JESUS IS CAPTURED
“Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth and said to them: ‘Whom seek ye?’” (John 18, 4).
First Prelude: Imagine you see the soldiers falling prostrate at the words of Jesus: “I am He!”
Second Prelude: O Jesus, let me understand the power and love of Thy Sacred Heart, that I may place all my confidence in Thee and for love of Thee be solicitous for the good of others.
First Point
THE POWER OF JESUS OVER HIS ENEMIES
Having addressed words of incomprehensible love to His faithless disciple, our Lord asked the servants: “Whom seek ye?” They answered: “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I am He,” the Saviour replied. There was needed but this one word from the lips of the Eternal Wisdom, exhausted unto death, to hurl the entire armed band to the ground. Oh, adore the powerful, almighty God Whom no one can resist, to Whom all power is given and before Whom every knee bends in heaven, on earth and under the earth. We must, however, be on our guard so as never to rise up against Him or even to resist Him in the smallest things. Let us promise Him unswerving fidelity, in those things, especially, that require self-denial. Let us beg Jesus to cast all His enemies to the ground. May He cast all sinners to the ground and fill them with a wholesome fear, that they may be converted. May He prostrate all His enemies in our hearts: pride, sensuality, self-will, sloth, and tepidity. If He is with us, who can then be against us? He, Who with one word can annihilate His enemies, will always be our help and our support. Should we not, therefore, conceive ever greater confidence in Him and in every danger take refuge in His Sacred Heart? If we endeavor lovingly to seek Him by fervent prayer, incessant mortification, complete renunciation, humble, contrite reparation, we shall find pardon, grace, mercy, love, peace, the salvation of our souls and eternal happiness.
Am I attentive to the voice of Jesus at prayer? Am I mindful that I am conversing with the Most High? When He admonishes me in the course of the day do I realize that He is asking this or that sacrifice of me, connected with the discharge of my duties?
Second Point
JESUS PROVIDES LOVINGLY FOR HIS DISCIPLES
Like a loving father, Jesus is concerned for the security of His disciples. “If therefore you seek Me,” Jesus said to the troop of soldiers, “let these go their way.” Oh, the admirable love of Jesus! These words implied a command forbidding His enemies to harm His Apostles and at the same time depriving them of the power to do so because their hour had not yet come. Himself, Jesus delivered into the hands of these monsters, to be brutally subjected to all manner of abuses and ridicule, to the scourging and the crowning with thorns, even to the death of the cross — but His own He protects with a powerful hand and suffers not a hair of their head to be touched. What a comforting assurance! Nothing can happen to us without the Will of God — no harm can befall us, nor sufferings smite us, before the hour appointed by the Divine Wisdom. Should we not, therefore, throw off all anxiety about the future and surrender ourselves with filial trust to God’s ever-wise and loving Providence?
In daily intercourse with others, especially those entrusted to our care, we must strive to imitate the touching love and solicitude of our Divine Lord by choosing for ourselves the most difficult task. Doing this we shall be able to support others in their trials, to bear the burden and discomfort ourselves, in order to lighten the labors of others. Our Blessed Lord has entrusted to us the children, the poor, and the sick, that we might sacrifice ourselves for them, thus loving them as He has loved us. How little should we co-operate with our holy vocation, were we to live on in selfishness, in ease and comfort, and allow others to suffer! How could Jesus, then, recognize us as His spouses?
Do I not occasionally seek to evade difficulties in order to impose them on my neighbor? Am I faithful in the discharge of my duties towards those entrusted to my care, even at the price of a great personal sacrifice?
Affections: O my beloved Jesus, let me hear the sweet words: “I am thy Saviour and thy God, thy strength and thy hope, thy joy and thy life.” I will confide in Thee alone, and in all difficulties have recourse to Thee. O most amiable Jesus, how immeasurable is Thy love toward all whom the Father has given Thee, how tender Thy solicitude for them even in Thy passion! Thou dost permit Thy enemies to rave against Thee, but not to touch Thy friends. Thou endurest all manner of abuses to spare Thy elect. Oh, that I would manifest my gratitude for such love by bestowing a tender solicitude upon my fellow religious and the children committed to my care. I will cheerfully embrace hardships and labors to lighten their burdens.
Resolution: I will lovingly bear with the defects and weaknesses of others, will encourage and support them in their difficulties and sufferings.
Spiritual Bouquet: “If, therefore, you seek Me, let these go their way.”
Prayer: Soul of Christ . . .
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