“Considering
the Sacred Heart as we interiorly reflect” by Rev. Paul Berghout (@FatherPB)
Piety
I
gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my
face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. Isiah 50:6
Christ
Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did
not regard equality with God
something
to be grasped.
Rather,
he emptied himself,
taking
the form of a slave,
coming
in human likeness;
and
found human in appearance,
he
humbled himself,
becoming
obedient to the point of death,
even
death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8
Then
stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
And
behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus
put
his hand to his sword, drew it,
and
struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear.
Then
Jesus said to him,
“Put
your sword back into its sheath,
for
all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
Do
you think that I cannot call upon my Father
and
he will not provide me at this moment
with
more than twelve legions of angels?
But
then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled
which
say that it must come to pass in this way?”
Matthew 26:51-55
Study
God’s
saving plan, “the mystery of his will,” mentioned in Ephesians 1:9, teaches
that all creation makes one significant circular movement from God and back to
God
to “recapitulate” all things in heaven and on earth in Christ (Eph 1:10).
Regarding
the Big Circle, St. Maximilian Kolbe says that Consecration to Mary uses us
wholly and without reserve to accomplish Mary’s mission of crushing the head of
Satan (Genesis 3:15) to extend the blessed kingdom of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus.
The
motto of the Militia Immaculatae (Latin for “Army of the Immaculate One”) is
“To lead all men and every individual through Mary to the Most Sacred Heart of
Jesus.”
The
source of all grace:
-
FROM the Sacred Heart of Jesus THROUGH the hands of Mary.
-THROUGH
Mary, The Miraculous medal depicts Mary standing on a globe with rays of light
(graces) streaming from the rings on her fingers.
-
“Mediatrix of all grace” is an idea expressed in Kolbe’s Marian consecration-
“God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to Mary.”
Jesus
wanted to complete that Circle from God and back to God for us. That is why Jesus wanted neither the sword
nor legions of angels to stop his saving plan.
Jesus is completing the plan through his Passion and death on the Cross.
(“Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish
by the sword.” Matthew 26:52).
We
heard Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 3:38-48 during Lent: Do not counter violence
with violence, or it will bring evil upon you.
Pilate’s
wife could not stop the Passion. She sent Pilate a message, “Have
nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because
of him.”
Judas’
returning the thirty pieces of silver could not stop the Passion of the
Christ either.
The
kiss of betrayal was to fulfill and complete what happened to King David during
the Sheba uprising. David sends his general Joab to the northern front, where
he meets his political rival Amasa. After extending a fraternal greeting, Joab
grabs Amasa by the beard, tenderly kisses him, and fatally stabs him. As the
commentators say, “Joab’s kiss and Judas’s were very much alike.” (Matthew
Henry). In both, the traitor leaves Jerusalem with a large group, comes upon a
brother, greets him, seizes him, kisses him, and brings about his death.
It
was also a low point for Peter, perhaps the worst moment of the worst day of
his life. Lastly, Peter denied Jesus
three times, under oath, but unlike Judas, Peter did not kill himself.
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| The cock crows... |
Peter
returned to the disciples, who reminded him that Jesus forgives sinners. Judas
never went back. He deeply regretted
what he had done, returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and
elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What
is that to us?
Poor
Judas confessed to the wrong people.
When
sadness and regret burden us, retreating into isolation is tempting but
dangerous. (Prov. 18:1) The wise course is to stay close to fellow believers
and regain spiritual strength (Heb. 10:24, 25).
A
parade could not stop the Passion of the Christ--
Author
John Naisbitt remarked, “Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in
front of it.” Jesus wasn’t looking for a parade. The parade was looking for
him.
Action
Only
if we don’t repent from sin can we stop the Passion of the Christ from saving
us.
We
act by reason and will, but we don’t always choose God’s will. And if we sin
gravely and don’t fully repent, then we won’t make it back to God. The failure
to return to God is the great tragedy of human life.
But
thanks be to God! For he sent his only Son to save us and bring us back to God.
Jesus
says: I’m not going to ride above you, all high and mighty. I’m going to be
here on your level.
Jesus,
take my donkey’s reins!!
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| Jesus, take my donkey’s reins!! |
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