“And He said to them: ‘What are these discourses that you hold one with another, as you walk, and are sad?’” (Luke 24, 17)
First Prelude: Behold the two disciples on their way to Emmaus and Jesus in their midst.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, grant me the grace, solicitously to guard my tongue and to be humbly docile to Thy instructions.
First Point
Jesus Asks the Disciples What Manner of Conversation They Are Having
“What are these discourses you hold one with another, and why are you sad?” Jesus said to the two disciples. Oh, the love and sympathy of Jesus in this instance! Knowing that sadness hinders the operations of grace in their hearts, Jesus cannot bear to see His loved ones depressed. Oh, the baneful effects of dejection! Oh, the cunning of our enemy thus to ensnare devout souls and hinder so much good! What benefits should accrue to us if, after a fall, we would sincerely repent and with redoubled fervor resume the practice of virtue! Having learned from the two disciples the reason of their sadness, the King of Eternal Glory, Who on that day had conquered death, condescended to converse familiarly with those who had made His passion and death the subject of their conversation.
Can we not imagine Jesus addressing us similarly: What is the subject of your discourses, of your thoughts? What, the object of your desires? Oh, that with the disciples we were always able to say that we are conversing on edifying topics as it becomes religious, spouses of Christ! That no useless, uncharitable words should cross our lips, no vain or idle thoughts gain admittance to our hearts, and all our desires aim at fulfilling God’s holy Will and securing our perfection! Shall we not have to render account for every idle word, on the Last Day? Let us forestall this account by exacting it of ourselves for every fault committed by misuse of the tongue. If we were occupied with God alone, what joy would then sway our heart! Would not the Saviour be near us and suffer us to taste the delights of communion with Him?
Second Point
Jesus Admonishes the Disciples
How harsh, seemingly, was our Lord’s reproof! “O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24, 25). Christ’s reproof, however, was only the outflow of His loving merciful Heart, prompted by His intense desire to instruct and console doubting and timid souls. Therefore, also, the disciples accepted this reproof from the apparent stranger without resentment, ill-will or contradiction. They even rejoiced that some one spoke to them of their good Master, and thus confirmed their weakened faith.
Let us here learn to be guided by love in all our corrections. Reproofs and admonitions are spiritual alms, and, like corporal alms, they must spring from those who have our welfare at heart, or whose duty it is to watch over us, remind us of our faults, that we may open our eyes to the dangers that threaten us. Many, however, resemble patients that bear a grudge against the physician who prescribes a bitter, but absolutely necessary remedy. Let us deem it a blessing in our religious community to be surrounded by friends who have our real interest at heart, and who, far from lulling us into a false security regarding our faults, seek to check our evil tendencies by prudent severity.
Are we always grateful for kindly counsel and advice? Have I not occasionally been over-sensitive when reprimanded? Am I at least humble enough not to have recourse to countless excuses, mindful that he who offers many excuses will never correct his faults?
Affections: I pray Thee, my Jesus, speak to me as Thou didst speak to the happy disciples; speak to my mind, by imparting to it the knowledge of Thy doctrines, to my heart by inflaming it with the fire of Thy divine love. Give me humility and docility that I may profit by the counsels and admonitions of Thy representatives. I thank Thee, O Jesus, for having pointed out to me my defects, and at the same time the means and ways to amendment and betterment, to greater progress in religious perfection. Sustain me, O Beloved of my soul, with Thy powerful grace, that I may walk the ways of perfection with courage and perseverance.
Resolution: I will be attentive to the presence of God in my interior, and will gratefully accept the counsels that He imparts to me through His representatives.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.”
Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary…
First Prelude: Behold the two disciples on their way to Emmaus and Jesus in their midst.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, grant me the grace, solicitously to guard my tongue and to be humbly docile to Thy instructions.
First Point
Jesus Asks the Disciples What Manner of Conversation They Are Having
“What are these discourses you hold one with another, and why are you sad?” Jesus said to the two disciples. Oh, the love and sympathy of Jesus in this instance! Knowing that sadness hinders the operations of grace in their hearts, Jesus cannot bear to see His loved ones depressed. Oh, the baneful effects of dejection! Oh, the cunning of our enemy thus to ensnare devout souls and hinder so much good! What benefits should accrue to us if, after a fall, we would sincerely repent and with redoubled fervor resume the practice of virtue! Having learned from the two disciples the reason of their sadness, the King of Eternal Glory, Who on that day had conquered death, condescended to converse familiarly with those who had made His passion and death the subject of their conversation.
Can we not imagine Jesus addressing us similarly: What is the subject of your discourses, of your thoughts? What, the object of your desires? Oh, that with the disciples we were always able to say that we are conversing on edifying topics as it becomes religious, spouses of Christ! That no useless, uncharitable words should cross our lips, no vain or idle thoughts gain admittance to our hearts, and all our desires aim at fulfilling God’s holy Will and securing our perfection! Shall we not have to render account for every idle word, on the Last Day? Let us forestall this account by exacting it of ourselves for every fault committed by misuse of the tongue. If we were occupied with God alone, what joy would then sway our heart! Would not the Saviour be near us and suffer us to taste the delights of communion with Him?
Second Point
Jesus Admonishes the Disciples
How harsh, seemingly, was our Lord’s reproof! “O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24, 25). Christ’s reproof, however, was only the outflow of His loving merciful Heart, prompted by His intense desire to instruct and console doubting and timid souls. Therefore, also, the disciples accepted this reproof from the apparent stranger without resentment, ill-will or contradiction. They even rejoiced that some one spoke to them of their good Master, and thus confirmed their weakened faith.
Let us here learn to be guided by love in all our corrections. Reproofs and admonitions are spiritual alms, and, like corporal alms, they must spring from those who have our welfare at heart, or whose duty it is to watch over us, remind us of our faults, that we may open our eyes to the dangers that threaten us. Many, however, resemble patients that bear a grudge against the physician who prescribes a bitter, but absolutely necessary remedy. Let us deem it a blessing in our religious community to be surrounded by friends who have our real interest at heart, and who, far from lulling us into a false security regarding our faults, seek to check our evil tendencies by prudent severity.
Are we always grateful for kindly counsel and advice? Have I not occasionally been over-sensitive when reprimanded? Am I at least humble enough not to have recourse to countless excuses, mindful that he who offers many excuses will never correct his faults?
Affections: I pray Thee, my Jesus, speak to me as Thou didst speak to the happy disciples; speak to my mind, by imparting to it the knowledge of Thy doctrines, to my heart by inflaming it with the fire of Thy divine love. Give me humility and docility that I may profit by the counsels and admonitions of Thy representatives. I thank Thee, O Jesus, for having pointed out to me my defects, and at the same time the means and ways to amendment and betterment, to greater progress in religious perfection. Sustain me, O Beloved of my soul, with Thy powerful grace, that I may walk the ways of perfection with courage and perseverance.
Resolution: I will be attentive to the presence of God in my interior, and will gratefully accept the counsels that He imparts to me through His representatives.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.”
Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary…
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