The New Gasparian

The New Gasparian

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A journal dedicated to the life and mission of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, and to a life lived in response to the call and the cry of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our on-going mission is to share good news of hope and communion.

Saturday, April 12, 2003

Saturday of the Fifth Week

The Readings
Ez. 37:21 28 I shall make a covenant with them.
Jer. 31 The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock
John 11:45 57 It is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed. The Plot against Jesus.

St. Gaspar del Bufalo:
I have, indeed, acknowledged the beauty of our Institute which I shall love to the grave, but with a love that is raised up by every spiritual attack, and this, it seems to me, is what I possess.

Our vocation, in contrast, is an indication that the devil, in an effort to destroy the spiritual edifice, will try to strike at the very foundation stones. If everyone is provided with the usual means for recognizing and cultivating his vocation, NN. has them in a very special way. He should often reflect on quomodo intrasti? Likewise, he should verify the meaning of manete in vocatione.

Anyone who finds himself tempted with respect to his vocation should exercise charity twice as much - praying - and being cautious. The ailments that we find in ourselves are never sufficiently recognized and never are they sufficiently cured. This is the reason why so many begin to imagine things that do not exist. The devil keeps on being vexatious and the individual becomes like the sick person who takes it out on the doctor. As a result, he is attributing his trouble to our holy Society, which is something that must be a matter of examination by the members. We pardon everyone; but the cure is urgent. Then, too, crosses will never be lacking, as long as we are here below. One might make a change in the method, but there will be no change in the crosses to which we are heirs as children of the redemption.

latin note: as far as I can determine the Latin phrases in the previous passage are not scripture quotes. "quomodo intrasti" seems to refer to "how he came to be here" and might be a subtle reference to Matt 22:12. "Manete in vocatione" seems to refer to "remaining in the vocation" or "staying with the call."

Reflection
We are not spectators here. It is time for us to enter into the Paschal mystery by allowing our lives, loves, joys, hopes, disappointments, suffering to be made over by Christ's death and resurection. The cause for hostility here was a good work. Jesus had shown his mastery over the power of death by raising Lazarus, and this good work was a source of fear and malice in the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin.

Caiphas, who did not know the depth of what he was saying, stated that it was better to have one man die for the nation than to have the whole nation destroyed. The irony is that Jesus death did not preserve their stronghold. Jerusalem was destroyed in the 60's - 70's The Evangelist knew the depth of what had happened, that Jesus death would gather into one all the dispersed children of God. At Passover time the High priest is to seek out a lamb to be the spotless sacrifice. This is what Caiphas unknowingly does as the true High priest is feared by the earthly high priest.

For St. Gaspar the way before us is clear. The following of Jesus is beset by opposition from the adversary. Even the good the Missionaries do is a source of resistance. The good the church is engaged in can be a source of misunderstanding and even animosity. So we are not spectators. We take up the cross and follow Jesus.

- What kinds of doubts do my troubles and difficulties bring?
- What sorrows and struggles are waiting to be remade by Christ?
- How would I describe my participation in the paschal mystery?

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 1:12 PM link
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