Dear Reader, what do we have a deep passion for? Do you have an ardent affinity for something? What makes you tick, so to speak? Could your passion be for a sports team, a song, an exercise routine, running, shopping, a food item, barhopping, a car, a place on Earth, or could it be for your career? Or, better yet, could your affinity be for someone as a friend, a team member, a family member, an athlete, an actor, teacher, or maybe it could be for a politician? How does one show and share with the world this affinity? Furthermore, what is the ultimate outcome that we seek from our affinity or our passion?
Dear Reader, if we listen to Holy Scripture, then we hear Jesus teaching, “Father, if You are willing, take this Cup away from Me; still, not My Will but Yours be done.” Continuing, “My Father, if it is not possible for this Cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your Will be done.” Again, we hear, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I Will, but what You Will.
Jesus was never looking for an escape hatch to be left untouched by His persecutors and executioners during His Passion. He was showing and sharing His Affinity; that we should “only” do the Father’s Will. We should never march into a battle, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually, thinking that maybe, we are doing it for Christ’s Sake. St. Francis tried but failed, in his attempt to merit a “red” martyrdom. Good thing too, for us!
A good spiritual director, like a good priest, devoted to “Our” Lady would be very, very wise. Francis, however, did win his “white” martyrdom. It was not the Will of the Father for him to win a red one! Jesus, of course accomplished both, for you and me. The Passion of Jesus, Dear Reader, is second to no one’s! Jesus was in such agony and He prayed so fervently for you and me that His Sweat became like Drops of Blood falling on the ground. So, why are we sleeping???
O Mary, “. . . and you yourself a sword will pierce . . .” As a good parent, when I see my child fall and skin her knee, my interior pain is real. When I see her in her joy, then I am joyful! When I see her struggling, then I struggle! When I see her suffering, then I suffer! O Mary, how you must have suffered so, during the Passion of your Son, Jesus! O Mary, I beg you to wake us up!
Furthermore, Jesus is so Passionately in Love with us, Dear Reader, that He does not want to overstep the Will of Our Father. “Our Father (I love you so much!). . . Lead me not into temptation . . .” Jesus is teaching us about how Our Father is so in Love with us; more than we could ever fathom! In addition, the Passion of Jesus clarifies His Ever-Present Fervent Love in which He has for Our Father!
Besides, Dear Reader, even after the accumulation of over six thousand wounds, incurred from the stomps, punches, and lashes that mangled the Sacred Body of Jesus, encompassing the Top of His Precious Head to the Bottom of His Innocent Feet, along with the piercings by the razor-sharp thorns, big blunted nails, and by that soldier’s sharpened-spear that entered His Sacred Heart, no pain to Jesus was ever more excruciating then when He was Agonizing in that Garden of Gethsemane, where “His” Passion, for you and me, showed, and His Affinity, for you and me, was shared for all to see!
His Affinity for you and me, Dear Reader, was so profound that, in His fully human state of existence, Angels from Heaven needed to strengthened Him. The Angels, as good nurses do, were so essential in ministering to Our Heartbroken Jesus! After all, the Ultimate Outcome for the Passion of Jesus is to bring us all to the Kingdom of Heaven. Every Sorrowful Drop of His Precious Blood that fell to the afflicted-earth was meant for you and me, who are either unrepentant-reprobates or loving-reconcilers. His Soul was Sorrowful even unto death!
Dear Reader, Everything good that we do, say, and think, whether it is a passion for running, eating, singing, watching, and/or an affinity for our careers etc., should be accomplished so that we follow in the Footsteps of Jesus by bringing ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbors, our enemies, and, in fact, all the lost sheep closer to Jesus and Mary. Bringing others with us into the Kingdom of Heaven should be the ultimate outcome for our thoughts, words, and deeds!
We are able to commence this Holy and Noble Catholic Task each morning: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the (Passionate) intentions of Your Sacred Heart!
O Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
St. Francis, lead us!
O Father, Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of His (Jesus) Death and Resurrection, we offer You, Lord (Father), the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation, giving thanks that You have held us worthy to be in Your Presence and “minister” to You!
Dear Reader, Jesus and Mary Love you (JAMLY), so much!
Stay-tuned for, “The Nurse” on Thursday, August 23.
Peace & JAMLY,
hobo euie