“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
SUNDAY, March 21ST Jn. 12: 20-33 “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
- Jesus speaks other words similar to these. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mt. 16: 24)
- “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (Jn. 13: 2-5)
- “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. He asked them, ‘Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’”(Jn. 13: 12-17)
- “Washing one another’s feet” is a way of serving others according to their need. This includes any act of kindness done for another for love of Christ. Always keeping in mind that Charity begins at home! We serve FIRST according to our vocation – as priest, religious, husband or wife, son or daughter.
- What motivated Jesus, as Second Person of the Blessed Trinity and Son of God, to serve human beings? One word, LOVE! For love of each and every one of us, Jesus served us in his preaching, teaching, miracles, casting out demons, and most important, in dying on the cross for our eternal salvation!
- What should motivate us to serve whomever God puts in our path? Our love for Jesus, who first loved us!
TRUE LOVE IS TO SACRIFICE AND SUFFER FOR THE LOVED ONE!!! By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
Jesus loved us so much that He willingly sacrificed Himself by dying on the cross for us. Not only did Jesus suffer and shed every drop of His Precious Blood for the salvation of all of humanity, but He suffered excruciating pains for each one of us, for you and for me!
The saints point out that if you were the only person living in the world, Jesus would have undergone all of the most gruesome and horrible pains of His Sorrowful Passion for you. As Saint Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Galatians: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
In the Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, the Secretary of Divine Mercy, Saint Faustina, states that we can truly understand the meaning of love by the willingness of someone to suffer for the other, for the loved one. Jesus loved and still loves us so much that He was willing to suffer His Passion for us, not once, but many times over if necessary! Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, suffering for guilty sinners. How great is the love of Jesus for you and for me!
On a human and natural level, we all know how much suffering we undergo when we manifest a great love for someone and that person is cold, indifferent, and even ignores us. Our heart breaks!!!
So it is with respect to our relationship with the greatest of all lovers—the Lord Jesus Christ. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is burning with love for each one of us! Look at the image! Jesus said: “I have come to cast fire on the earth, and I am not at peace until that fire be enkindled.” (Lk. 12: 49) The enormous conflagration in the Sacred Heart of Jesus for you and for me can barely be contained! How do we respond to this burning love?
Jesus complained to the recipient of the message of His Sacred Heart, Saint Margaret Mary Alaqoque. Displaying His Sacred Heart surrounded by thorns with fire flaming forth, He uttered these plaintive words: “Behold the Heart that has loved so much and has received only coldness, indifference and ingratitude. Console my Heart.”
One of the ways in which can console the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a Heart overflowing with love and mercy, is to offer sacrifices, even though they be very small, for the conversion and salvation of poor sinners. Jesus does not look so much at the greatness of the action, but rather, at the intensity of love with which the action is carried out. Remember the Biblical story of the Widow’s mite!!!
In fact, immortal souls can be saved from the fires of hell and attain eternal salvation if, like the little children of Fatima who are gigantic saints, we can form the habit of offering small sacrifices to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary with purity of intention and great love. Saint Pope John Paul II called Jacinta, “A Little Victim soul.” Jacinta was a Victim of Love! She loved Jesus and Mary and what Jesus and Mary love most – the salvation of immortal souls for all eternity!
Therefore, we would like to offer a list of small sacrifices that you can undertake and share with your family. Every small sacrifice is a concrete manifestation of love for God and a powerful means to convert and save for all eternity poor sinners!!!
SACRIFICES OF LOVE TO JESUS AND MARY FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS.
1. THE HEROIC MINUTE (MOMENT). Promoted by Saint Josemaria Balaguer (Founder of Opus Dei). As soon as you hear your alarm clock, spring to your feet, kneel down on the floor, and make your Morning Offering for the day. The Cure of Ars, Saint John Vianney, stated that he who starts the day well, is most likely to live the day well, and end it well!
2. THE CURBING OF THE TONGUE. We should all read James Chapter 3—the best chapter on the sins of the tongue! A great sacrifice that we can make, especially when we find ourselves frustrated and angry, is to follow the advice of Saint James: “We should be slow to speak and quick to listen.”
3. KIND AND ENCOURAGING WORDS. Never allow a day to go by in which you forget to say both Please and Thank You to God, as well as to your Mom or Dad, or anyone else. To say both please and thank you are condiments that give special seasoning to the domestic life! (Read the book KINDNESS, Fr. Lovasik)
4. SMILE EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT! A nagging headache, a lingering cold, pangs of a stomachache, we all experience these at times. Often, we trumpet and publicize them!!! How difficult, but how pleasing to God it might be that when we do not feel up to par physically, we smile at our husband/wife or a family member. Sadness and a frown are contagious; but a smile and joy are contagious also! A sincere and radiant smile is one of the clearest signs of being a follower of Christ.
5. BANISH BAD THOUGHTS IMMEDIATELY! Indecent and bad thoughts, we all have them! However, the question is what do we do with them? Once, a priest asked a man if he entertained bad thoughts. The man responded: “No, Father, they entertained me!” As soon as we are aware of any bad, impure, indecent, or sinful thoughts, we should immediately, manfully, and forcefully reject them in our will and invoke the grace of God!
6. CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY: PRAY AND DO NOT CURSE! All of us have experienced through years of driving on the Freeway, as well as on commercial and residential streets, people who cut in front of us and cut us off. (Sometimes we do the same!!!) Our immediate reaction is to cuss or curse them out! However, the Lord Jesus would prefer that we pray for them. Jesus says we have to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us! (Mt. 5: 44) Therefore, the next time some driver cuts you off, pray a Hail Mary for them, pray that they have a safe trip on earth and arrive safely in Heaven. How hard, but how pleasing to God!!!
7. PRAY EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT! Unfortunately, many people follow their feelings more than they follow faith and reason. The saints prayed often and even when they did not feel like praying. Jesus experienced a profound desolation and sadness in the Garden of Olive, but He prayed all the more fervently. May Jesus be our sublime example, especially in prayer!
8. READ A CHAPTER FROM THE BIBLE EVERY DAY OR EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BED. The mental/spiritual discipline of reading, especially the best of books – the Bible, can be a real sacrifice for many. Start with the Gospels and read a chapter every night. If this is done, you will start to know, love and desire to follow Jesus more fully in your life. It is impossible to love somebody we do not even know. Know Jesus by reading and meditating upon the Bible, the very Word of God!
9. DO YOUR TASK AT HAND, YOUR DAILY WORK BETTER! All of us are assigned by God a job or work to carry out. It might be to study, or that of a homemaker, or a factory or office worker, or some professional work. If we are honest with ourselves, we all know that we could improve. How easy it is to come late, cut corners, do the job halfway! As the saying goes: “If a job is worth doing, then it is worth doing well.” Saint Paul reminds us: “Whether you eat or drink, do all for the honor and glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10: 31)
10. TAKE THE LAST PLACE AND SMALLEST PORTION. Due to pride, vanity, and gluttony we naturally prefer the place of honor. Also, we prefer the best and biggest portion. Why not get in the habit of seeking the lowest place and the most simple portion. Jesus reminds us of true greatness: “God casts down the proud, and He exalts the humble.” (Mt. 28: 12)
To conclude, we have offered a list of ten concrete ways in which we can make small sacrifices in our daily lives. Maybe choose one or two a day and be faithful to your proposal. Never forget that love is manifest by the willingness to suffer for the loved one. How much Jesus loves us and suffered for us. What are we willing to sacrifice and suffer for Jesus, the Greatest of all Lovers!!!
