The Gospel
Matt 20:17‑28
Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?
St. Gaspar
"Enter on this holy retreat, therefore, holding in your hands the book of the crucifix." [1]
"Do you know that even good souls must bear crosses? That is how God disposes things. The heart is straightforward, but the mind is dimmed. Recall the resolutions made during our retreat and now put them into execution. Bear your cross with equilibrium and, through suffering, prepare yourself to suffer even more, until 'proved through all' you will be a mystical stone fit for the celestial Jerusalem."[2]
Would that he grant us to drink only a drop from that Chalice of bitterness which he drank to the dregs for us, to the most loving Father. St. Francis de Sales used to say that Paradise is a mountain (I will never tire of repeating it to all) which one scales more easily with broken legs than with whole ones. Happily per multas tribulationes[3], let us hope to reach the goal of our desires.[4]
Reflection
Doing what Jesus does sometimes leads to misunderstanding and persecutions. Professing respect for the dignity of life from conception to natural death can lead to people considering you "intolerant." Professing faith in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life can be misunderstood as violence against other faiths, and yet we take up the cross, we drink his cup, seeking only to serve him. And, if we are misunderstood or criticized, we have great examples in Jeremiah and in Jesus. We have a great example too in St. Gaspar who professed his faith and was sent to prison for it.
Jesus came to serve and to give his life. This is to be the way for those who follow him. This, as St. Gaspar teaches, is the only book one needs to read. "See how they love each other; See how they serve each other." This is what is to be spoken of us.
James and John had a normal mother. She would not learn unless she put forth her desires. We learn too, in our desire for life and glory, that it comes only from serving God and others.
[1] from the Second Circular Letter, 1827
[2] from letter 1598, to Fr. Raffaele Rosati, March 25, 18__, Resources 11, pg. 11‑12
[3] through many tribulations
[4] Letter 13, January 18, 1811, to Fr. Antonio Santelli
Matt 20:17‑28
Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?
St. Gaspar
"Enter on this holy retreat, therefore, holding in your hands the book of the crucifix." [1]
"Do you know that even good souls must bear crosses? That is how God disposes things. The heart is straightforward, but the mind is dimmed. Recall the resolutions made during our retreat and now put them into execution. Bear your cross with equilibrium and, through suffering, prepare yourself to suffer even more, until 'proved through all' you will be a mystical stone fit for the celestial Jerusalem."[2]
Would that he grant us to drink only a drop from that Chalice of bitterness which he drank to the dregs for us, to the most loving Father. St. Francis de Sales used to say that Paradise is a mountain (I will never tire of repeating it to all) which one scales more easily with broken legs than with whole ones. Happily per multas tribulationes[3], let us hope to reach the goal of our desires.[4]
Reflection
Doing what Jesus does sometimes leads to misunderstanding and persecutions. Professing respect for the dignity of life from conception to natural death can lead to people considering you "intolerant." Professing faith in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life can be misunderstood as violence against other faiths, and yet we take up the cross, we drink his cup, seeking only to serve him. And, if we are misunderstood or criticized, we have great examples in Jeremiah and in Jesus. We have a great example too in St. Gaspar who professed his faith and was sent to prison for it.
Jesus came to serve and to give his life. This is to be the way for those who follow him. This, as St. Gaspar teaches, is the only book one needs to read. "See how they love each other; See how they serve each other." This is what is to be spoken of us.
James and John had a normal mother. She would not learn unless she put forth her desires. We learn too, in our desire for life and glory, that it comes only from serving God and others.
- What have I learned from the cross?
- What desires of mine need to be transformed?
- What actions among us "prove" our discipleship?
[1] from the Second Circular Letter, 1827
[2] from letter 1598, to Fr. Raffaele Rosati, March 25, 18__, Resources 11, pg. 11‑12
[3] through many tribulations
[4] Letter 13, January 18, 1811, to Fr. Antonio Santelli
RSS Feed