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J.M.J.
Sunday after the Ascension
Today's Holy Gospel (Jn. 15.26,27-6.1-4) explains the scope of the authentic Catholic testimony which the Apostles, as well as all future Christians, will be called upon to give in their mission, according to their respective state in Christian life, to get
all things (man's body and soul and his 'private affairs', families, and nations)
... subjected under the dominion of the
King of kings and Lord of lords (Apoc. 19.16) through the reign of the Immaculate Heart, the graces and gifts of the Holy Ghost, and the same constant teachings and precepts of our Sacred Tradition. "They will put you out of the [churches, seminaries, monasteries and convents]: yea, the hour cometh that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth a service to God." Jesus died on the Cross to give testimony to the Father; His disciples will have to suffer, undergo persecution, and even death itself, to give testimony to Him. We cannot follow a road different from the one which Jesus has trodden: "If any man will come after Me, let him... take up his cross and follow Me" (Mt. 16.24).
A calm, tranquil testimony, which is made without facing danger - still less of risking life - will always have only relative value and ordinarily gives no guarantee of its genuineness or its strength; on the contrary, the more it costs, the greater its value in proving the fidelity of him who renders it. To witness to Christ, without regarding the difficulties, sufferings or struggles that may be encountered, is the program of the true Christian - most generously, of a true Teresian Carmelite. But Who will give us courage? To us as to the Apostles, courage will come from the Holy Ghost, from His Gift of fortitude; it will come from assiduous meditation on the example which Christ has given us; it will also come from His own words, spoken of coming persecutions: "I have told you these things, that you may not be scandalized in Me."
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