CONTINUATION OF CHRIST’S DISCOURSE

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MEDITATION FOR JANUARY 30

CONTINUATION OF CHRIST’S DISCOURSE

“And whither I go, you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him: “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh to the Father, but by Me” (John 14, 4-6).

First Prelude: Remain in the Supper Room at the feet of Jesus, and listen with profoundest reverence, to His discourse.

Second Prelude: O my Divine Saviour, liberate me from dangerous self-deception with regard to my salvation and give me the grace to follow with fidelity on the way Thou hast walked before us.

FIRST POINT

THE DISCIPLES FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THEIR DIVINE MASTER

Jesus had often told His disciples that He should be delivered to the pagans and be crucified, and that He should rise again on the third day. Therefore, He could now say to them: “And the way, you know, and whither I go you know.” How clearly the disciples showed that it is difficult to comprehend the mystery of the cross! Thomas at once answered: “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest, and how can we know the way?” Like the Apostles we, too, are well instructed in our duties; we know the way to heaven but also the way to perdition. We are convinced that with the grace of God we can attain perfection and secure heaven, but that, on the contrary, if we neglect our duties and the subjugation of our passions we shall not work out our salvation. Nevertheless, we often forget these important truths and so easily neglect penance in days of health. When corporal sufferings fall to our lot, we lose sight of the merits concealed in the cross; when pride is wounded, we ignore the necessity of humility and, in our intercourse with others, utterly disregard the obligations imposed upon us by the command of love. We often suffer ourselves to be so completely engrossed in earthly concerns as to lose sight of heavenly things.

Have we not left the world and entered religion, that we might seek what is everlasting? Our Holy Rule clearly marks the way that we should walk, tells us what to do and what to omit under various circumstances, and so long as we are obedient, we are sure of never losing sight of our eternal destination. With more right than to His Apostles, Jesus could say to us: “You know the way.” Truly we can never allege ignorance as an excuse. Negligence in prayer and meditation, however, darkens the mind and envelops the understanding with a mist. We deceive ourselves with regard to our most serious duties and ignore the smaller ones altogether, thus deviating ever farther from the straight path. Oh, that such a calamity should never befall us! That we should rather cause the light of faith to shine more brilliantly in us, by persevering zeal in fervent prayer!

Do my actions not frequently prove that I do not ponder sufficiently the eternal truths relative to the necessity of humility, obedience, charity, patience, and silence?

SECOND POINT

JESUS INSTRUCTS HIS DISCIPLE THAT HE IS THE WAY TO THE FATHER

Our Saviour came from heaven upon earth to show mankind the way to heaven by His teachings and His example. “I am the Way.” This way is accessible to every one, but it is also the only way, outside of which there is naught but confusion and folly. It is, indeed, a narrow path, as Jesus Himself has said; it is fatiguing and steep, but His grace renders it sweet and agreeable. It is an honorable way—all who now triumph in heaven have walked it. The Queen of Angels and Saints walked it. The glorious hosts of Apostles, martyrs, confessors, and virgins, and millions of religious, all followed Jesus, their adorable Leader, and attained to the Father through Him. They all followed the eternal, undeceiving Truth, and enlightened by its brightness, they could not go astray. Strengthened and fortified by the Bread of Life, in the Sacrament of His Love, they cheerfully bore the hardships and privations of their thorny path, pushing ever onward to life eternal.

Jesus says also to us: “I am the Way. Follow Me.” Should we not remain in His presence through holy recollection, and seek to contemplate Him diligently during the hour of meditation, so as to become imbued with His holy example and make it our rule of life? Let us often ask ourselves: How should I labor, pray, bear my cross, practice dependence, humility and poverty that I may truly imitate my Saviour? How should I, like Him, bear with the faults of my neighbor, especially my fellow religious, and the often inconsiderate demands of the children entrusted to my care? What has Jesus not done for love of me, to set me an example for imitation? Should I hesitate to do as much for the sake of my own salvation? And if I feel that the spirit is willing, but the flesh weak, I must hasten to draw new life and energy from the Sacrament of Love. From His Eucharistic throne, Jesus overwhelms me with graces and gives me the strength and energy to pursue the way courageously, and finally to attain heaven.

Affections: O my Divine Saviour, Who hast said: “No one can come to the Father but by Me,” I thank Thee that Thou hast shown me, by word and example, the way that leads to life eternal. To my confusion, I must admit that though I have been so long in Thy school of perfection, I am still not penetrated with the great mysteries of Thy love as I ought to be. Enlighten me, O Divine Saviour, Who art Truth itself, that in future I may walk in Thy light. Sanctify me, Thou Source of Life, let me daily make new progress in the knowledge of Thy love and the imitation of Thy virtues on the way Thou hast marked out for me. Yes, O my Saviour, I realize my inability to come to the Father but by Thee. I seize the hand Thou so mercifully holdest out to me; I will hold it fast, that I may be Thine in life and in death.

Resolution: I will endeavor to follow Jesus on the way of humility and self denial.

Spiritual Bouquet: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Prayer: Soul of Christ . . .