by condemning the innocent. He thus lost his own soul. How true are our Lord’s words -- ‘No man can serve two masters!’ It is impossible to steer a course between God and the world. We cannot hover between virtue and vice, even if the misdeed may be trivial. An unjust friendship, although based on good motives, may cause us qualms of conscience. Our good sense and spiritual director advise us to be decisive and abandon it. But we answer, ‘No, you expect too much; but I will be more careful for the future. My case is special.’ This delusion of self-love leads nowhere. Let us try to understand how much Jesus was insulted. Pilate placed him on a level with the greatest criminal in prison. To his surprise, the people unanimously demanded: “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Lk 23:18). Pilate’s wife warned him against getting involved in the passion of the Jews towards Jesus, an extraordinary grace granted Pilate at the critical moment -- debating between doing a great act of justice, which would have won his salvation, and an atrocious crime. He fell into disgrace and was banished; finally, killed himself. Most interpreters believe that the uneasiness of Pilate’s wife was an inspiration of grace which obtained her salvation. The Greeks honor her as St Claudia Procula. How many times and in how many ways have our guardian angels and directors warned and tried to strengthen us; when our passions dominate and darken our judgment; and we were vacillating between good and evil? These warnings were extraordinary graces. Did we correspond? Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp133-6 Striving for virtue God doesn’t ask the impossible. He expects all Christians to live the christian virtues in their entirety, even if they find themselves in environments that seem to be moving farther and farther away from God. He will give the graces necessary for being faithful in such situations. Furthermore, the good example He expects of all of us will often be the means of making Christ’s doctrine attractive to others, and of evangelizing again the world. To grow in the human and supernatural virtues, as well as in grace, we must make a personal effort to develop the practice of these virtues in our everyday lives “until we acquire authentic habits, and not only the appearance of virtue. The facade appears full of strength and resilience. But how much softness and lack of will-power there is within! You must hold to your determination not to let your virtues become fancy dress, but clothes that define your character.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 777) What is important is we should make a definite and loving decision to strive after virtue in our everyday affairs. The more we practise doing these good acts, the easier it will be to do them again. In this way we will identify ourselves more and more with Christ. Our Lady, “Model and school of all virtues” (St Ambrose, “Treatise on Virginity”, 2) will teach us to achieve our wish if we turn to her for help and advice. She will make it easier for us to reach the goal we have set in our particular examination of conscience wherein we will often decide to aim at the acquisition of a very specific virtue. Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:137-8 “Paid in full with one glass of milk” (A touching true story, on the power of one good act. This anecdote is copied from “Word Alive” by Fr Bel R San Luis, SVD, “Manila Bulletin”, 2 Sept 2001.) One day a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” “Then, I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man became strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ... “Paid in full with one glass of milk.” (Signed) Dr Howard Kelly The intercession of our Mother The Church has always shown us the way to ensure that our petitions reach God more promptly through the mediation of Mary, Mother of God. We turn to her now: · “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence I fly to thee Oh Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.” (“Memorare” prayer by St Bernard of Clairvaux in “Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, pp636-7) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:54 • On Palm Sunday, in the year 1098, St. Robert, Abbot of Moleme, retired with twenty-one of his monks to the diocese of Chalons-sur-Saone, where he built, in honor of Our Lady, the celebrated monastery of Citeaux, the head house of the order. —(Arnold Vionus, lib. L; Ligni vitae c. 47.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Notre Dame de Citeaux. France. 1098. Constructed by St. Robert. • Our Lady of Citeaux, France (1098), built by St. Robert. (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of Citeaux. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)