First Prelude: Picture the disciples on their way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus in their midst. Kneel with the friends of our Divine Lord to receive His parting benediction.
Second Prelude: O my Lord and Saviour, from Thy Tabernacle frequently impart Thy divine blessing to me that I may become truly humble, obedient, and mortified.
First Point
Jesus Led His Disciples Out As Far As Bethany
Not without reason does the evangelist tell us that Jesus led His disciples by way of Bethania out toward Olivet, whence He ascended into heaven. Bethania means “house of obedience” and it seems that Jesus willed to intimate that we must walk the path of obedience if we would be sure of reaching heaven. For the same reason many choose the religious state, which teaches us to follow closely in the footsteps of our Divine Lord. In fact, is there anything more excellent either in heaven or on earth than to make the once recognized Will of God our rule of action? Nothing is more sanctifying than such obedience. It guides the blind, confirms the wavering, and subjugates the haughty, will. It comprises all the virtues: humility, self-denial, patience, faith, hope, and charity. Obedience causes all uneasiness concerning the past to vanish, for He in Whose name we obey could not have deceived us, and what was done in obedience was done well.
How happy are obedient souls in their present duty? Are they not doing the holy Will of God, than which nothing more consoling can be imagined? As regards the future, they are likewise without concern, for in the accomplishment of the Divine Will they will always enjoy security and peace. O happy life, O blessed death, following upon such a life! Should we not rejoice and thank God that we, too, may dwell in Bethania, the house of obedience? At the same time we must strive to render ourselves worthy of such a privilege by the exercise of a simple, humble obedience. Should submission ever seem an unbearable yoke, let us consider that even though nature shrinks from a life of obedience, it will be sweet to die as an obedient religious.
Is my obedience so perfect that I may hope to find in it the straight and direct road to heaven?
Second Point
Jesus Willed to Ascend to Heaven from the Mount of Olives
Olivet possessed a sacred charm for our Divine Saviour. It had been for Him the scene of deepest degradation, of intense agony, and of the most painful sufferings. There he had prayed so often, fought so many spiritual combats for our salvation; now, however, Olivet should become for Him the scene of supreme glory, of the most perfect bliss, and of the sweetest consolation. How must Peter, James, and John, witnesses of His agony in the Garden, have marvelled at the transformation! Picture this scene very vividly, reverently contemplating your Divine Saviour standing on the mountain brow. Inexpressible mildness and serenity, combined with divine majesty and dignity, grace His whole appearance. All eyes are reverently fixed upon Him. Once more His loved ones are permitted to behold His Sacred Wounds, those blessed signs of our redemption. Lifting up His adorable hands, He imparts to all His last blessing. What a plenitude of graces and heavenly gifts was imparted to them with this blessing!
How happy should we consider ourselves to have been blessed by Jesus in that solemn moment! But how often does not the same Divine Saviour in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar impart His efficacious blessing. As the Apostles received strength and encouragement for their apostolic labors in this divine blessing, so we, too, shall experience the life-giving effects of God’s benediction in the works of our sublime calling. Let us never lose sight of the fact that we, too, like Jesus, must enter into everlasting bliss by the way of struggles, of sacrifices, and of sufferings. Let us therefore rejoice in the contempt, in the degradation, in the sufferings and tribulations that fall to our lot in this life. The greater they are, the greater will be our everlasting reward.
Do I frequently ponder the words of Holy Scripture (Acts 14:21) that we must enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations?
Affections: O my beloved Jesus, let me bear in mind that the eternal glory of Thy Sacred Humanity is the reward of Thy obedience unto the death of the cross. I will follow in Thy footsteps. O Jesus, in the path of poverty, of humility, of obedience, of mortification and love of the cross, that I may be with Thee in the eternal mansions, where Thou hast prepared a place for each of Thy faithful disciples. Animated with sentiments of love and devotion, we accompany Thee, O Jesus, to the holy mountain where Thou dost bless Thy holy Mother and Thy beloved disciples for the last time before ascending to Thy Father. In spirit kneeling at Thy feet, we pray Thee for Thy blessing that it may tear all earthly ties asunder and fill us with a loathing of the false, fleeting, worldly pleasures. May it be for us the pledge of that eternal benediction which Thou wilt bestow on Thy elect on the Last Day.
Resolution: I will often beg my Saviour for His divine blessing, that it may guide and strengthen me for the faithful discharge of the duties enjoined upon me by obedience.
Spiritual Bouquet: “And lifting up His hands, He blessed them.”
Prayer: Soul of Christ . . .
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