XIII — IN EXPECTATION

Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension

Presence of God. — O Lord, let my heart always be turned toward heaven where You await me.

Meditation

1 — This Sunday is like a prolongation of the feast of the Ascension. The Introit reflects very well what must have been the sentiments of the Apostles in the days between Jesus’ departure and the descent of the Holy Spirit: “Hear, O Lord, the cry by which I call to You... I seek your face, O Lord; hide not your face from me.” As on Ascension day, the Apostles’ eyes are still fixed on heaven where they saw the Master disappear, and their heart longs for Him. As long as we are pilgrims here below, far from the Lord, this must be the continual sigh of our souls. But while awaiting our homeland we must not remain idle. In today’s Epistle St. Peter teaches what we must do so that earthly life may be a true preparation for meeting God: “Be prudent in prayer. Above all, have persevering mutual charity toward one another.” This is exactly what the Apostles did while awaiting the Holy Spirit: they persevered in prayer, gathered in the Cenacle in fraternal concord. The Lord does not welcome the prayers and offerings of a heart that cannot love every neighbor with sincere benevolence. Jesus said it expressly: “If, while making your offering at the altar, you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there... and first go to be reconciled with your brother” (Mt. 5, 23-24). Prayer alone is not enough, either to draw down divine graces or to attain eternal life; fraternal charity is needed, the surest proof of the sincerity of our love for God. The Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of charity, who is substantial Love, cannot invade a narrow and petty soul in its relations with neighbor; lack of charity is one of the greatest obstacles to his action because it is directly contrary to his essence. As water paralyzes the action of fire, so lack of charity paralyzes the action of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, as long as we are on this earth, all are liable to fall, and therefore all need pardon; charity - says the Epistle - “covers a multitude of sins.”

2 — In today’s Gospel we find once more Jesus’ promise concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit: “When the Paraclete comes, whom I will send to you from the Father... you will bear witness to me.” As on Ascension day, the coming of the Holy Spirit is presented in relation to the Apostles’ mission, which will essentially consist in bearing witness to Christ. “You will receive power from the Holy Spirit... and you will be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth”; we read this in last Thursday’s Epistle, and today the Gospel explains in what this witness must consist, a witness to which not only the Apostles but all Christians are called. “They will cast you out of the synagogues; indeed the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” To bear witness to the Father, Jesus died on the Cross; to bear witness to Him, his followers must suffer, undergo persecutions, and often death itself. It is impossible to follow any road other than the one Jesus trod: “If anyone would come after me... let him take up his cross and follow me” (Mt. 16, 24). He repeats it. A peaceful, tranquil witness that, in order to affirm itself, has no need to face dangers and still less to risk life, will always have only relative value and in any case gives no guarantee of steadfastness; on the contrary, the more it costs, the more it is worth, and the more it proves the fidelity of the one who gives it. To give Christ full witness despite difficulties, sufferings, and struggles that may be encountered is the program of the true Christian. But who will give us courage? To us, as to the Apostles, courage will come from the Holy Spirit through the gift of fortitude; it will come from assiduous meditation on Jesus’ examples; it will also come from the Savior’s own word who, while announcing persecutions, declared: “I have told you these things so that you may not be scandalized.”

Colloquy

O Lord, make me worthy to bear witness to You not only by words but above all by works, despite the difficulties and sufferings I may meet. The Apostles bore witness to You even to facing death for love of You; grant that I may at least bear witness by a life worthy of You.

To bear witness to You, O Lord, “I would like to travel the earth, preaching your name and planting your glorious Cross on unbelieving soil, O Beloved! But one mission alone would not suffice for me: I would at once announce the Gospel in every part of the world and even to the most remote islands. I would like to be a missionary not only for a few years, but I would have liked to be one from the creation of the world and to remain so until the consummation of the ages. Above all, however, I would like martyrdom...

“If my thought turns to the unheard-of torments that at the time of Antichrist will be reserved for Christians, I feel my heart leap and I would like those torments to be reserved for me. Open, O my Jesus, your book of life in which the actions of all the saints are recorded; those actions I would like to have done for You!... But great works are forbidden me, I cannot preach the Gospel nor shed my blood... what does it matter? My brothers work for me while I remain very close to your royal throne and love for those who fight” (cf. T.B.G. St. 11).

Yes, Lord, grant me true love, so that I may always be faithful to You in little things, since I am not given to do great ones. Above all, let me always give You the witness of a sincere profession of faith and of a conduct wholly conformed to your law in every setting, in every circumstance, never allowing myself to be swayed by false human respect.