Jesus has spent an emotionally and spiritually charged night praying to the point of bleeding drops of blood. After such an ordeal you would think things would calm down for a little while. But just the opposite transpires for our Lord and his disciples the enemy comes rushing into the camp. The enemy is made up of friends and foes. Judas one of Jesus' very own is leading the pack as a betrayer who signals the crowd and points out who Jesus is by a kiss on the cheek. Occasionally those who hurt us the most are those who have called themselves our friends and partners. The psalmist gives us some insight into who we should ultimately put our confidence and trust in. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." (Psalm 118:8-9)
It is important to specifically point out that these enemies that came to take Jesus were from within his inner circle of disciples (Judas), the religious leaders of the day priest, scribes, elders, and the judicial authority of the Roman Empire. The possessors of the true kingdom will always face persecution and offense. St. Matthews writes, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:10) Often the harshest persecutors of the church are the lost religious leaders who have become blind guides deluded, deceived, and full of intoxicating pride. It is a sad day when those who are commissioned to spread the kingdom of God have become those who least understand the kingdom. In this particular incident of betrayal persecution the religious leaders are setting the elements of betrayal in motion by instigating the Roman authorities and pulling Judas into their plan as the point man. You might call them the usual suspects in this plot. The best element of all is that while preparing this plot the parties involved actually think they are surprising Jesus. This is when pride and power become intoxicating to the point where one thinks that they could actually fool God and catch Him by surprise like some malefactor or revolutionary who may not be fully prepared.
This line of thinking continues on through to the crucifixion to all the parties involved. How is this so you might wonder? Did they not think that after the persecution, beating, and crucifixion that this talk of Jesus being the Savior would be all done with. So much so, that they placed guards at the tomb to prevent any rumors of his resurrection. The point being that all those involved in this plot truly thought that they could stop what God had planned to accomplish from before creation. How foolish and arrogant is man to think he could have that much control. Man's ability to control is a figment of his imagination and delusional pride, a part of the fall and his close proximity to Satan the father of lies. As God's children we must be keenly aware of what we have been called to do as believers of the Most High God. What we can accomplish for God is the only thing that has eternal value all else is temporary. What we can develop and cultivate by God's grace upon our life is eternal and cannot rust, decay, or be eaten by the moth. These are the things that are stored in heaven for eternity. Let us not waste the precious little time that has been give to us on activities that have not eternal value.
His servants and yours,
Gerard & Yolanda Cleffi Directors
Oratory of Divine Love
If man were called by God to a purely natural happiness the cardinal virtues would be sufficient for man. But God calls man to the vision of Himself. This goal is beyond the reach of any purely natural powers. If man is to reach it through the action of reason and will, these powers must be made capable of a supernatural activity which will lead man to this goal. It is the role of the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity to fit man's reason and will for the task of seeking successfully the vision of God. These virtues are called theological virtues because their object is God--they direct us to God--because they are infused in us by God alone, and because they are made known to us by God alone through divine revelation.
Walter Farrell, O.P.,S.T.M. and Martin J. Healy, S.T.D., My Way Of Life, Brooklyn, NY, Confraternity Of The Precious Blood Of Jesus, Pg.238
St. Francis of Assisi, help us. By your example may we learn that life does not consist in the pursuit of wealth nor in the abundance of our possessions. St. Francis come to our aid. Because we live at a time when people glorify ease and seek after luxuries, and when many wish only the gratification of fleshly desires, we especially need your single-minded dedication to Christ in the narrow way that leads to life. Amen
Marianne Lorraine Trouve, FSP Editor, Favorite Prayers and Novenas, Boston, Pauline Books and Media, Pg. 202-203