398. Twenty-sixth Tuesday of Ordinary Time
Meditations no. 356 (unofficial computer-aided translation)
Truly apostolic souls understand and forgive other peopleâs weaknesses.
The time for Christâs redemptive sacrifice on Calvary is drawing near. St Luke tells us that our Lord, in the company of the Apostles, set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, âLord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?â But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
Once again Jesus gives the Apostles a lesson in understanding and forgiveness, and holy toleration for those in error.
Our Father wrote in one of his Letters: Jesus wants us to have this spirit of his. Do you see his continual eagerness to be with people? Arenât you moved to contemplate how he rejects no one? He speaks to one and all, he has a kind word for everyone; and he teaches them, instructs them, brings tidings of joy and hope, with this marvellous, unique fact, of a God who lives together with men!
At that moment, the zeal of James and John was a bitter zeal. They hadnât yet learned what the Holy Spirit would later teach them: that a truly apostolic soul is able to understand other peopleâs weaknesses, following the Masterâs example.
Christ desires all men to be saved, and that no one should be lost. He longs to give his life for all in an outpouring of love that is a perfect holocaust. Jesus doesnât want to convince us by force. Living alongside men, he gently draws them to follow him in search of true peace and joy.
We, my daughters and sons, must do the same, since it is Christâs own charity that impels us: caritas Christi urget nos. With the ever new light of charity, with generous love for God and neighbour, we shall renew our desire to understand and forgive everyone. Seeing the Masterâs example, we donât want to feel we are enemies to anyone.
We can summarize our attitude to souls with St Paulâs heartfelt cry: Caritas mea cum omnibus vobis in Christo Iesu, my affection is for all of you in Christ Jesus. By charity, you will sow peace and joy in the world, loving and defending the personal freedom of souls, the freedom which Christ respects and won for us.
We have to be magnanimous in the apostolate.
The Work of God was born to spread our Lordâs legacy of love and peace throughout the world. We want to invite all men and women to respect the rights of the person. This is how I want my children to be formed, and this is how you are.
Your unity of life should be joined to a spontaneous magnanimity that is renewed every day and shows in all you do. Thus, as faithful soldiers of Christ Jesus in the world, you will offer yourselves as a holocaust and say: with complete sincerity, Lord, I have joyfully offered myself to you, with everything I have.
That should be your preparation for the continual apostolate Jesus asks of us, as constant as the beating of our heart. My children, God has called us to the Work at a time when there is much talk about peace, and there is no peace: either in souls, or in institutions, or in social life, or among nations. People talk continually about equality and democracy, but closed, impenetrable castes hold sway.
He has called us at a time when people are crying out for understanding, and understanding is not lived, sometimes not even among those who act in good faith and want to practise charity, because charity, more than in giving, consists in understanding.
These are times when fanatical and intolerant people, deaf to the viewpoints of others, thrive with impunity, while accusing others who are their victims of being violent and aggressive. In short, God has called us at a time when many talk about unity, but itâs hard to imagine a period of greater dissension, not only among men in general, but even among Catholics themselves.
In this climate, we have to set a courageous yet humble example of authentic Christian life marked by hard work, understanding and love for all souls.
Such was Christâs constant teaching. In todayâs Mass, we are again reminded that the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Jesus welcomes everyone, he rejects no one. His zeal for souls is never bitter, but always affectionate. He is the Good Shepherd who goes out in search of the sheep that was lost to bring it gently back to the fold. My children, our Father wrote, our zeal for souls should lead us to feel we are not enemies to anyone, but to have a big, universal, Catholic heart. We want to soar like eagles on the wings of Godâs love, and not shut ourselves into a hen-coop of petty quarrels and factions, which so often render sterile the activity of those seeking to work for Christ.
In a word, our zeal should bring us to realize that in Christo Iesu neque circumcisio aliquid valet neque praeputium, sed nova creatura (in Christ Jesus neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation). What really counts, in every chance to do good, is service to souls.
Holy intransigence for error is inseparable from holy tolerance for people.
The spirit which God wants for his Work is as far removed from intolerance for people as it is from tolerance for error. Iâm aware of the difficulties youâll encounter, our Father wrote. Itâs true - as I always point out to you - that this world which you belong to and where you remain has many good things, signs of Godâs inexpressible goodness. But men have also sown cockle, as in the Gospel parable, and propagated false teachings which poison minds and cause rebellion, sometimes even violent rebellion, against Christ and his holy Church.
Faced with all this, how should a child of God in his Work react? Should we ask our Lord, like the sons of thunder, to send fire on earth to consume sinners? Or perhaps lament continually, like a bird of ill omen or a doomsayer?
You well know, my daughters and sons, that this is not our spirit because it is not our Lordâs: Filius hominis non venit animas perdere, sed salvare (the Son of Man has come to save menâs lives, not to destroy them). I like to translate this verse freely by saying we must drown evil in an abundance of good. Our first obligation is to spread doctrine, while loving all souls.
You also know my rule of thumb to practise this spirit: holy intransigence for error and holy tolerance for people, who may be mistaken. You need, however, to teach many people to practise this doctrine, because itâs not difficult to find those who confuse intransigence with bullheadedness, and tolerance with abdicating rights or compromising the truth.
We Christians do not hold the legacy of Christâs truth, which is safeguarded by the Church, as our personal property to dispose of at a whim. It belongs to God, and his Church keeps it, and we have no right to cede, cut back or give way in what is not ours.
We cannot yield in anything that pertains to the deposit of faith entrusted by Christ to the Church, for the simple reason that itâs the truth, and the truth does not admit of compromise. But together with holy intransigence, our Father wrote, the spirit of the Work of God asks of you a constant tolerance, which is also holy. Being faithful to the truth, accurate in doctrine, defending the faith, does not mean having a sad attitude, nor should it be accompanied by a desire to destroy those who are mistaken.
Perhaps some do act in this way, but it canât be our way. We can never be like that poor deranged fellow who, applying Scripture his own way, âblessedâ his enemies by calling down upon them ignis, et sulphur, et spiritus procellarum: fire and brimstone and stormy winds.
We donât want anyone to be destroyed. Holy intransigence isnât a rude and surly intolerance. Nor is it âholyâ unless it is accompanied by holy tolerance.
Our Blessed Lady understands and forgives her childrenâs errors and weaknesses better than anyone. And no one has ever been more faithful to Godâs will than our Lady. Let us ask her to help us sow abundant understanding for people, along with loyalty to God.