“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came” (John 20, 24).
First Prelude: In spirit behold the Apostles animatedly relating to Thomas the apparition of their risen Master.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, grant me true humility and great love for the practices of community life.
First Point
SINGULARITY OF THOMAS
On the night of Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to His disciples and replenished their hearts with joy and consolation. Thomas was not with the Apostles on this occasion, and he thus forfeited the wonderful grace that rendered the others so exceedingly happy. Let us note how much we may lose by absenting ourselves from community exercises in order to indulge personal preference. “He who striveth to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraweth himself from grace; and he that seeketh particular privileges, loseth such as are in the common,” says the author of the Imitation (B. 3, Chap. 13). It is not a rare occurrence to find religious guilty of the fault of the doubting Thomas. Some pass lightly over their religious duties, neglect community exercises, often only to indulge personal convenience and ill humor. How many graces do they forfeit by such conduct, and what a bad example do they set their community! Let us take well to heart the admonition of St. Bernard: “Wilt thou be just? Then be solicitous to make thy whole life harmonize with the Rule, according to which thou hast made thy vows, and deviate neither to the right nor to the left from the prescribed exercises.” How assiduously was the saint himself concerned to do this! If he was hindered from performing an exercise with the community, he sought to indemnify himself by rendering the lowliest services with profound humility, so as not to lose the blessing God attaches to participation in the community exercises. Thus, in all justice, his biographer could designate him the “most devoted friend of community life.”
Am I convinced that God will be more indulgent with my imperfections at community exercises, by virtue of the fervor and zeal of my co-religious? Do I strive to compensate myself for necessary exceptions by greater humility and more perfect obedience?
Second Point
THE OBSTINATE UNBELIEF OF THOMAS
Although the holy women and disciples assured him “We have seen the Lord,” and to make their testimony more credible even related all the details, Thomas refused to believe. He relied more on his own judgment than on the words of others. What obduracy, what stubbornness! In his presumption he even indicated the manner in which he would be convinced. We cannot realize that Thomas would have lacked the faith of his fellow-laborers. Had he not distinguished himself formerly by his spirit of sacrifice, when the other Apostles sought to dissuade Jesus from going to Bethany? Thomas courageously declared: “We will go with Him and die with Him” (John 11, 16). And now, having forfeited the graces imparted to the Apostles at Christ’s first apparition, he fell from one fault into another, from obstinacy into obdurate unbelief and gross presumption.
Have we not learned from experience that one fault seldom stands alone? Have we not, likewise, learned that our enemy utilizes every moment of our unwarranted absence from community exercises by redoubling his attacks? Nothing seems more desirable to him than at such times to find us alone, and only too often he succeeds in luring us into repeated falls after the first one. Let us seek to evade his snares by prompt obedience and sincere humility. All truly humble souls mistrust their own judgment and are modest and cautious in their words; hence they possess peace of soul which qualifies them to impart this precious heavenly treasure to others. Have I not, by stubborn adherence to my views, frequently betrayed pride and self-love? What untold harm for myself and others has resulted from such conduct?
Affections: Divine Saviour, I thank Thee for the wholesome instructions imparted to me in this meditation. Preserve me from the spirit of singularity and stubbornness, which would rob me of the many graces attached to fidelity in community exercises. Grant me the grace to know myself and imbue me with the desire to submit in childlike simplicity to the direction of my superiors, and humbly to walk the way Thou hast traced for us in our Holy Rule and the constitutions of our Congregation. Let Thy hand guide me securely, that I may find peace and happiness in unreserved surrender to Thee, the portion of those that love Thee, O Highest Good, with all their hearts.
Resolution: I will endeavor to be prompt at all community exercises.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Where two or three are assembled in My name, I will be in their midst.”
Prayer: Jesus, my Lord, my King . . .
First Prelude: In spirit behold the Apostles animatedly relating to Thomas the apparition of their risen Master.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, grant me true humility and great love for the practices of community life.
First Point
SINGULARITY OF THOMAS
On the night of Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to His disciples and replenished their hearts with joy and consolation. Thomas was not with the Apostles on this occasion, and he thus forfeited the wonderful grace that rendered the others so exceedingly happy. Let us note how much we may lose by absenting ourselves from community exercises in order to indulge personal preference. “He who striveth to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraweth himself from grace; and he that seeketh particular privileges, loseth such as are in the common,” says the author of the Imitation (B. 3, Chap. 13). It is not a rare occurrence to find religious guilty of the fault of the doubting Thomas. Some pass lightly over their religious duties, neglect community exercises, often only to indulge personal convenience and ill humor. How many graces do they forfeit by such conduct, and what a bad example do they set their community! Let us take well to heart the admonition of St. Bernard: “Wilt thou be just? Then be solicitous to make thy whole life harmonize with the Rule, according to which thou hast made thy vows, and deviate neither to the right nor to the left from the prescribed exercises.” How assiduously was the saint himself concerned to do this! If he was hindered from performing an exercise with the community, he sought to indemnify himself by rendering the lowliest services with profound humility, so as not to lose the blessing God attaches to participation in the community exercises. Thus, in all justice, his biographer could designate him the “most devoted friend of community life.”
Am I convinced that God will be more indulgent with my imperfections at community exercises, by virtue of the fervor and zeal of my co-religious? Do I strive to compensate myself for necessary exceptions by greater humility and more perfect obedience?
Second Point
THE OBSTINATE UNBELIEF OF THOMAS
Although the holy women and disciples assured him “We have seen the Lord,” and to make their testimony more credible even related all the details, Thomas refused to believe. He relied more on his own judgment than on the words of others. What obduracy, what stubbornness! In his presumption he even indicated the manner in which he would be convinced. We cannot realize that Thomas would have lacked the faith of his fellow-laborers. Had he not distinguished himself formerly by his spirit of sacrifice, when the other Apostles sought to dissuade Jesus from going to Bethany? Thomas courageously declared: “We will go with Him and die with Him” (John 11, 16). And now, having forfeited the graces imparted to the Apostles at Christ’s first apparition, he fell from one fault into another, from obstinacy into obdurate unbelief and gross presumption.
Have we not learned from experience that one fault seldom stands alone? Have we not, likewise, learned that our enemy utilizes every moment of our unwarranted absence from community exercises by redoubling his attacks? Nothing seems more desirable to him than at such times to find us alone, and only too often he succeeds in luring us into repeated falls after the first one. Let us seek to evade his snares by prompt obedience and sincere humility. All truly humble souls mistrust their own judgment and are modest and cautious in their words; hence they possess peace of soul which qualifies them to impart this precious heavenly treasure to others. Have I not, by stubborn adherence to my views, frequently betrayed pride and self-love? What untold harm for myself and others has resulted from such conduct?
Affections: Divine Saviour, I thank Thee for the wholesome instructions imparted to me in this meditation. Preserve me from the spirit of singularity and stubbornness, which would rob me of the many graces attached to fidelity in community exercises. Grant me the grace to know myself and imbue me with the desire to submit in childlike simplicity to the direction of my superiors, and humbly to walk the way Thou hast traced for us in our Holy Rule and the constitutions of our Congregation. Let Thy hand guide me securely, that I may find peace and happiness in unreserved surrender to Thee, the portion of those that love Thee, O Highest Good, with all their hearts.
Resolution: I will endeavor to be prompt at all community exercises.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Where two or three are assembled in My name, I will be in their midst.”
Prayer: Jesus, my Lord, my King . . .
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