463. Thirty-third Thursday of Ordinary Time

Meditations no. 407 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

We should understand and find excuses for everyone: holy meekness

Jesus returned to Jerusalem, and when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.” Christ’s love for souls led him to shed tears over the city that refused to receive his peace.

Jesus’ weeping is an example of the love we need in our apostolate. For our Lord also sends us to all peoples. Our universal mission means we need a big heart, capable of loving everyone, whoever they are, since God calls every single person.

Humility leads us, our Father writes, as it were by the hand to treat our neighbour in the best way possible, that is, being understanding towards everyone, living at peace with everyone, forgiving everyone; never creating divisions or barriers; and behaving - always! - as instruments that foster unity. Not in vain is there in the depths of man’s being a strong longing for peace, for union with his fellow man, for a mutual respect for personal rights, so strong that it seeks to transform human relations into fraternity.

In the Gospel, Christ shows us a very clear example of how to treat others. He is our model. Our Lord’s self-abasement knew no limits.

His holy meekness led him to the most ignominious of deaths: humiliavit semetipsum factus oboediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis; he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a Cross. And he did so out of love for men, for men whom he calls his friends, even if they don’t want to be such.

Vos autem dixi amicos (I have called you friends), he says to his disciples who are going to leave him alone at the hour of trial. Amice, ad quid venisti? “Friend, why are you here?” he even says to Judas, who has come to betray him.

If Christ has loved us so much, we too must try to affirm the truth serenely, positively, without polemics and without humiliating anyone. We should always leave the other person an honourable way out, so they can recognize without difficulty that they have been mistaken, or have lacked formation or information. At times the kindest charity is to let the other person be convinced that they have discovered a new truth on their own.

Jesus’ example of holy intransigence in the things to do with God.

But Christ not only set us an example of holy meekness, our Father continues. He also set us a very clear example of holy intransigence in the things of God. Though always ready to be understanding towards anyone who approached him with a contrite heart, our Lord refused to yield when his heavenly Father’s honour or the good of souls was at stake. Nor can we yield when confronted by ideas contrary to the teaching of the Church: to do so would be false charity. We must reject all human respects when it’s a matter of defending God’s interests.

We need to be good teachers, ready to explain the truth boldly in every situation. As our Father wrote: false teachers are afraid of getting to the bottom of things. They get uneasy at the very idea, never mind the obligation, of having to use a painful antidote when circumstances require it. You can be quite sure that in such an attitude there is no prudence: and no piety or good sense either. It reflects instead a timid disposition, a lack of responsibility, foolishness and stupidity. These are the people who will afterwards panic at the sight of disaster, and try to stop the evil when it is already too late. They forget that the virtue of prudence demands that we find out and pass on in good time the calm advice that comes from maturity, long experience, unhindered vision and unhampered speech.

We have to bear the message of our good example and truthful words throughout the whole world, even though some, perhaps due to comfort-seeking, may not be open to it. Faced with this situation, our Father said: my daughters and sons, we have no alternative at times but to give a hard time to ourselves and to others, to help them be better. We wouldn’t be apostles if we weren’t ready to have other people misinterpret our actions and react disagreeably.

We need to be convinced that the saints - we don’t consider ourselves to be saints, though we want to be -are necessarily uncomfortable people, men and women - like my holy Catherine of Siena! - who by their example and word are a continual source of unease for consciences compromised by sin.

We need to delve deeper into our Founder’s teaching in this area. Our holy intransigence towards error can never become bitter, intemperate zeal. We should always try to spread doctrine in a cheerful, attractive way. The first step to bringing others to the ways of Christ, our Founder wrote, is for them to see you happy and serene, sure in your advance towards God.

Reach all environments to save souls.

Holy meekness and holy intransigence are both born of love. Out of love for God and souls, we are ready to yield in everything personal that does not prejudice the truth. And out of the very same love, we refuse to give way when our Lord’s saving truth is mistreated. Both stem from the same love, and lead us to spread doctrine by our friendship and example.

You have to attract others, our Father wrote, above all by the example of your upright life, by your humble yet bold affirmation of Christian life among your peers. Our manner should be ordinary, but consistent with our beliefs, making manifest our faith through deeds. With God’s help, this will be the reason for our effectiveness.

Don’t fear the world: we are of the world and, if we’re united to God, if we put our spirit into practice, nothing can harm us. Perhaps at times our Christian conduct may cause surprise among people who are far from God: you must have the courage, then, supported by divine omnipotence, to be faithful.

It is true that for those who don’t want to lead a clean life, our care in guarding our heart will necessarily be like a reproach, a spur that doesn’t let them give up the fight or fall asleep. This is all for the good: a son of mine who doesn’t want to provoke such reactions in souls around him, who always wants to be the “nice guy”, cannot avoid becoming himself an offender against God. For he becomes an accomplice in the wrong-doings of others. Live in such a way that you can say: inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt: zelus domus tuae comedit me; my heart is enkindled and my entrails are in turmoil: because zeal for your house consumes me.

I pray that all my sons and daughters may have the fortitude of spirit needed to carry their own environment with them. For God’s children in his Work should be like burning embers, setting fire wherever they may be, or at least raising the spiritual temperature of those around them, leading them to live an intense Christian life.

By our fortitude and clear example, we’ll proclaim God’s wonders to all mankind. We’ll want the best for everyone, to bring them closer to God. Like that we will follow St John Chrysostom’s advice: when you find an enemy of the truth, strive to cure him. Look after him, doing everything possible to restore him to health. Give him the example of your irreproachable life, present him with an irrefutable argument. Leave no stone unturned in your efforts to help him.

This is the divine wisdom we need. With renewed trust, we ask our Mother to obtain it for us: Sancta Maria, Sedes Sapientiae, ora pro nobis! Our Lady. Seat of Wisdom, pray for us!