“Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple and they came to the sepulchre. And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen clothes lying: but yet he went not in” (John 20, 3–5).
First Prelude:
Picture the two Apostles going in haste to the sepulchre.
Second Prelude:
Second Prelude:
O my Jesus, may Thy holy love set my heart aglow, that, animated by a holy zeal, I may conscientiously discharge my religious duties.
Peter and John having learned from Mary Magdalen that the Body of their beloved Master was no longer in the sepulchre, hurriedly started out for the place, without suffering themselves to be deterred by the incredulity of the rest of the disciples. Love accelerated their steps and goaded them on to a holy rivalry. Souls that truly love God know no hesitancy and will not suffer themselves to be influenced by human considerations when there is question of drawing nearer to the object of their love. How necessary is such zeal in the service of God and of one’s neighbor, especially in a religious congregation! By good example one should encourage the other to love the Saviour and to practice virtue. How pleasing to our Blessed Saviour is a religious community in which zeal predominates, and how happy those who live in such a community! They live in an environment that breathes naught but holiness, where everything reminds them of God and their eternal destination. They have continually before their eyes, models urging them irresistibly to the practice of virtue; they encourage one another mutually to constant fidelity to God in the faithful discharge of their sacred duties, thus resembling a fire whose warmth diffuses itself all around. What a source of blessing are zealous religious to Holy Church! Who can say what graces their prayers draw down upon the world, or estimate the salutary effects of their exemplary lives!
Well for us, if we contribute toward supporting the fire of love in the hearts of our fellow-religious, by mutual edification. Let us frequently thank God for the many advantages afforded us as members of a religious congregation by intimate intercourse with Jesus, and let us prove our gratitude by striving perseveringly for the perfection of our holy state.
John hurried on, and arrived at the sepulchre before Peter, but did not enter—only when Peter had arrived and entered, did he follow. Why such modest reserve on the part of the beloved disciple? For whom did he wait? He awaited Him whom Jesus placed over all and whom it behooved to act as the head. John, who himself narrates the incident, conveys an admirable lesson. Though Peter had sinned grievously by his three-fold denial of the Master, John, nevertheless, did not manifest the less respect and reverence for him as his superior. Thereby he teaches religious, in particular, to see in their superiors not mere human beings, subject to faults and imperfections, but God’s representatives, remembering the words of our Blessed Saviour: “Who heareth you heareth Me, Who despiseth you, despiseth Me” (Luke 10, 16). How easily will those fail in the respect due to their superior who assume the right to observe and judge their conduct! God is jealous of the honor of His representatives, and has repeatedly shown in Holy Scripture how vigorously He punishes such as offend against the reverence due their superiors.
How much injury do such religious sustain! They close upon themselves the door through which the greatest blessings of religious life should come to them. The charitable admonitions and counsels of their superiors make no impression upon them. All that should serve to further truly humble and submissive souls in virtue, becomes for them a stumbling block, and serves but to aggravate their guilt. May we ever be irreproachable in this regard! May we always call God’s blessing down upon our works by our respect, love and esteem for our superiors.
Affections: O my God, what gratitude do I owe Thee for my holy vocation to our religious congregation, in which I have before me so many examples of virtue. But how ashamed am I to find myself still so lukewarm and indolent in Thy holy service! Ah, does such tepidity not proceed from my lack of love? I pray Thee, O my dear Saviour, increase in me the flame of divine love, replenish me with fresh zeal and courage that, no longer fettered by earthly affections, I may advance in the way of Thy commandments and reach the perfection which Thou in Thy infinite love hast destined for me. Give us all, O Jesus, the grace of mutual edification by the most humble submission to our superiors and by love and kindness toward one another, that thus we may contribute toward making of our community a most lovable abode of virtue, an object of the especial love of God.
Resolution: I will fulfill my duties zealously, and honor God’s representatives in my superiors.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord: they shall praise Thee forever and ever” (Ps. 83).
Prayer: Take, O Lord…
First Point
The Zeal of the Two Apostles
Peter and John having learned from Mary Magdalen that the Body of their beloved Master was no longer in the sepulchre, hurriedly started out for the place, without suffering themselves to be deterred by the incredulity of the rest of the disciples. Love accelerated their steps and goaded them on to a holy rivalry. Souls that truly love God know no hesitancy and will not suffer themselves to be influenced by human considerations when there is question of drawing nearer to the object of their love. How necessary is such zeal in the service of God and of one’s neighbor, especially in a religious congregation! By good example one should encourage the other to love the Saviour and to practice virtue. How pleasing to our Blessed Saviour is a religious community in which zeal predominates, and how happy those who live in such a community! They live in an environment that breathes naught but holiness, where everything reminds them of God and their eternal destination. They have continually before their eyes, models urging them irresistibly to the practice of virtue; they encourage one another mutually to constant fidelity to God in the faithful discharge of their sacred duties, thus resembling a fire whose warmth diffuses itself all around. What a source of blessing are zealous religious to Holy Church! Who can say what graces their prayers draw down upon the world, or estimate the salutary effects of their exemplary lives!
Well for us, if we contribute toward supporting the fire of love in the hearts of our fellow-religious, by mutual edification. Let us frequently thank God for the many advantages afforded us as members of a religious congregation by intimate intercourse with Jesus, and let us prove our gratitude by striving perseveringly for the perfection of our holy state.
Second Point
The Two Disciples at the Sepulchre
John hurried on, and arrived at the sepulchre before Peter, but did not enter—only when Peter had arrived and entered, did he follow. Why such modest reserve on the part of the beloved disciple? For whom did he wait? He awaited Him whom Jesus placed over all and whom it behooved to act as the head. John, who himself narrates the incident, conveys an admirable lesson. Though Peter had sinned grievously by his three-fold denial of the Master, John, nevertheless, did not manifest the less respect and reverence for him as his superior. Thereby he teaches religious, in particular, to see in their superiors not mere human beings, subject to faults and imperfections, but God’s representatives, remembering the words of our Blessed Saviour: “Who heareth you heareth Me, Who despiseth you, despiseth Me” (Luke 10, 16). How easily will those fail in the respect due to their superior who assume the right to observe and judge their conduct! God is jealous of the honor of His representatives, and has repeatedly shown in Holy Scripture how vigorously He punishes such as offend against the reverence due their superiors.
How much injury do such religious sustain! They close upon themselves the door through which the greatest blessings of religious life should come to them. The charitable admonitions and counsels of their superiors make no impression upon them. All that should serve to further truly humble and submissive souls in virtue, becomes for them a stumbling block, and serves but to aggravate their guilt. May we ever be irreproachable in this regard! May we always call God’s blessing down upon our works by our respect, love and esteem for our superiors.
Affections: O my God, what gratitude do I owe Thee for my holy vocation to our religious congregation, in which I have before me so many examples of virtue. But how ashamed am I to find myself still so lukewarm and indolent in Thy holy service! Ah, does such tepidity not proceed from my lack of love? I pray Thee, O my dear Saviour, increase in me the flame of divine love, replenish me with fresh zeal and courage that, no longer fettered by earthly affections, I may advance in the way of Thy commandments and reach the perfection which Thou in Thy infinite love hast destined for me. Give us all, O Jesus, the grace of mutual edification by the most humble submission to our superiors and by love and kindness toward one another, that thus we may contribute toward making of our community a most lovable abode of virtue, an object of the especial love of God.
Resolution: I will fulfill my duties zealously, and honor God’s representatives in my superiors.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord: they shall praise Thee forever and ever” (Ps. 83).
Prayer: Take, O Lord…
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