7 March 2013 3rd Week of Lent -- Thursday Jesus is taken captive; Apostles flee “Jesus came forward and asked them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’. Jesus replied, ‘I am he’. At his answer, they fell backward to the ground. ‘If therefore, you seek me, let these go away.’ ... Simon Peter, having a sword drew it and struck the servant of the high-priest, and cut off his right ear. The name of the servant was Malchus. Jesus, having touched his ear, healed it.” (cf Jn 18:4-8,10) Why did Jesus multiply proofs of his divinity by wonderful miracles at the start of his Passion? To show that being taken prisoner ‘... was his own will’, as Isaiah had foretold. Otherwise, how would the martyrs have replied to the insult of their tyrants? What folly to adore a God who was put to death by men! And how could the saints have convinced them that Jesus’ violent death was not due to powerlessness, but his love for the human race? Let us recognize and appreciate the indulgent goodness of God to men. If Jesus obliges them to humbly believe mysteries which they cannot understand, only because he says so, he helps their belief, not by grace alone, but through miracles which appeal to the senses. All these he is ready to repeat as often as necessary. How great was the blindness of the Jews! Despite the wonderful miracles which they witnessed, they persevered in their criminal intentions. And because he gave himself up, they thought they had conquered. There is proof that even miracles do not convert the man who indulges his passions. Passion blinds a man, stifling the voice of reason and conscience. On the other hand, Jesus yields; bound, shoved, struck, and grossly insulted all the way from Gethsemane to Jerusalem. Recall, then, the end of the promises of the disciples. All had assured their beloved Master that they were determined never to forsake him, to go with him to prison and to death. But as soon as they saw him bound, all shamefully abandoned him and fled. The words of Jesus were then verified -- “All you shall be scandalized in me this night” (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27), meaning they would be unfaithful. Seeing him led to prison they lost faith in his divinity, his omnipotence, and left him. For it is written, “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed” (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27). Such was the consequence of the Apostles’ presumption, and their neglect of prayer before the struggle, as Jesus had expressly advised them to do. We condemn the inconstancy and cowardice of the Apostles; blame them for deserting. But we deserve to be condemned, too for habitually being unfaithful to our promises and resolutions; and neglecting to pray. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp99-101 Prayer for Perseverance “O ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, Who, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, has vouchsafed once more to receive Thy prodigal child, after so many times going astray from Thee, and to admit me to this Sacrament of reconciliation; I give Thee thanks with all the powers of my soul for this and all other mercies, graces, and blessings bestowed on me; and prostrating myself at Thy sacred feet, I offer myself to be henceforth, forever Thine. “Oh, let nothing in life or death ever separate me from Thee. I renounce with my whole soul all my treasons against Thee; all the abominations and sins of my past life. I renew my promises made in Baptism; from now on, I dedicate myself eternally to Thy love and service. “Oh, grant that for the time to come I may abhor sin more than death itself, and avoid all such occasions and companies as have unhappily brought me to it. This I resolve to do, by the aid of Thy divine grace, without which I can do nothing. I beg Thy blessing upon these my resolutions, that they may not be ineffectual, like so many others I have formerly made; for, O Lord, without Thee I am nothing but misery and sin. Give me grace to be, now and always a true penitent, through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen.” Ref: Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p30 Your Grace Be Upon Us The Lord Jesus took the path of Lent together with His disciples during His life on earth. He continues to follow it together with His Church. Lent is the period of a particularly intense presence of Christ in the life of the Church. So we ought to try to get closer to Christ in a more special way during this season. We must live in intimacy with Him, open up our hearts to Him, our consciences: 'Lord, may your grace be upon us, because we hope in You.' Lent is especially a time when grace ought to be ‘over us’ in a particular fashion. Hence it is necessary for us simply to open up to it. God’s grace is actually not so much something to be won as something available, like a gift without impediments being raised. This is concretely possible through an attitude of deep prayer; and an attitude of sincere humility, because faith is precisely adherence of heart and mind to the Word of God. Finally, through practice of authentic charity, which should reflect that love the Lord has already made us the object. Just as the Lord commanded Abraham to set out on his path, so we, too set out once again along this path of Lent at the end of which is the Resurrection. We see that Christ overcomes death and causes life and immortality to shine forth by means of the Gospel. Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp115-6 • Our Lady of the Star, at Villa Viciosa, in Portugal, so called from a star, which a shepherd saw shining where the church is built.—(Triple Couronne, n. 17.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Nossa Senhora da estrala/ Our Lady of the Star. Villa-Vicioza, Portugal. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the Star, Villa Viciosa, Portugal. (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of the Star (Villa-Vicioza, Portugal). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)