First Prelude: Imagine the two disciples in the presence of Jesus: they see Him, hear His words, but fail to recognize Him.
Second Prelude: Grant, O my Jesus, that I may earnestly strive to know Thee, my Divine Model, ever better, and always approach Thee with loving confidence.
THE TWO DISCIPLES RECOGNIZE JESUS
The evangelist tells us that “the eyes of the disciple were held,” and that they did not recognize the Saviour, though He discoursed with them for some time. They called Him stranger, and in reality, they had been estranged from Him by their infidelity. Jesus hesitated to reveal Himself because they were not yet properly disposed to receive the graces offered them through the holy women. To lead them to a realization of their faults, Jesus willed to hear from their own lips their erroneous and wholly worldly conception of the promised Messiah.
Though Jesus in infinite love condescends to walk with us mystically through life, to be our guide and protector in this exile, He, nevertheless, remains a stranger to many even in our day, because they refuse to open the eye of faith, and close their inner ear to His grace. He must needs remain a stranger to them.
May He not remain estranged from us, His spouses; may we daily grow in His knowledge and love by fervor in meditation and by fidelity to the inspirations of grace. May we, even while at work, in accordance with our Holy Rule, persevere in the spirit of prayer, by keeping our eyes fixed upon our Divine Model. In imitation of many pious souls we will often ask ourselves: Are my thoughts, words and actions in accord with those of my Divine Master?
BENEFITS OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST
St. Augustine says that we do not love God because we do not know him sufficiently. We never bestow our love upon a friend at once; on the contrary, our attachment grows as we discover lovable qualities in our friend. In like manner our love of God will grow proportionately as our knowledge of His goodness, His holiness and His perfections grows upon us. No one can ever fulfill the command of God, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind (Matt. 22, 37), unless he makes an effort to ponder the sublime attributes of Jesus Christ. If God demands love from all creatures how much more can He demand from His spouses! Has He not chosen them to give Him the greatest proof of love leading others to His knowledge and love? Woe, therefore, to those religious who, though they aim at acquiring all sorts of accomplishments which render them conspicuous in the eyes of the world, neglect meditation and their various religious duties, especially prayer! They are, indeed, foolish virgins, with no oil in their lamps, who must fear to hear the dreadful words: “Verily, I do not know you.” Why is my love of Jesus so weak and inconstant? Is it not because I take little pains to know Jesus—the highest Good, the Source of all Good—ever better?
Affections: O my Jesus, with St. Augustine, I cry to Thee: “Grant me to know Thee that I may love Thee.” Is it possible, O Jesus, for me daily to contemplate Thy beauty, Thy goodness and Thy sublime virtues, without being filled with confidence and love, without experiencing the desire to imitate Thy love, obedience, self-denial, and renunciation? Permit not, O Jesus, that my tepidity and infidelity estrange me from Thee and hinder the effects of grace in my soul. Grant me to be Thy faithful spouse, to walk in Thy presence, and thus to become a fit instrument in Thy hands to promote the salvation of souls.
Resolution: In order the better to know and love my Jesus, I will commune with Him by frequent ejaculations.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Let me know Thee, O Lord, that I may love Thee.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord…
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