Friday of 24th Week, uneven numbered year
“Now it happened after this Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Gospel.With Him went the Twelve.”
We can only get to know the Person of Jesus to the extent that our heart opens up to Him and if we encounter his Mercy. And so he becomes the unique object of our affection, and we look to see what we can do to please him. Jesus is the ’Poor One’ - ’during his days of flesh’ he encountered hearts that attatched themselves to his person : humble women loved him and served him, in their weakness and affections. Jesus came into this world that was satisfied with itself, a world that ’despises and puts aside the poor’, a world that rejects them. With him, we choose to welcome the poor and with him we are disposed to recieve the despisal of the proud, this despisal that Jesus wen throgh, sahring it with poor ones. The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee came to the burial tomb carrying herbs and spices they had prepared for him. They passed through towns and villages, sowing the revolution of Love. Jesus replaces humanity in whole new relationships of Love, an whole new relationships with justice, proclaiming the’ Good News of God’s Kingdom’! He lets himself be acclaimed by children, he saves those who suffer and heals the sick. As we follow Him we are called wherever the Holy Spirit calls us! Jesus is the only Master and we all have a need to be healed by Him so as to enter into this new relationship of Love.
“With Jesus went the Twelve,as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments : Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.”
Those who understood the way folowed ’the Poor one’, sharing his humble condition, and willingly take care of what he needs! Born in a crib, for there had been no place for him in the inn, there won’t be ’a place for him to rest his head’ during his ministry. The one who travels through, in his deep humlility, the paths of this land dirtied by sin, is the Creator of the world.The One who commands wind and sea, orders demons to come out of men, heals all the sick and brings back the dead back to life. He sends Peter to fetch a starer in the
first fish he finds! But he is also He who asks a poor woman, she too who is thirsty : ’Give me a drink.’ Through towns and villages not a single person is forgotten. He teaches on the lake-side or on the mountain sides. Everywhere, he preaches the Kingdom of God and brings the Good News of a life of peace with God.We can’t see Jesus any more today, but we believe ’through faith and in Love’. Faith is something of a trial, it is faith in an invisible love. When we live from this love we are helped to become better believers. Hope is this movement of growth in love, it is a path forward. In order to hold out in our spiritual life,we need to live from faith and love,a nd to hope more and more, it is in humility and gentleness that perserverance is lived out.
“Johanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own ressources.”
The mention of Jeanne , Chuza’s wife, is a proof of the ressources that Luke had at his disposal! Her husband held quite an important position in Herod Antipas’ court : he was his attendant. Jeanne is always mentioned alongside Mary of Magdala, even after the Lord’s Crucifixion and his burial. One same love for Him united these women who are as much an example for us, for what they accomplished was dictated by the Love for Jesus.They had been able to discern the moment it was best to intervene for Him. What encouragement to persevere for those who today accomplish a service out of Love for Christ .This is how one can follow Jesus. This comes from a complete devotion which is precious for him.In spiritual combat we must at each moment put inot action fraternal charity so as to live in Christ. Our daily struggle is so that Christ’s Life can blossom within our lives. In the Gospel Jesus manifests a revolution! We need to dwell in our hearts by being tiny, and be marvelled by the grace of the little child. Jesus was surrounded by the poor, suffering people, the blind, to all these peopel he gave back hope. The tiny little ones and the poor need this contact with Jesus who has fundamntally renewed humanity.
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