JULY 25: FEAST OF ST. JAMES THE GREAT

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. James the Apostle. This feast has been celebrated in the West since eight century on July 25. But who is St. James? James was the son of Zebedee and Salome (Mk 15:40; Mt 27:59). He is the brother of John the Evangelist.

Among the important events in the history of James, he was the first apostle to shed blood for Christ. He was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I in the year 42 or 44, according to the Acts of the Apostles 12: 2-3.

James was one of the three privileged apostles, together with Peter and John. He witnessed the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Mt 1: 29-31), the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5: 37-43), the transfiguration of Jesus (Mk 9: 2-8), and the agony in the Garden (Mt 26: 37).

Among the passages of the Sacred Scripture that gave a picture of James, the event of the two brothers asking for the seats, one at his right and the other at his left (Mk 10: 35-45); would be the most familiar. The lesson of this feast is like St. James, we sometimes ask of the Lord more than we are ready or worthy to receive. We must become as little children and accept from the hands of our heavenly Father whatever he deigns to give us.

Let us try to look back in our life. How often do we pray and ask God for many things? Most of us would say always. Have we ever thought that He knows what we need? Have we ever considered that instead of asking, he just wants us to talk to him and be with him? This is our task today. Pray not asking things but pray to talk to Jesus and just be with Jesus.

IS JESUS A LIAR, LUNATIC OR LORD?

Jesus is totally unique from any other personality and so is clearly worth knowing. But is there more to him? Is Jesus worthy to be the center of our life? The answer is yes. There is something more to Jesus than to any other person. He is worth paying more attention to than any other man. It is because HE IS GOD.

How do we know that he is God? Is it by his miracles? Miracles only show that God is working through a person. A man could work miracles and not be God. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (Jn 14:12).

How then do we know? The answer simply is that Jesus himself told us so. Time and again throughout his public ministry, Jesus claimed to be God (Mk 14: 61-62). In John, Jesus time and again speaks of his divinity (Jn 12:45, 10:30, 8:58). Jesus’ claim to divinity is a far different claim than Buddha or Confucius or Mohammed ever made. None of them ever claimed to be God. Jesus also claimed that he could forgive sin. Remember the story of the paralytic at Capernaum (Mk 2: 3-12), Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus’ claim to be God must either true or false. If false, then we have two and only two alternatives. Either he knew it was false, in which case he would be a liar, or he did not know it was false, in which case he would be a lunatic.

Could Jesus have lied? If he lied, then he would have been deliberately deceiving his followers. Not only would he have been a liar, he would also be a hypocrite, because he told others to be honest, whatever the cost, while he himself taught and lived a colossal life. He would also be a demon, because he told others to trust him for their eternal destiny. If he could not back up his claims and knew it, then he was unspeakably evil. He would also be a fool, because it was his claim to being God that led to his crucifixion.

We need only to look at his person, his words and his work to conclude that he could not have been a liar. Look at his moral purity, dignity, sound intellect, and air of truth. Consider his character that is so original, consistent, perfect, high above human greatness. He carried out a plan of unparalleled beneficence, moral magnitude and sublimity, and sacrificed his own life for it. Would he die for a lie? The results of his life and teachings have been lives changed for the better, thieves made honest, hateful individuals becoming channels of love. Such a man cannot be a liar.

Could Jesus have been a lunatic? In Jesus we do not see any abnormalities or imbalance that usually go along with being deranged. In fact, his poise and composure would be amazing if he was insane. He spoke some of the most profound sayings ever recorded. Such a man cannot be a lunatic.

If not a liar or a lunatic, the only alternative left to us is that Jesus did speak the truth. He was, and is, the Son of God as he claimed. Throughout the Sacred Scripture, we can read about a number of Jesus’ contemporaries coming to the realization that he was God (Mt 16: 13-16, Jn 11:27, Jn 1:49, Jn 20: 27-28, Mt. 27: 54, Mt. 8:29, Mk 1:24, Mk 3:11, Lk 4: 41).

As many as there were who accepted the divinity of Jesus, there were also others who refused to accept him. How can we have confirmation of Jesus’ divinity? God Himself confirmed it. In the miracle of the raising of Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11: 41-42), Jesus was giving a demonstration. To the Jews, God lone was the one who had the prerogative to give life or to take away life. But the most conclusive proof is Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead. The tombs of Buddha, Muhammed and the founders of all the great world religions are still with us. Only Jesus’ tomb is empty.

Jesus is making claims that affect us. If he is not God, then we should have nothing to do with him, because we do not want to be followers of a liar or a lunatic. However, if he is God, then we should seriously consider him. Our response will have eternal consequences. Is Jesus a Liar, Lunatic or Lord? The choice is yours.

GOD'S LOVE AND GOD'S WAYS

Do you know what is happening in the world? There are lots of things that happen in the world. There is a serious disorder in the world today. There is war like in Israel and Hamas. There is poverty like people in the Philippines particularly in the streets of Manila. There is starvation in different parts of the world. One would find many poor people even in rich countries. There is murder, particularly despicable is abortion, resulting in the killing of millions of unborn children. There is social injustice.

On a personal level, there is loneliness, depression, fear, insecurity, mistrust and so on. Everyone agrees that something major is needed to correct the situation in the world. Man has made various efforts to improve the world, but their efforts are not succeeding. Let us take for example in the field of medicine, through the ultrasound technique; we can discover the sex of a child before it is born. But some people decide to kill the unborn child if found defective, or if it is not the desired sex. In the field of food production, we have learned better and more productive ways of increasing the yield of the land. However, millions of people are still dying of malnutrition and starvation. The Human race has not learned to share God’s provision with their less fortunate members.

Some even propose solutions through man-made religions and other ideologies just like Marxism or New Age. Man is not succeeding because all these efforts are based on man’s wisdom. What is needed is God’s wisdom and ways. “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is 55: 8-9)”

We then asked ourselves, what is the way of God? Does God have a plan for bringing us out of our confusion and disorder? YES! The starting point for understanding God’s plan is found in the story of creation in Genesis. What God creates is good (Gen 1:31). The confusion and disorder is not in accordance with the plan of God. God created man in His image (Gen 1:27). The ugliness and sin in the lives of people today are not in accordance with God’s will. Man is meant for friendship with God (Gen 2:8-9). The disruption in our relationship with God is our doing, and is not as God intends. However, things did not turn out according to God’s plan. Original sin entered the picture. And from then, man continued to turn against God and God did not abandon man even if God punished man (Gem 3:21, 15; Gen 4:15; Gen 6ff; Gen 11:1-9; and Gen 12).

From the accounts cited above, we will see how God loves the human race, how God would not leave man alone to his fate. God is neither indifferent nor distant. God is someone who loves us and is interested in having a personal relationship with us. He is interested in the details of our daily lives (Is 48:17, Jer 29:11). In fact, God wants to bring us all back to Himself, to restore our fellowship and intimacy with him (Eph 1: 9-10).

This is God’s plan! It is an expression of His love. God does not want us to live lives of pain, poverty, and injustice. God wants the world to be a place of peace, justice and happiness. A place in which He would reign!

The question then we need to ask, how can God’s plan happen? When we look at the world around us, it seems impossible. Again, we need to turn to God’s wisdom. We need God’s point of view. What does God say about life’s realities? The Bible tells us about the reality of Satan (Eph 6:12). We are not just confronted with particular wrongs in society or in ourselves. Behind all these is something bigger. Satan is orchestrating these evils. On our own, we cannot overcome Satan. God also says that our human efforts apart from Him will prove useless (John 15:5). On our own strength, we cannot overcome the challenges in our Christian life.

What is then the solution? JESUS CHRIST! Christ is the answer. He is the vine from which we draw life, strength and power. In fact, Christ is the fullness of God’s love (Jn 3:16). Thus, in Jesus we experience the love of God. And in Jesus, God’s plan for restoration can begin to happen.

It is clear that God loves us. God sent Jesus His own Son. In Jesus we are saved and restored to our relationship with God, with the fullness of life He intended. So God has done His part. It is now our move. The choice is ours: to live under the dominion of darkness, a life of slavery under Satan, or to live in the kingdom of God, a life of freedom, dignity, peace, and happiness. Let us accept Jesus and the salvation that he brings. Let us begin to truly experience God’s love.

A STARTER: WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

A child patterns his or her life to that of the person he or she idolizes.  Like a child, we as Christians derive our identity from a person, one whom we can be truly proud of. He is truly impressive. This person’s identity, which we follow, lasted even after 2000 years after his death. Millions of people today have claimed to be his followers. The book about him, the BIBLE, is easily the number one best seller of all time.

It is this person who won for us our salvation, who restored us to our relationship with God. In him we can have a full and a new life. Thus, realizing the importance of this person to us, we want to know Him more fully. We then ask, “Who is Jesus Christ?”

Most of Christians today have been born and raised as Christians. Due to the negligence of our time, we take for granted our conviction that Jesus is the Son of God. However, we should also take note that this was not so for his contemporaries. During the time of Jesus, people found it hard to accept that He was not just an ordinary person. “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him (Mk 6:3).

What we want to know is whether there is any reason not to put Jesus on the same level as Buddha, Confucius, Lao-Tze, Socrates or other wise men. Was Jesus more than just a great religious man or moral teacher? History is full of men who have claimed that they came from God, or that they were gods, or that they bore messages from God. How is Jesus different from them all?

Three things that make Jesus an absolutely unique figure in human history. First, he was preannounced and his coming was expected. Because of Old Testament prophecies, people for a long time were waiting for the messiah, which saw its fulfillment in Jesus. Second, once he appeared on the scene, he struck history with such impact that he split it in two, dividing it into two periods: BC and AD. Lastly, every other person who came into this world came into it to live. Jesus came into the world to die. His death was the goal and fulfillment of his life.

To better have an understanding of who Jesus is, let us try to look about some of the details of his life. Jesus was a young carpenter in Nazareth. For three years he became an itinerant preacher. He was never more than 100 miles from his home. He had never been into cities with a population larger than 50,000.

Within three years he was dead, killed in little Jerusalem on the fringes of the Roman Empire. He was crucified for stirring up the people. By right he should simply have faded into complete oblivion. Instead, he is surely the most famous, honored and best-loved person who ever walked the earth.

Jesus is a man whose words and life demand a response from us. He is making claims that affect us. If he is not God, then we should have nothing to do with him, because we do not want to be followers of someone who is a liar or a lunatic. But if he is God, then we should seriously consider him. Our response will have eternal consequences. Who is Jesus? The answer is in your heart. He is waiting for you!

Raison d'être of My Promise

Promises are meant to be broken. This is the typical sensitivity of some people but is it really factual? There are times in our life that we are asked to make a promise. Such promise we make speckled depending on the circumstances. Often in an amorous liaison, lovers make promise such as loving him or her alone or forever will be the man or woman in her heart, or will make him or her the happiest person or will never cheat on one’s partner.

What is a promise? A promise is an unconditional avowal of one's commitment to do something due to the covet for the exhilaration of the person making the promise and the other.

Looking back, I too made promises. One of the promises I will forever keep is that she, the person I loved, will always be in my heart. Such promise is not bounded by time. A promise has no expiration date. If the romantic relationship ends, it does not mean that such promise should also be terminated.

A promise is to be kept. Why? It is because a promise should be fulfilled no matter what comes our way. In my case, though we have let go of the romantic relationship, the promise remains. One may wonder, is it possible? It is possible. Is it not contrary? It is not contrary. Being in one’s heart is different from having a romantic relationship. Some may marvel what is the difference. It is true that most of the time when in a relationship, a promise would be made but the genuine value of the promise is not taken into consideration.

The promise of forever will be in my heart is much deeper than having a romantic relationship. This defies the inclination of holding on. When in a relationship, one tries to hold on. Imagine yourself holding a paper, you could hold on to it as long as you like. However when you have the choice you could easy let go of it. Such is a contradictory of that with the case of a promise. When one promises of forever will be in my heart, it is placing a thing in an anodyne treasure box that will ceaselessly be revered and its significance is increasing as time goes by.

The value of the promise made boosts with time. Yet, the question remains, could this be achieved? Some may have reservation. Some may argue that it only a promise, which could be broken and still others would believe that it will be shattered in a flash. What differentiates this promise from other promises is the person making the promise. Like any promises, the person who made the promise defines the path of the promise made. If I don’t have the confidence to keep it then surely time will come it will not last. However, if I believe and forever be reminded of it then I know that my heart will always guide me to fulfill such promise.

It is not only about the person but the feelings that accompany the person. If it is true love, no matter what comes in the way, no matter how far the other is, no matter what kind of relationship they will have in the future, it will be kept. Love creates that protective buffer against doubt. Love covers the promise with trust. Love inflames the joy of keeping the treasure of the promise.

She may have doubted me from the start. She may even have doubts when we were still in a romantic relationship. However, now that we are back at the starting line of a new path, I know that the promise I made with her will forever persist. The promise I made will never forget the love that she has shown me, which gave light to the darkened room. The promise I made will never overlook the sweet smile on her face that makes my heartbeats faster. The promise I made will treasure the saccharine melody of her singing. The promise I made will always be reminded that one’s in my life, there was a beautiful lady who have treasured and shared her life with me.

This is my Raison d'être, which I believe will keep my promise moving. How about you, what is the Raison d'être of your promise?

LETTING GO: AN ACT OF LOVING

I suppose most of us have loved someone. Whether it is in the past or still in the present, we can say we have experienced what love is. One of the exquisite feelings that we know is love. When we loved, some people may say it feels like they are in heaven. Others consider that they are the luckiest person in the world. Still others would consider that they have hit the jackpot.

The question that we now try to reflect on is until when can we say that we will do everything for the person we love? All if not most would agree that the person that they love brings happiness into our lives. Whenever we see that person our world is being light up by his or her presence. Our joy seems to be greater when that person loves us back.

What if the person we love does not anymore bring happiness in our life but sadness, not light but darkness and not joy but brokenness? What will you do when that time comes?  This is usually the situation when a party asks to be freed from the relationship. It is as if the relationship is strangling his or her freedom instead of widening the horizon of the goodness that the relationship brings. What if you are the one being asked to let him or her go, what will you do?

It is easy to say, “Of course, I will let go because the person I love asked me to.” In reality it is hard and painful. At the start, we could say to the person we love, okay, I will let you go because I love you. However, after some time, we would think that we should not have. We tell ourselves that if we really love him or her we should hold on and try to work it out. We become blinded by our desire to be happy again. We become enclosed unto the idea of selfishness. Yet, is that really what love means?

It is true that happiness is closely related with love. However, not a single line does selfishness connect with the meaning of love. When we love, we need to be generous. Generosity is required when we love. No mater how difficult the situation, no matter how much is asked from us, we need to be generous to the person we love. Even when we are asked to let go we have to for it is there that the true value of love is seen.

Letting go is giving happiness for the person we love. Letting go is fulfilling the wish of the person we want to be happy. Letting go is the hardest expression of love. It may be difficult but it is we need to do. It is only then that we can say that we truly love him or her.

PAIN IN LOVING: GOOD OR BAD?

We had been stuck with the notion that loving is painful. There are some people who believe that when they start loving someone sooner or later they will experience pain. Some of these people who believe on such concept are those who have experienced the so-called heartbreaks in a relationship. Whenever they are at the stage of break up they think that they should not have love at the start.

Others believe that the more they love the more they will experience excessive pain. Some of these people who have such thinking are those who have gave much effort, time and value on loving their partners. Despite all their sacrifices, they have been betrayed or seen that it was only a one-sided love.

Let us asked then, is there a connection between love and pain? Basing from the statement above the answer is easily to be said yes. Pain is one of the future paths of love. As above-mentioned when a person loves, he or she will be happy or be hurt. This is found in the ostensible romantic love. Pain is part of loving. Love is not only about happiness. Love is not only about having smile in the face. Love is not only about the fast beating of the heart. Love is also about how much pain one will accept.

Pain sometimes creates greater circumstances with love. Let us take three types of love. First is the greatest love of all that is the love of God for man. The so-called greatest love of all involved pain. Jesus Christ suffered for all. He endured great pain and offered his own life upon the cross for all of us. Can this situation of the greatest love be called greatest without pain?

Second is the love of a man with a woman. When a man loves a woman, he tries his best to endure all pains for show his love for her. He sacrifices everything just for her to see his effort. This kind of love becomes clearer when he is asked to give her up for her to be happy. When a woman asked her man to let go since she wants to be happy, the man is asked to accept the pain that is the pain of lost. If the man loves her so much, he will let her go even it hurts for in his mind all he wants is for her to be happy.

Last is the love of a parent to a child. Parents will do anything for their child. They will work hard just to give everything for their child. They are even asked to have overtime which requires additional painful hours just to earn enough for the need of their family.

Pain is there NOT to hurt others. Pain is there to make us BECOME stronger and better. When there is no pain, what will our love be? Without pain, can such circumstances mentioned above be possible? Pain is not always about evil. Pain is also about goodness. Pain is like the polisher of the diamonded love in all of us.

MEDITATIONS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

“The Rosary is one of the traditional paths of Christian prayer directed to the contemplation of Christ’s face…

“After the announcement of the mystery and the proclamation of the word, it is fitting to pause and focus one’s attention for a suitable period of time on the mysteries concerned, before moving into vocal prayer. A discovery of the importance of silence is one of the secrets of practicing contemplation and meditation. One drawback of a society dominated by technology and the mass media is the fact that silence becomes increasingly difficult to achieve. Just as moments of silence are recommended in the Liturgy, so too in the recitation of the Rosary it is fitting to pause briefly after listening to the word of God, while the mind focuses on the content of a particular mystery (John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariæ, October 16, 2002, nos. 18. 31).”

The meditations that follow are from Holy Rosary, written in 1931 by St. Josemaria Escriva. A meditation on the Luminous Mysteries did not appear in the Holy Rosary, but throughout his life St. Josemaria lovingly contemplated and preached on these scenes, just as he did with every chapter of the Gospels. Therefore, we have included here some excerpts from among his writings that make reference to the Luminous Mysteries to help readers meditate on the complete Rosary.

JOYFUL MYSTERIES

1. THE ANNOUNCIATION

Don’t forget, my friend, that we are children. The Lady of the sweet name, Mary, is absorbed in prayer.

You, in that house, can be whatever you wish: a friend, a servant, an onlooker, a neighbor…. For the moment I don’t dare to be anything. I hide behind you, and, full of awe, I watch what’s happening.

The Archangel delivers his message…. Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? “But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?” (Lk 1: 34). Our mother’s voice reminds me – by contrast – of all the impurities of men, … mine too.

The first decade is about to end…. I still have time to tell God, before anyone else does, “Jesus, I love you.”

2. THE VISITATION

By now, my little friend, you have no doubt learned to manage on your own. Joyfully keep Joseph and Mary company … and you will hear the traditions of the House of David. You will hear about Elizabeth and Zechariah, you will be moved by Joseph’s pure love, and your heart will pound whenever they mention the Child who will be born in Bethlehem.

We walk in haste towards the mountains to a town of the tribe of Judah (Lk 1: 39). We arrive. It is the house where John the Baptist is to be born. Elizabeth gratefully hails the mother of her Redeemer: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” (Lk 1: 42-43).

The unborn Baptist quivers… (Lk 1: 41), Mary’s humility pours forth in the Magnificat…. And you and I, who are proud – who were proud – promise to be humble.

3. THE NATIVITY

Caesar Augustus has issued a decree for a census to be taken of the whole world. For this purpose, everyone must go to the city of his ancestors. And, since Joseph belongs to the house and line of David, he goes with the Virgin Mary from Nazareth to the town of David, called Bethlehem, in Judea (Lk 2: 1-5).

And in Bethlehem is born our God: Jesus Christ! There is no room in the inn; he is born in a stable. And his mother wraps him in swaddling clothes and lays him in a manger (Lk 2: 7).

Cold. Poverty…. I am Joseph’s little servant. How good Joseph is! He treats me like a son. He even forgives me if I take the Child in my arms and spend hour saying sweet and loving things to him. And I kiss him – you kiss him, too! – and I rock him in my arms, and I sing to him and call him King. Love, my God, my Only-one, my All…. How beautiful is the Child… and how short the decade!

4. THE PRESENTATION

When the time has come for the mother’s purification, in accordance with the Law of Moses, the Child must be taken to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord (Lk 2: 22).

And this time it will be you, my friend, who carries the cage with the doves (Lk 2: 24).

Just think: She – Mary Immaculate! – submits to the Law as if she were defiled. Through this example, foolish child, won’t you learn to fulfill the holy law of God regardless of any personal sacrifice?

Purification! You and I certainly do need purification.

Atonement and, more than atonement, love. Love as a searing iron to cauterize our soul’s uncleanness, and as a fire to kindle with divine flames the wretchedness of our hearts.

An upright and devout man has come to the Temple, led by the Holy Spirit (it has been revealed to him that he would not die until he had set eyes on the Christ). He takes the Messiah into his arms and says: “Now, my Lord, you can let your servant go from this world in peace, just as you promised, because my eyes have seen the Savior” (Lk 2: 25-30).

5. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

Where is Jesus? The Child, my Lady! Where is he?

Mary is crying. In vain you and I have run from group to group, from caravan to caravan: no one has seen him. Joseph, after fruitless attempts to keep from crying, cries too…. And you…. And I.

Being a rough little fellow, I cry my eyes out and wail to heaven and earth,… to make up for the times when I lost him through my own fault and did not cry.

Jesus: may I never lose you again…. Then you and I are united in misfortune and grief, as we were united in sin. And, from the depths of our being come sighs of heartfelt sorrow and burning phrases, which the pen cannot and should not record.

And, as we are consoled by the joy of finding Jesus – three days he was gone! – debating with the teachers of Israel (Lk 2: 46), you and I will be left deeply impressed by the duty to leave our home and family to serve our heavenly Father.

LUMINOUS MYSTERY

1.BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him … and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3: 13, 17).

In Baptism, our Father God has taken possession of our lives. He has made us sharers in Christ’s life and sent us the Holy Spirit.

The strength and the power of God light up the face of the earth.

We will set the world ablaze, with the flames of the fire that you came to enkindle on earth! And the light of your truth, our Jesus, will enlighten men’s minds in an endless day.

I can hear you crying out, my King, in your strong and ardent voice: ignem veni mittere in terram, et quid volo misi ut accendatur? I have come to bring fire to the earth, and would that it were already enkindled! And I answer, with my entire being, with all my senses and faculties: ecce ego: quia vocasti me! Here I am, because you have called me!

God has placed an indelible mark on your soul through Baptism: you are a child of God.

Child, are you not aflame with the desire to bring all men to love Him?

2. WEDDING FEAST AT CANA

Our Lady was a guest at one of those noisy country weddings attended by people from many different villages. Mary was the only one who noticed the wine was running out. Don’t these scenes from Christ’s life seem familiar to us? The greatness of God lives at the level of ordinary things. It is natural for a woman, a homemaker, to notice an oversight, to look after the little things that make life pleasant. And that is how Mary acted. Do whatever he tells you.

Implete hydrias (Jn 2: 7), fill the jars. And the miracle takes place. Everything is so simple and ordinary. The servants carry out their job. The water is easy to find. And this is the first manifestation of our Lord’s divinity. What is commonplace becomes something extraordinary, something supernatural, when we have the good will to heed what God is asking of us. Lord, I want to abandon all my concerns into your generous hands. Our Mother – your Mother – will have let you hear those words, now as in Cana: “They have no wine! …”

If our faith is weak, we should turn to Mary. Because of the miracle at the marriage feast at Cana, which Christ performed at his Mother’s request, his disciples learned to believe in him (Jn 2: 11) attend to our needs and show himself to us, so that we can cry out, “You are the Son of God.”

Grant me, dear Jesus, the faith I truly desire. My Mother, sweet Lady, Mary most holy, make me really believe.

3. PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel (Mk 1: 15).

And all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them (Mk 2: 13).

Jesus sees the boats on the shore and gets into one of them. How naturally Jesus steps into the boat of each and everyone of us!

When you seek to draw close to our Lord, remember that he is always very close to you, that he is in you: regnum Dei intra vos est (Lk 17: 21). The kingdom of God is within you. You will find him in your heart.

Christ should reign first and foremost in our soul. But in order for Christ to reign in me, I need his abundant grace. Only in that way can my every heartbeat and breath, my least intense look, my most ordinary word, my most basic feeling be transformed into a hosanna to Christ my king.

Duc in altum. Put out into deep water! Throw aside the pessimism that makes a coward of you. Et laxate retia vestra in capturam. And pay out your nets for a catch!

We have to place our trust in our Lord’s words: get into the boat, take the oars, hoist the sails and lauch out into this sea of the world which Christ gives us as an inheritance.

Et regni ejus non erit finis. His kingdom will have no end.

Doesn’t it fill you with joy to work for such a kingdom?

4. TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light (Mt 17:2).

Jesus, we want to see you, to speak to you! We want to contemplate you, immersed in the immensity of your beauty, in a contemplation that will never cease! It must be wonderful to see you, Jesus! It must be wounded by your love!

And a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Mt 17:5).

Lord, we are ready to heed whatever you want to tell us. Speak to us: we are attentive to your voice. May your words enkindle our will so that we launch out fervently to obey you.

Vultum tuum, Domine, requiram (Ps 26:8). Lord, I long to see your face. I like to close my eyes and think that, when God wills, the moment will come when I will be able to see him, not as in a mirror dimly, but … face to face (1 Cor 13:12). Yes, my heart yearns for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? (Ps 41: 3).

5. INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end (Jn 13:1).

When our Lord instituted the Eucharist during the Last Supper, night had already fallen. The world had fallen into darkness, for the old rites, the old sign of God’s infinite mercy to mankind, were going to be brought to fulfillment. The way was opening to a new dawn – the new Passover. The Eucharist was instituted during that night, preparing in advance for the morning of the resurrection.

Jesus has remained in the Eucharist for love … for you.

He has remained, knowing how men would treat him … and how you would treat him.

He has remained so that you could eat him, and visit him and tell him your concerns; and so that, by your prayer beside the tabernacle and by receiving him sacramentally, you could fall more in love each day, and help other souls, many souls, to follow the same path.

Good child: see how lovers on earth kiss the flowers, the letters, the mementos of those they love…

Then you, how could you ever forget that you have him always at your side – yes, Him? How could you forget… that you can eat him?

Lord, may I never again flutter along close to the ground. Illuminated by the rays of the divine Sun – Christ – in the Eucharist, may my flight never be interrupted until I find repose in your Heart.

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

1. THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN

“Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And Peter fell asleep. And the other apostles. And you, little friend, fell asleep… and I too was another sleepy-headed Peter.

Jesus, alone and sad, suffers and soaks the earth with his blood.

Kneeling on the hard ground, he perseveres in prayer… He weeps for you… and for me. The weight of the sins of men overwhelms him. Pater, si vis, transfer calicem istum a me: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me… Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22: 42).

An Angel from heaven comforts him. Jesus is in agony. He continues prolixius, praying more intensely… He comes over to us and finds us asleep: “Rise,” he says again, “and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Lk 22:46).

Judas the traitor: a kiss. Peter’s sword gleams in the night. Jesus speaks: “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?” (Mk 14: 48).

We are cowards: we follow him from afar – but awake and praying. Prayer… Prayer…

2. THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR

Pilate speaks: “It is your custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. Whom shall I set free: Barabbas – a thief jailed with others for murder – or Jesus?” (Mt 27:17).

The crowd, spurred on by their rulers, cry: “Put this man to death and release Barabbas” (Lk 23: 18).

Pilate speaks again: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Mt 27:22). Crucifige eum: “Crucify him!” (Mk 15: 14).

Pilate, for the third time, says to them: “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death” (Lk 23:22).

The clamor of the mob grows louder: “Crucify him; Crucify him!” (Mk 15:14).

And Pilate, wanting to please the crowd, releases Barabbas to them and orders Jesus to be scourged.

Bound to the pillar. Covered with wounds.

The blows of the lash sound upon his torn flesh, upon his undefiled flesh, which suffers for your sinful flesh. More blows. More fury. Still more… It is a last extreme of human cruelty.

Finally, exhausted, they untie Jesus. And the body of Christ yields to pain and falls limp, broken and half-dead.

You and I cannot speak. Words are not needed. Look at him, look at him… slowly. After this… can you ever fear penance?

3. THE CROWNING WITH THORNS

Our king’s eagerness for suffering has been fully satisfied! They lead my Lord to the courtyard of the palace, and there call together the whole troop (Mk 15: 16). The brutal soldiers strip his most pure body. They drape a dirty purple rag about Jesus. They place a reed, as a scepter, in his right hand.

The crown of thorns, driven in by blows, makes him a mock king… Ave, Rex Iudæorum: “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mk 15: 18). And with their blows they wound his head. And they strike him… and spit on him.

Crowned with thorns and clothed in rags of purple, Jesus is shown to the Jewish crowd. Ecce Homo: “Here is the man!” And again the chief priests and their attendants raise the cry, saying, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Jn 19: 5-6).

You and I… haven’t we crowned him anew with thorns and struck him and spat on him?

Never again, Jesus, never again… And a firm and practical resolution marks the end of these ten Hail Marys.

4. THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS

Carrying his cross, Jesus goes out of the city to the place of the skull – called Golgotha in Hebrew (Jn 19:17). And they lay hold of a certain Simon from Cyrene, who is coming in from the country; and they make him take the cross and carry it behind Jesus (Lk 23:26). The prophecy of Isaiah (53:12) is being fulfilled – cum sceleratis reputatus est (“he was counted among the wicked”) – for two others are being led out with him to be put to death (Lk 23:32).

If anyone would follow me… Little friend, we are sad, living the Passion of our Lord Jesus. See how lovingly he embraces the cross. Learn from him. Jesus carries the cross for you: You… carry it for Jesus.

But don’t drag the cross… Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your cross, if you carry it so, will not be just any cross… It will be the holy cross. Don’t carry your cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the cross. When you really love it, your cross will be… a Cross without a cross.

And, surely, you will find Mary on the way, just as Jesus did.

5. THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD

For Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, the throne of triumph is ready. You and I do not see him writhe on being nailed. Suffering all that can be suffered, he spreads his arms in the gesture of an Eternal Priest… The soldiers take his holy garments and divide them into four parts. In order not to tear the tunic, they cast lots to decide whose it shall be. And so, once more, the words of Scripture are fulfilled: “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothes they cast lots” (Jn 19:23-24).

Now he is on high… And close to her Son, at the foot of the cross, stand Mary… and Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. And John, the disciple Jesus loved. Ecce Mater tua: “Behold your mother”: he gives us his mother to be ours.

Earlier, they had offered him wine mixed with vinegar, and, when he had tasted it, he would not drink it (Mk 27:34).

Now, he thirsts… for love, for souls. Consummatum est: “It is accomplished” (Jn 19:30). Foolish child, look: All this… he has suffered it all for you… And for me. Can you keep from crying?

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

1. THE RESURRECTION

When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices with which to anoint the dead body of Jesus. It is very early on the following day; just as the sun is rising, they come to the tomb (Mk 16: 1-2). And upon entering it they are dismayed, for they cannot find the body of our Lord. A youth, clothed in white, says to them: “Do not be afraid. I know that you seek Jesus of Nazareth. Non est hic, surrexit enim sicut dixit: He is not here; for he has risen, as he said” (Mt 28:5). He has risen! Jesus has risen: he is not in the tomb. Life has overcome death.

He appears to his most holy mother. He appears to Mary Magdalene, who is carried away by love. And to Peter and the rest of the apostles. And to you and me, who are his disciples and more in love than Mary Magdalene. The things we say to him! May we never die through sin; may our spiritual resurrection be eternal. And, before the decade is over, you kiss the wounds in his feet,… and I, more daring – because I am more a child – place my lips upon his open side.

2. THE ASCENSION

Now the Master is teaching his disciples: he has opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and he appoints them witnesses of his life and his miracles, of his passion and death, and of the glory of his resurrection (Lk 24:45, 48). Then he brings them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany and blesses them. And as he does so, he withdraws from them and is carried up to heaven (Lk 24:51) until a cloud takes him out of sight (Acts 1:9).

Jesus has gone to the Father. Two angels in white approach us and say, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven?” (Acts 1:11). Peter and the others go back to Jerusalem cum gaudio magno: “with great joy” (Lk 24:52). It is fitting that the sacred humanity of Christ should receive the homage, praise, and adoration of all the hierarchies of the angels and of all the legions of the blessed in heaven. But you and I feel like orphans: we are sad, and we go to Mary for consolation.

3. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Our Lord has said: “I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, another Consoler, to be with you for ever” (Jn 14:16). The disciples are gathered together in one room, when suddenly they hear what sounds like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which fills the entire house where they are assembled. At the same time something appears that seems like tongues of fire; these separate and come to rest on the head of each of them (Acts 2:1-3).

The apostles are so filled with the Holy Spirit that they seem to be drunk (Acts 2:13).

Then Peter stands up with the Eleven and addresses the people in a loud voice. We, people from a hundred nations, hear him. Each of us hears him in his own language – you and I in ours. He speaks to us of Christ Jesus and of the Holy Spirit and of the Father.

Peter is neither stoned nor thrown into prison. Of those who have heard him, three thousand are converted and baptized.

You and I, after helping the apostles administer Baptism, bless God the Father for his Son Jesus, and we, too, feel drunk with the Holy Spirit.

4. THE ASSUMPTION

Assumpta est Maria in cælum: gaudent angeli. God has taken Mary, body and soul, to heaven; and the angels rejoice!

So sings the Church. And so, with that same cry of joy, we begin our contemplation in this decade of Holy Rosary.

The Mother of God has fallen asleep. Around her bed are the twelve apostles (Matthias in the place of Judas).

And we also, through a grace respected by all, are at her side.

But Jesus wants to have his mother, body and soul, in heaven. And the heavenly court, arrayed in all its splendor, greets our Lady. You and I – children, after all – take the train of Mary’s magnificent blue cloak, and thus we are able to watch the marvelous scene.

The most blessed Trinity receives and showers honors on the Daughter, Mother and Spouse of God…. And so great is the Lady’s majesty that the angels exclaim: Who is she?

5. THE CORONATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

You are completely fair, and without blemish. You are a garden enclosed, my sister, my Bride, an enclosed garden, a sealed fountain. “Veni, coronaberis”: Come, you shall be crowned” (Sg 4: 7, 12, 8).

If you and I have been able, we too would have made her Queen and Lady of all creation.

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman with a crown of twelve stars upon her head, adorned with the sun and the moon at her feet” (Rev 12: 1). Mary, Virgin without stain, has made up for the fall of Eve; she has crushed the head of hell’s serpent with her immaculate heel. Daughter of God, Mother of God, Spouse of God.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit crown her as the rightful Empress of the Universe.

And the angels pay her homage as her subjects… and the patriarchs and prophets and apostles… and the martyrs and confessors and virgins and all the saints… and all sinners, including you and me.