144. Fourth Friday of Easter

Meditations no. 190 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

The joy of Easter is the fruit of Christ’s obedience.

As we contemplate Christ’s glorious Resurrection during these days, we are moved to follow the Apostle’s advice: Have this mind among yourselves which was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a Cross. The Resurrection is both a guarantee and a pledge of the glory that awaits us, if we imitate our Lord by dying to ourselves through obedience, in union with him.

Jesus Christ’s life was an uninterrupted act of obedience to his heavenly Father: I always do what is pleasing to him. He obeyed his Father’s will, and during his earthly life, he submitted to all those who were in authority. He was docile to our Lady and St Joseph: erat subditus illis, he was obedient to them. Later, in obedience to his heavenly Father, he did not resist those who led him to Calvary: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

But in this time of Easter joy, we think above all of the results of Christ’s gentle submission. Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. After offering himself up through obedience, Jesus rose from the dead, and his Resurrection encourages us to embrace our duty wholeheartedly and joyfully, fulfilling God’s will in all things, even when it is difficult. By your blood, O Lord, you have redeemed us from every tribe and tongue, from every nation and people: you have made us into the kingdom of God, Alleluia.

God wishes us to learn his will through others.

The Letter to the Hebrews applies this verse of the Psalm to Jesus Christ: Then I said, “Lo, I have come to do your will, O God”. Christ’s life on earth was the fulfilment of his Father’s will down to the last detail, from the moment he came to the world until he cried out on the Cross: consummatum est, it is finished.

Our Father invites us to look again at the example Christ gives us: he obeys Joseph and Mary. God has come to earth to obey, and to obey creatures. Admittedly they are two very perfect creatures: Holy Mary, our mother, greater than whom God alone; and that most chaste man Joseph. But they are only creatures, and yet Jesus, who is God, obeyed them. We have to love God so as to love his will and to desire to respond to his calls. They come to us through the duties of our ordinary life: duties of state, profession, work, family, social life, in our own and other people’s difficulties, friendship, eagerness to do what is right and just.

Not a single moment of our life is a matter of indifference to God. And at every moment God expects a very clear response from us. Knowing how difficult it is for us to discover his will correctly, he has established in his mercy that other people - our brothers and sisters - should show us what he wants of us. In so doing, God makes his creatures into instruments of sanctification. It would not be right for our obedience to be based on the human qualities - such as experience, friendliness, or intelligence - of whoever is in charge. There is only one motive which is completely supernatural, and which respects our personality as Christians in all its fullness, namely, the conviction that obedience to the Directors means obedience to God himself.

Thus St Bernard says: All that a person commands us on behalf of God must be carried out with as much submission as if God himself had commanded it. For what does it matter whether God makes his will known to us directly or through his ministers, be they angels or men?

Let us also grasp what the Apostle taught the Colossians: Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

Obedience should be cheerful, because when we obey we are doing exactly what God wants.

God loves us so much that he draws us to himself along the path of obedience to our Directors. Our Lord does not disguise the fact that this wholehearted obedience to God’s will calls for renunciation and self-sacrifice. Love does not claim rights, it seeks to serve.

Jesus has led the way. How did he obey? Usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis. Unto death, even death on a Cross. You have to get out of yourself; you have to complicate your life, losing it for love of God and souls. So you wanted to live a quiet life. But God wanted otherwise. Two wills exist: your will should be corrected to become identified with God’s will: you must not bend God’s will to suit yours.

It has made me very happy to see so many souls spend their lives - like you, Lord, usque ad mortem, even unto death - fulfilling what God was asking of them. They have dedicated all their yearnings and their professional work to the service of the Church, for the good of all souls.

Let us learn to obey, let us learn to serve. There is no better leadership than wanting to give yourself freely, to be useful to others. When we feel pride swell up within us, making us think that we are supermen, the time has come to say “no”. Our only triumph will be the triumph of humility. In this way we will identify ourselves with Christ on the Cross - not unwillingly or restlessly or sullenly, but joyfully. For the joy which comes from forgetting ourselves is the best proof of love.

We may find ourselves in situations where it is difficult to obey. Let us remember then the glorious end of Christ’s Passion. Let us also remember that God our Father is waiting for us to say “yes” to him. Let us hasten to follow our Father’s advice: Go generously and like a child ask him, “What will you give me when you ask this of me?”

Obedience should always be cheerful, in simplicity of heart, as St Paul says, because obedience means responding exactly to what God expects of us, and God only desires our good. Charity makes obedience pleasing and acceptable to God, since God loves a cheerful giver.

Our Lord’s life on earth began as a result of his most holy Mother’s obedience: Ecce ancilla Domini, behold the handmaid of the Lord. Now we can joyfully sing the consequences of that obedience. Regina coeli laetare, alleluia; quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia, resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia: O Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia; for he whom you did merit to bear, has risen as he said, alleluia.