122. Easter Thursday

Meditations no. 168 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Our strength rests on our divine filiation.

As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”

The Lord is risen! From his Resurrection we must draw greater strength and endurance to face difficulties, and a greater assurance of victory. We have died and risen with Christ; we have been born to the life of grace, to the life of God’s children. Our strength rests on our divine filiation; on our awareness that we really are children of God. In the midst of the limitations that accompany our present life, in which sin is still present in us to some extent at least, we Christians perceive with a particular clearness all the wealth of our divine filiation, when we realize that we are fully free because we are doing our Father’s work, when our joy becomes constant because no one can take our hope away. It is then that we can admire at the same time all the great and beautiful things of this earth, can appreciate the richness and goodness of creation, and can love with all the strength and purity for which the human heart was made. It is then that sorrow for sin does not degenerate into a bitter gesture of despair or pride, because sorrow and knowledge of human weakness lead us to identify ourselves again with Christ’s work of redemption and feel more deeply our solidarity with others.

It is then, finally, that we Christians experience in our own life the sure strength of the Holy Spirit, in such a way that our own failures do not drag us down. Rather they are an invitation to begin again, and to continue being faithful witnesses of Christ in all the moments of our life - in spite of our own personal weaknesses, which, in such a case, are normally no more than small failings that hardly perturb the soul And even if they were grave sins, the sacrament of penance, received with true sorrow, enables us to recover our peace with God and to become again a good witness of his mercy.

There is nothing that can disturb the peace and security we derive from considering our divine filiation. Here is a thought that brings peace and that the Holy Spirit provides ready-made for those who seek the will of God: Dominus regit me, et nihil me deerit. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. What can upset a soul who sincerely repeats these words?

God makes up for the strength we lack.

We are wayfarers, and it is only natural that we should encounter difficulties along the road. We must expect to come up against obstacles in our apostolate. We take all that into account, along with our weakness. Nevertheless, we carry on going forward because we know that God makes up for the strength we lack. Besides, we understand that all this is necessary if Christ’s life is somehow to be repeated in our own. We know from the Gospels that it was necessary that the Christ should suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead…

You should feel strong with God’s strength, our Father tells us. I have often written to you that while you are sowing love throughout the world - exiit qui seminat seminare semen suum, the sower went out to sow - you will meet difficulties. Remember what Holy Scripture teaches: Qui seminant in lacrimis, in exultatione metent, those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Remember too: Quae enim seminaverit homo, haec et metet, whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

If you sow Love with sacrifice, you will also reap Love. Adversity will not be lacking. But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. So have no fear, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord.

Struggle vigorously against difficulties, in a sporting spirit, spe gaudentes, joyful in hope, in the knowledge that, helped by God’s grace, you will always win your struggle because God doesn’t lose battles.

If you ever feel exhausted by the weight of your mission, keep working in close union with your Directors. That is my fatherly advice, being mindful of the historic phrase: wars are won by tired soldiers with the encouragement of their leaders.

Overcoming difficulties.

St John Chrysostom says that, after the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Lord’s disciples did not heed dangers, nor death … nor their own small numbers, nor the multitude of those who opposed them, nor the power, might and knowledge of their enemies. For they had a strength superior to all that, the power of the One who had died on the Cross and risen again.

To overcome all obstacles that may arise, we must always take divine grace into account, before everything else. We are not engaged in a human enterprise, nor are we doing our own will. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.

Hence, when faced with difficulties, we can always pray confidently: Fiat manus tua ut salvet me, quoniam mandata tua elegi. Stretch forth your hand to help me, for I have kept your commands.

In the Work we have long-standing, well-tried experience of God’s merciful help. Let me assure you, it’s something which I have touched with my own hands and seen with my own eyes, that, if you trust in God’s Providence, if you abandon yourselves in his all-powerful arms, you will never lack the means to serve God, his Holy Church and the souls of all people; and this without having to neglect any of your duties. You will then rejoice in the joy and peace which mundus dare non potest, which possessing all the goods of the world cannot give.

Let us also remember that, as our Father has told us, we are what is “permanent”. Difficulties always pass away. Afterwards, a person who has been strong with God’s strength, iam non meminit pressurae propter gaudium, full of joy, they no longer remember past tribulations. Your vocation, the certainty that you are called by God, will always be the best shield against any temptation. It is the surest and strongest guarantee that, if you wish, God will make you faithful, ever victorious, witnesses of Jesus Christ throughout the world, and abundantly fruitful in serving souls.

Mater nostra, Virgo potens, ora pro nobis; our Mother, Virgin most powerful, pray for us.