The Gospel
Matt 23:1‑12
The greatest among you must be your servant.
The exalted are humbled, the humble are exalted.
St. Gaspar
"Dear brothers, having these words of the Apostle in mind, we return this year to the spiritual exercises which may be the last of our lives! Should not devotion to the ministry and its responsibility before God and the people call us to a most studious examination of our lives? If St. Paul, that exalted preacher of the Gospel, trembled, "for, having been an announcer myself, I should not want to be disqualified;"[1] what, then, should be our portion who, in the light of so many circumstances, find every motive to truthfully acknowledge before the Divine Presence: "I hardly deserve the name apostle"[2] . . . ("If I am to boast"[3]) . . . "I shall be happy to make my weaknesses my special boast."[4] How important it is, therefore, to understand what the Apostle emphasizes in his letter to the Thessalonians: "Make a point of living quietly, attending to your own business . . . "[5] Certainly, it is upon these points that we must direct our examination to achieve what is implied in the text quoted."[6]
"Cultivate the virtue of humility, a virtue which I greatly urge you to develop."[7]
After awakening, we are to consecrate the beginning of the day to God: O God, you are my God, for you I long. (Ps 63:2). Time is to be given to holy meditation which will be conducted by the one chosen to proclaim the divine word on these holy days. A generous amount of time is to be allowed for private prayer and for the individual practice of the virtue of humility. It is written that the wisdom of God is given to those who humble themselves and become childlike in his presence: Giving wisdom to the simple. (Ps 19:8) [8]
Reflection
The Blood of Christ is the expression of an extravagantly generous love. This love calls for a response of loving obedience. Jesus challenges us to self-examination. Do we do what we do in life as a gift of self for others, or is everything done for self centered motives? The discipline of Lent teaches the heart again the utter dependence on and hunger for God. But these disciplines can be misused and bring other gratification as well, the affirmation and praise of others. All the titles used in our world and in our church, Teacher, Doctor, Father, Sister, Brother, Deacon, etc. are titles of service for others. Yet we can be tempted to depend on the gratification the title earns us, or we can be called to serve as the title of respect demands. St. Gaspar calls us to self examination as well, that we, who have cherished the Word of God, may not forget the call the Word give us. The Word calls us to humility as well. Humility is the simple truth that the One who created us is simply beyond us, that we are his children. When we act like we are in charge, or in control, we sin against the truth. Only servants know the truth.
[1] 1 Cor 9:27
[2] 1 Cor 15:19
[3] 2 Cor 11:30
[4] 2 Cor 12:9
[5] 1 Thess 4:11
[6] From the Third Circular Letter, 1829
[7] from letter 1281 to Luigi del Bufalo, December 9, 1825
[8] Method for Spiritual Exercises
Matt 23:1‑12
The greatest among you must be your servant.
The exalted are humbled, the humble are exalted.
St. Gaspar
"Dear brothers, having these words of the Apostle in mind, we return this year to the spiritual exercises which may be the last of our lives! Should not devotion to the ministry and its responsibility before God and the people call us to a most studious examination of our lives? If St. Paul, that exalted preacher of the Gospel, trembled, "for, having been an announcer myself, I should not want to be disqualified;"[1] what, then, should be our portion who, in the light of so many circumstances, find every motive to truthfully acknowledge before the Divine Presence: "I hardly deserve the name apostle"[2] . . . ("If I am to boast"[3]) . . . "I shall be happy to make my weaknesses my special boast."[4] How important it is, therefore, to understand what the Apostle emphasizes in his letter to the Thessalonians: "Make a point of living quietly, attending to your own business . . . "[5] Certainly, it is upon these points that we must direct our examination to achieve what is implied in the text quoted."[6]
"Cultivate the virtue of humility, a virtue which I greatly urge you to develop."[7]
After awakening, we are to consecrate the beginning of the day to God: O God, you are my God, for you I long. (Ps 63:2). Time is to be given to holy meditation which will be conducted by the one chosen to proclaim the divine word on these holy days. A generous amount of time is to be allowed for private prayer and for the individual practice of the virtue of humility. It is written that the wisdom of God is given to those who humble themselves and become childlike in his presence: Giving wisdom to the simple. (Ps 19:8) [8]
Reflection
The Blood of Christ is the expression of an extravagantly generous love. This love calls for a response of loving obedience. Jesus challenges us to self-examination. Do we do what we do in life as a gift of self for others, or is everything done for self centered motives? The discipline of Lent teaches the heart again the utter dependence on and hunger for God. But these disciplines can be misused and bring other gratification as well, the affirmation and praise of others. All the titles used in our world and in our church, Teacher, Doctor, Father, Sister, Brother, Deacon, etc. are titles of service for others. Yet we can be tempted to depend on the gratification the title earns us, or we can be called to serve as the title of respect demands. St. Gaspar calls us to self examination as well, that we, who have cherished the Word of God, may not forget the call the Word give us. The Word calls us to humility as well. Humility is the simple truth that the One who created us is simply beyond us, that we are his children. When we act like we are in charge, or in control, we sin against the truth. Only servants know the truth.
- How do I behave because of who I am or what I have done?
- What are some of the ways I can be a better servant?
- When was the last time I desired to be the greatest?
[1] 1 Cor 9:27
[2] 1 Cor 15:19
[3] 2 Cor 11:30
[4] 2 Cor 12:9
[5] 1 Thess 4:11
[6] From the Third Circular Letter, 1829
[7] from letter 1281 to Luigi del Bufalo, December 9, 1825
[8] Method for Spiritual Exercises
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