Wednesday, April 3 : Saint John XXIII

Peter’s successor knows that in his person and in all that he does there is the grace and the law of love, which sustains, inspires and adorns everything; and in the eyes of the whole world it is this mutual love between Jesus and himself, Simon or Peter, the son of John, that is the foundation of Holy Church, a foundation which is at the same time visible and invisible, Jesus being invisible to the eyes of our flesh, and the Pope, the Vicar of Christ, being visible to the whole world. When I ponder this mystery of intimate love between Jesus and his Vicar I think what an honor and what a joy it is for me, but at the same time what a reason for shame for my own littleness and worthlessness! My life must be filled with the love of Jesus and also with a great outpouring of goodness and sacrifice for individual souls and for the whole world. From the Gospel episode which proclaims the Pope’s love for Jesus, and through him for souls, it is but a short step to the law of sacrifice. Jesus himself foretold this to Peter: “Truly, truly, I say to you: when you were young you girded yourself and walked where you would, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go”. By God’s grace I have not yet entered upon helpless old age; but having now completed my eighty years, I am on the threshold. So I must hold myself ready for this last phase of my life, in which restrictions and sacrifices await me, until the sacrifice of my bodily existence and the opening of eternal life. O Jesus, I am ready to stretch out my hands, now weak and trembling, and allow others to dress me and support me along the way. O Lord, to Peter you added: “and to carry you where you do not wish to go”. After so many graces showered upon me during my long life, there is nothing now I can refuse. You have shown me the way, O Jesus. “I will follow you wherever you go” (Mt 8.19).
maronite readings – rosary,team