THE MEETING WITH JESUS
2. The Cortege.
a) There are those who loaded the cross on Him: the Jews, the Pharisees, the soldiers, the executioners. But they also bear within themselves the cross of their sins. There is no other alternative: either we bear the cross of Jesus or we bear the cross of Satan, which is more loathsome and far heavier.
b) There are also two men who bear their cross with Jesus: these are the thieves. But they do not bear it for Jesus, for His love, but with anger and despair, by compulsion.
c) In the third place, there is the Cyrenean who bears the cross on his shoulders. What great happiness is his! At the beginning he knew nothing about it, and, on account of that, he did not freely accept the burden, but little by little he resigned himself and in the end he was carrying the cross willingly and joyfully and this sanctified him. So it is with the cross. Even when it is accepted by compulsion and against our will, in the end it will bring about our sanctification.
d) There is another group in this scene, that of the pious women. They accompany Jesus, have pity on Him, would like to alleviate Him and take, if they could, that burden from His shoulders, but their compassion is incomplete, because it is merely human. They see in Jesus an unfortunate man: they do not see a suffering God. That is why they do not understand the cause that leads Him to Calvary. Jesus tells them, "Weep for your sins." In this manner and only thus will you console Him.
e) Lastly, look at the little group that surrounds His sorrowful Mother. She knows how to carry the cross with Jesus and like Him. What a share Our Lady takes in His sufferings and sorrows! How similar is the suffering in both hearts! They are equal in all. In intensity, because they have both reached the climax. In purpose, because it is for our sins that they are tortured. In the way, because they suffer out of pure love. The divine and infinite love of the Son reflects itself as much as it is possible in the heart of His sorrowful Mother.
Now make your choice. You have to bear your cross, you have to accompany Christ on the way to Calvary. There is no getting away from this obligation. You are free only to choose the form and way in which you would carry your cross. Which group are you going to join?
Ask Our Lady to admit you in Hers, in the company of those holy souls around Her. Stand by Her, very close to Her and brace yourself up to suffer and to bear that cross which god may be pleased to give you. Never attempt to carry it alone. You would not be able. It would be too heavy for you. But at the side of your Mother all your crosses will turn out to be small, all sufferings will appear to be sweet.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
a) There are those who loaded the cross on Him: the Jews, the Pharisees, the soldiers, the executioners. But they also bear within themselves the cross of their sins. There is no other alternative: either we bear the cross of Jesus or we bear the cross of Satan, which is more loathsome and far heavier.
b) There are also two men who bear their cross with Jesus: these are the thieves. But they do not bear it for Jesus, for His love, but with anger and despair, by compulsion.
c) In the third place, there is the Cyrenean who bears the cross on his shoulders. What great happiness is his! At the beginning he knew nothing about it, and, on account of that, he did not freely accept the burden, but little by little he resigned himself and in the end he was carrying the cross willingly and joyfully and this sanctified him. So it is with the cross. Even when it is accepted by compulsion and against our will, in the end it will bring about our sanctification.
d) There is another group in this scene, that of the pious women. They accompany Jesus, have pity on Him, would like to alleviate Him and take, if they could, that burden from His shoulders, but their compassion is incomplete, because it is merely human. They see in Jesus an unfortunate man: they do not see a suffering God. That is why they do not understand the cause that leads Him to Calvary. Jesus tells them, "Weep for your sins." In this manner and only thus will you console Him.
e) Lastly, look at the little group that surrounds His sorrowful Mother. She knows how to carry the cross with Jesus and like Him. What a share Our Lady takes in His sufferings and sorrows! How similar is the suffering in both hearts! They are equal in all. In intensity, because they have both reached the climax. In purpose, because it is for our sins that they are tortured. In the way, because they suffer out of pure love. The divine and infinite love of the Son reflects itself as much as it is possible in the heart of His sorrowful Mother.
Now make your choice. You have to bear your cross, you have to accompany Christ on the way to Calvary. There is no getting away from this obligation. You are free only to choose the form and way in which you would carry your cross. Which group are you going to join?
Ask Our Lady to admit you in Hers, in the company of those holy souls around Her. Stand by Her, very close to Her and brace yourself up to suffer and to bear that cross which god may be pleased to give you. Never attempt to carry it alone. You would not be able. It would be too heavy for you. But at the side of your Mother all your crosses will turn out to be small, all sufferings will appear to be sweet.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.