The Gospel
Jn 5: 31‑45
In whom shall we hope, In whom shall we believe?
St. Gaspar
"Courage, my dear D. Francesco! Let us become saints and entirely God's. I hope that the fire of the Lord's love will transform us in God, so that each one of us will give evidence to it: Vidi Angelum Dei fortem, volantem.[1]" [2]
"May the Blood of Jesus be our consolation in this life, and the motive and cause of our hope for holy paradise." [3]
"The Lord deserves everything. Join to that the following thought: it is a great grace of God that he makes use of us as corner stones of this mysterious edifice. He has placed us on the road to becoming saints. Let us establish ourselves firmly in holy humility and in all the virtues; let us be convinced that the substantial thing in the spiritual life is the composure of spirit in God." [4]
Reflection
The worship of the golden calf in the first reading, and the inability of the people of Jesus' day to accept him for who he is, are both presented for our Lenten meditation today. What kind of challenge does our heart hear when we hear Jesus say, "I have come in my Fathers name, yet you do not accept me"? The word of God is not supposed to confirm us in our prejudices. It is supposed to challenge us, change us and convert us. As St. Gaspar tells us, this love and overwhelming compassion of God is meant to transform us. In Baptism we are no longer our own. We belong to God. We become a member of Christ's body. Everything has been given to us, and Gaspar reminds us that the Lord deserves everything.
Our ancestors in the desert fashioned a God out of Gold with their own hands. We are tempted to worship a God of our own creation, but are challenged to accept God as he is. We construct castles of the spiritual life from our own imagination and based in our own desires. The foundation of the Spiritual life is elsewhere for St. Gaspar.
[1] I saw a mighty angel of God, flying. cf Rev 5:2, Rev 14:6
[2] from letter 366 to Fr. Francesco Pierantoni, September 19, 1820
[3] from Letter No. 367 to Fr. Luigi Locatelli, December 1, 1820
[4] from Letter No. 370 to Fr. Francesco Pierantoni, December 6, 1820
Jn 5: 31‑45
In whom shall we hope, In whom shall we believe?
St. Gaspar
"Courage, my dear D. Francesco! Let us become saints and entirely God's. I hope that the fire of the Lord's love will transform us in God, so that each one of us will give evidence to it: Vidi Angelum Dei fortem, volantem.[1]" [2]
"May the Blood of Jesus be our consolation in this life, and the motive and cause of our hope for holy paradise." [3]
"The Lord deserves everything. Join to that the following thought: it is a great grace of God that he makes use of us as corner stones of this mysterious edifice. He has placed us on the road to becoming saints. Let us establish ourselves firmly in holy humility and in all the virtues; let us be convinced that the substantial thing in the spiritual life is the composure of spirit in God." [4]
Reflection
The worship of the golden calf in the first reading, and the inability of the people of Jesus' day to accept him for who he is, are both presented for our Lenten meditation today. What kind of challenge does our heart hear when we hear Jesus say, "I have come in my Fathers name, yet you do not accept me"? The word of God is not supposed to confirm us in our prejudices. It is supposed to challenge us, change us and convert us. As St. Gaspar tells us, this love and overwhelming compassion of God is meant to transform us. In Baptism we are no longer our own. We belong to God. We become a member of Christ's body. Everything has been given to us, and Gaspar reminds us that the Lord deserves everything.
Our ancestors in the desert fashioned a God out of Gold with their own hands. We are tempted to worship a God of our own creation, but are challenged to accept God as he is. We construct castles of the spiritual life from our own imagination and based in our own desires. The foundation of the Spiritual life is elsewhere for St. Gaspar.
- What "golden calves" surround me?
- Which Jesus do I believe in?
- What is essential for my life?
[1] I saw a mighty angel of God, flying. cf Rev 5:2, Rev 14:6
[2] from letter 366 to Fr. Francesco Pierantoni, September 19, 1820
[3] from Letter No. 367 to Fr. Luigi Locatelli, December 1, 1820
[4] from Letter No. 370 to Fr. Francesco Pierantoni, December 6, 1820
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