On Sitting and Serving
Wednesday of the Eighth Week of Ordinary Time
Father John Doyle, LC
Mark 10:32-45
The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was
walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He
took the Twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him,
saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be
handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to
death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and
spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise
again." James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said
to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they
said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your
left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what
you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with
the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are
able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink;
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit
at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for
whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be
angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You
know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it
over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among
you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man
came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for
many."
Introductory Prayer: Once again, Lord, I come to You to
pray. Even though I cannot see You, I trust that You are present and very much
want to instruct me in Your teachings. In the same way that You demonstrate Your
love for me by spending this time with me, I want to express my love for You by
dedicating this time to You with a spirit of faith, confidence and attention.
Here I am, Lord, to listen to You and respond with love.
Petition: Lord, help me imitate Your example of loving service.
1. Jesus Sets His Face Toward Jerusalem: Jesus is walking
ahead of his disciples, firm and determined. A few of those following him are
growing uneasy, but James and John seem not to grasp the seriousness of the
situation. Jesus is accompanied, but in a certain sense, he is alone. Again and
again he has tried to explain to his followers that his mission will lead him
to be rejected and mocked and eventually to suffer the cruelest of deaths. But
they seem incapable of grasping the message; from their vantage point, none of
this makes any sense. At times we, too, hear Christ’s words about taking up our
cross daily and losing our life for his sake, and we are either terrified at
the prospect or its meaning eludes us. Jesus, however, continues inviting us to
follow in his footsteps and carry our daily crosses with our eyes fixed on our
heavenly home, the New Jerusalem.
2. The Ambitions of James and John: James and John were hand-picked
disciples of the Lord. Jesus had often allowed them to accompany him when he
went off alone to pray. They both felt a deep affection for Our Lord, and so it
is not surprising that they wished to be near him when he entered into his
glory. Jesus doesn’t reproach them for their petition even though it comes at a
moment when his heart is burdened with deeper concerns. Rather, Jesus invites
them to reflect on the consequences of their request. To be on Jesus’ right and
left in his glory means to pass through a similar trial as the one he must soon
undergo –– they would have to be situated on his right and left on the day he
is lifted up on the cross. Jesus also invites us to “seek the things above” and
place our ambitions on heavenly sights and not earthly glory. If our love for
Jesus is true, then it must withstand the test of trial and suffering.
3. The True Meaning of Authority: Most of us prefer to command than
obey. Ambition quickly leads to rivalry and bitter feelings, as happened to the
twelve apostles. Jesus quickly intervenes and gives us a valuable lesson on the
meaning of authority, a lesson to be taken to heart. Authority of any kind has
only one purpose: service. Do I view the authority that I have been given as a
service? Am I more concerned about being obeyed –– immediately and exactly ––
than about setting an example for others? How can I be more like Jesus in
exercising my authority? Do I realize this is a specific way of picking up my
cross and following after Jesus?
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, help me to be zealous for the
things of above. Do not allow my heart to be ambitious but rather be meek and
gentle like Yours.
Resolution: I will seek to serve others no matter who they are.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
36 Once I was summoned to the judgment [seat] of God. I
stood alone before the Lord. Jesus appeared such as we know Him during His
Passion. After a moment, His wounds disappeared except for five, those in His
hands, His feet and His side. Suddenly I saw the complete condition of my soul
as God sees it. I could clearly see all that is displeasing to God. I did not
know that even the smallest transgressions will have to be accounted for. What
a moment! Who can describe it? To stand before the Thrice-Holy God! Jesus asked
me, Who are you? I answered, "I am Your servant, Lord." You
are guilty of one day of fire in purgatory. I wanted to throw myself
immediately into the flames of purgatory, but Jesus stopped me and said, Which
do you prefer, suffer now for one day in purgatory or for a short while on
earth? I replied, "Jesus, I want to suffer in purgatory, and I want to
suffer also the greatest pains on earth, even if it were until the end of the
world." Jesus said, One [of the two] is enough; you will go back
to earth, and there you will suffer much, but not for long; you will accomplish
My will and My desires, and a faithful servant of Mine will help you to do
this. Now, rest your head on My bosom, on My heart, and draw from it strength
and power for these sufferings, because you will find neither relief nor help
nor comfort anywhere else. Know that you will have much, much to suffer, but
don't let this frighten you; I am with you.
41 On one occasion I saw a servant of God in the
immediate danger of committing a mortal sin. I started to beg God to deign to
send down upon me all the torments of hell and all the sufferings He wished if
only this priest would be set free and snatched from the occasion of committing
a sin. Jesus heard my prayer and, that very instant, I felt a crown of thorns
on my head. The thorns penetrated my head with great force right into my brain.
This lasted for three hours; the servant of God was set free from this sin, and
his soul was strengthened by a special grace of God.
300 +Ask of my faithful servant [Father Sopocko] that,
on this day, he tell the whole world of My great mercy; that whoever approaches
the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and
punishment.
+Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.
+Oh, how much I am hurt by a soul's distrust! Such a soul professes that I am Holy and Just, but does not believe that I am Mercy and does not trust in My Goodness. Even the devils glorify My Justice but do not believe in My Goodness.
My Heart rejoices in this title of Mercy.
+Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.
+Oh, how much I am hurt by a soul's distrust! Such a soul professes that I am Holy and Just, but does not believe that I am Mercy and does not trust in My Goodness. Even the devils glorify My Justice but do not believe in My Goodness.
My Heart rejoices in this title of Mercy.
301 Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of
God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy.
458 During the ten-o'clock meditation, Father [Rzyczkowski
[98]]
spoke about divine mercy and about God's goodness to us. He said that as we
review the history of mankind, we can see this great goodness of God at every
step. All the attributes of God, such as omnipotence and wisdom, serve to
reveal to us the greatest of His attributes; namely, His goodness. God's
goodness is the greatest of God's attributes. Many souls striving for
perfection, however, are not aware of this great goodness of God. Everything
that Father said in the course of the meditation about the goodness of God, was
exactly what Jesus had said to me concerning (the Feast of Mercy. I have now
come to understand clearly what the Lord has promised me, and I have no doubt
about anything; God's language is clear and distinct.
525 O Holy Trinity, in whom is contained the inner life
of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, eternal joy, inconceivable
depth of love, poured out upon all creatures and constituting their happiness,
honor and glory be to Your holy name forever and ever. Amen.
When I consider Your greatness and beauty, O my God, I rejoice exceedingly that the Lord I serve is so great. With love and joy I carry out His will, and the more I come to know Him, the more I desire to love Him. I burn with the desire to love Him ever more and more.
When I consider Your greatness and beauty, O my God, I rejoice exceedingly that the Lord I serve is so great. With love and joy I carry out His will, and the more I come to know Him, the more I desire to love Him. I burn with the desire to love Him ever more and more.
543 The duration of the postulancy. The postulancy will
last one year. During this time, the candidate should examine whether she is
attracted to this type of life and whether it is suitable to her. The
directress should also diligently consider whether or not the person in
question is suitable for this type of life. After a year, if the postulant
shows evidence of a stable will and an earnest desire to serve God, she should
be admitted to the novitiate.
573 December 21, 1935. One day my confessor [Father
Sopocko] told me to go and look at a certain house to see whether it was the
same house I had seen in my vision. When I went with my confessor to see that
house, or rather those ruins, at a glance I recognized that they were the same
as I had seen in my vision. The moment I touched the boards which had been
nailed together in place of the doors, a strength pervaded my soul like a
flash, giving me unshakable certitude. I went away quickly from that place, my
heart full of joy, for it seemed to me that there was a certain force chaining
me to that place.
I am very happy to see that everything agrees perfectly with what I saw in the vision. When the confessor spoke to me about the arrangement of the cells and other things, I recognized everything to be the same as had been told to me by Jesus. I am delighted that God is acting in this way through my confessor, but I am not surprised that God is giving him so much light; since God, who is Light itself, lives in a pure and humble heart, and all sufferings and adversities serve but to reveal the soul's holiness. When I returned home, I went immediately to our chapel to rest a while. Then suddenly I heard these words in my soul: Do not fear anything. I am with you. These matters are in My hands and I will bring them to fruition according to My mercy, for nothing can oppose My will.
I am very happy to see that everything agrees perfectly with what I saw in the vision. When the confessor spoke to me about the arrangement of the cells and other things, I recognized everything to be the same as had been told to me by Jesus. I am delighted that God is acting in this way through my confessor, but I am not surprised that God is giving him so much light; since God, who is Light itself, lives in a pure and humble heart, and all sufferings and adversities serve but to reveal the soul's holiness. When I returned home, I went immediately to our chapel to rest a while. Then suddenly I heard these words in my soul: Do not fear anything. I am with you. These matters are in My hands and I will bring them to fruition according to My mercy, for nothing can oppose My will.
634 March 22,[1936]. When I arrived at Warsaw, I went
into the small chapel for a moment to thank the Lord for a safe journey, and I
asked the Lord to give me the assistance and the grace necessary for everything
that was in store for me here. I submitted myself in all things to His holy
will. I heard these words:
Fear nothing; all difficulties will serve for the fulfillment of My will.
764 November 24. Today, I received a letter from Father
Sopocko. [147] I learned from it that God himself is conducting this
whole affair. And as the Lord has begun it, so will He continue to carry it
along. And the greater the difficulties which I see, the more am I at peace.
Oh, if in this whole matter the glory of God and the profit to souls were not
greatly served, Satan would not be opposing it so much. But he senses what he
is going to lose because of it. I have now learned that Satan hates mercy more
than anything else. It is his greatest torment. Still, the word of God will not
pass away; God's utterance is living; difficulties will not suppress the works
of God, but show that they are God's...
929 When I had rested near His sweetest Heart, I told
Him, "Jesus, I have so much to tell You." And the Lord said to me
with great love, Speak,
My daughter. And I started to enumerate the pains of my heart;
that is, how greatly concerned I am for all mankind, that "they all do not
know You, and those who do know You do not love You as You deserve to be loved.
I also see how terribly sinners offend You; and then again, I see how severely
the faithful, especially Your servants, are oppressed and persecuted. And then,
too, I see many souls rushing headlong into the terrible abyss of hell. You
see, Jesus, this is the pain that gnaws at my heart and bones. And, although
You show me special love and inundate my heart with streams of Your joys,
nevertheless, this does not appease the sufferings I have just mentioned, but
rather they penetrate my poor heart all the more acutely. Oh, how ardently I
desire that all mankind turn with trust to Your mercy. Then, seeing the glory
of Your name, my heart will be comforted."
Jesus listened to these outpourings of my heart with gravity and interest, as if He had known nothing about them, and this seemed to make it easier for me to talk. And the Lord said to me, My daughter, those words of your heart are pleasing to Me, and by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to Me. After these words, I found myself alone, but the presence of God is always in my soul.
Jesus listened to these outpourings of my heart with gravity and interest, as if He had known nothing about them, and this seemed to make it easier for me to talk. And the Lord said to me, My daughter, those words of your heart are pleasing to Me, and by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to Me. After these words, I found myself alone, but the presence of God is always in my soul.
948 February 13, [1937]. Today, during the Passion
Service, [170] I saw Jesus being tortured and crowned with thorns
and holding a reed in His hand. Jesus was silent as the soldiers were bustling
about, vying with each other in torturing Him. Jesus said nothing, but just
looked at me, and in that gaze I felt His pain, so terrible that we have not
the faintest idea of how much He suffered for us before He was crucified. My
soul was filled with pain and longing; in my soul, I felt great hatred for sin,
and even the smallest infidelity on my part seemed to me like a huge mountain
for which I must expiate by mortification and penance. When I see Jesus
tormented, my heart is torn to pieces, and I think: what will become of sinners
if they do not take advantage of the Passion of Jesus? In His Passion, I see a
whole sea of mercy.
+ J.M.J. February 12, 1937
+ The Love of God is the flower - Mercy the fruit.
+ J.M.J. February 12, 1937
+ The Love of God is the flower - Mercy the fruit.
1000 In the
terrible desert of life,
O my sweetest Jesus,
Protect souls from disaster,
For You are the Fountain of Mercy.
Let the resplendence of Your rays,
O sweet Commander of our souls,
Let mercy change the world.
And you who have received this grace, serve Jesus.
Steep is the great highway I must travel,
But I fear nothing,
For the pure fount of mercy is flowing for my sake,
And, with it, strength for the humble soul.
I am exhausted and worn out,
But my conscience bears me witness
That I do all for the greater glory of the Lord,
The Lord who is my repose and my heritage.
[End of Notebook Two of the Diary.]
O my sweetest Jesus,
Protect souls from disaster,
For You are the Fountain of Mercy.
Let the resplendence of Your rays,
O sweet Commander of our souls,
Let mercy change the world.
And you who have received this grace, serve Jesus.
Steep is the great highway I must travel,
But I fear nothing,
For the pure fount of mercy is flowing for my sake,
And, with it, strength for the humble soul.
I am exhausted and worn out,
But my conscience bears me witness
That I do all for the greater glory of the Lord,
The Lord who is my repose and my heritage.
[End of Notebook Two of the Diary.]
1029 The doctor did not allow me to go to the chapel to
attend the Passion Service, although I had a great desire for it; however, I
prayed in my own room. Suddenly I heard the bell in the next room, and I went
in and rendered a service to a seriously sick person. When I returned to my
room, I suddenly saw the Lord Jesus, who said, My daughter, you gave Me greater pleasure by rendering Me
that service than if you had prayed for a long time. I
answered, "But it was not to You, Jesus, but to that patient that I
rendered this service." And the Lord answered me, Yes, My daughter, but whatever you do
for your neighbor, you do for Me.
1286 + Thank You, O God, for all the graces
Which unceasingly You lavish upon me,
Graces which enlighten me with the brilliance of the sun,
For by them You show me the sure way.
Thank You, 0 Lord, for creating me,
For calling me into being from nothingness,
For imprinting Your divinity on my soul,
The work of sheer merciful love.
Thank You, O God, for Holy Baptism
Which engrafted me into Your family,
A gift great beyond all thought or expression
Which transforms my soul.
Thank You, O Lord, for Holy Confession,
For that inexhaustible spring of great mercy,
For that inconceivable fountain of graces
In which sin-tainted souls become purified.
Thank You, O Jesus, for Holy Communion
In which You give us Yourself.
I feel Your Heart beating within my breast
As You cause Your divine life to unfold within me.
Thank You, O Holy Spirit, for the Sacrament of Confirmation,
Which dubs me Your knight
And gives strength to my soul at each moment,
Protecting me from evil.
Thank You, O God, for the grace of a vocation.
For being called to serve You alone,
Leading me to make You my sole love,
An unequal honor for my soul.
Thank You, O Lord, for perpetual vows,
For that union of pure love,
For having deigned to unite Your pure heart with mine
And uniting my heart to Yours in the purest of bonds.
Thank You, O Lord, for the Sacrament of Anointing
Which, in my final moments, will give me strength;
My help in battle, my guide to salvation,
Fortifying my soul till we rejoice forever.
Thank You, O God, for all the inspirations
That Your goodness lavishes upon me,
For the interior lights given my soul,
Which the heart senses, but words cannot express.
Thank You, O Holy Trinity, for the vastness of the graces
Which You have lavished on me unceasingly through life.
My gratitude will intensify as the eternal dawn rises,
When, for the first time, I sing to Your glory.
Which unceasingly You lavish upon me,
Graces which enlighten me with the brilliance of the sun,
For by them You show me the sure way.
Thank You, 0 Lord, for creating me,
For calling me into being from nothingness,
For imprinting Your divinity on my soul,
The work of sheer merciful love.
Thank You, O God, for Holy Baptism
Which engrafted me into Your family,
A gift great beyond all thought or expression
Which transforms my soul.
Thank You, O Lord, for Holy Confession,
For that inexhaustible spring of great mercy,
For that inconceivable fountain of graces
In which sin-tainted souls become purified.
Thank You, O Jesus, for Holy Communion
In which You give us Yourself.
I feel Your Heart beating within my breast
As You cause Your divine life to unfold within me.
Thank You, O Holy Spirit, for the Sacrament of Confirmation,
Which dubs me Your knight
And gives strength to my soul at each moment,
Protecting me from evil.
Thank You, O God, for the grace of a vocation.
For being called to serve You alone,
Leading me to make You my sole love,
An unequal honor for my soul.
Thank You, O Lord, for perpetual vows,
For that union of pure love,
For having deigned to unite Your pure heart with mine
And uniting my heart to Yours in the purest of bonds.
Thank You, O Lord, for the Sacrament of Anointing
Which, in my final moments, will give me strength;
My help in battle, my guide to salvation,
Fortifying my soul till we rejoice forever.
Thank You, O God, for all the inspirations
That Your goodness lavishes upon me,
For the interior lights given my soul,
Which the heart senses, but words cannot express.
Thank You, O Holy Trinity, for the vastness of the graces
Which You have lavished on me unceasingly through life.
My gratitude will intensify as the eternal dawn rises,
When, for the first time, I sing to Your glory.
1290 September 19, 1937. Today, my own brother, Stanley,
visited me. I rejoiced greatly in this beautiful soul, who also intends to
devote himself to God's service. That is to say, God himself is drawing him to
His love. We talked for a long time about God, about His goodness. During this
conversation with him, l learned how pleasing his soul was to God. I received
permission from Mother Superior to see him more often. When he asked my advice
about entering religion, I replied, "Surely you know best what God is
asking of you." I mentioned the Jesuit Order, but said, "Enter
wherever you like." I promised to pray for him, and I decided to make a
novena to the Sacred Heart through the intercession of Father Peter Skarga with
the promise of having it announced in the Messenger of the Sacred Heart, [212]
because he is having great difficulties in this matter. I understood that, in
this case, prayer was more useful than advice.
1343 Third day. In the meditation on death, I prepared
myself as if for real death. I examined my conscience and searched all my
affairs at the approach of death and, thanks be to grace, my affairs were
directed toward that ultimate goal. This filled my heart with great gratitude
to God, and I resolved to serve my God even more faithfully in the future. One
thing alone is necessary: to put my old self to death and to begin a new life.
In the morning, I prepared to receive Holy Communion as if it were to be the
last in my life, and after Holy Communion I brought before my imagination my actual
death, and I said the prayers for the dying and then the De Profundis for my
own soul. My body was lowered into the grave, and I said to my soul, "See
what has become of your body, a heap of dirt teeming with vermin-that is your
inheritance."
1720 There are moments when Jesus gives me knowledge
within my soul, and then everything that exists on earth is at my service:
friends, enemies, success, adversity... all things, willing or not, must serve
me. I do not think of them at all; I strive to be faithful to God and to love
Him to the point of complete forgetfulness of self. And He Himself looks after
me and fights against my enemies.
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-36, 41, 300-301, 458)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-525,
543, 573, 634, 764, 929, 948)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-1000)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1029)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-IV-1286, 1290)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1343)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1720 )
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