Chapter 9 (3) of the Handbook talks about the “Suffering in the Mystical Body”. It gives us a positive aspect on our theological training which is positivity – through Mary’s relationship with the Mystical Body, we understand that even Mary had no choice in front of Christ. She had always given herself utterly to God and she received Him completely, including joys and sorrow. “Suffering is always a grace. When it is not to bestow healing, it is to confer power. It is never merely a punishment for sin …. the passion of our Lord overflows, as an inestimable privilege, into the bodies of the sinless and the saintly in order to conform them ever more perfectly to His own likeness. This interchange and blending of suffering is the basis of all mortification and reparation.”
In todays’ Gospel (Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15), the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush and told him that He had seen the misery of His people who were in Egypt and heard their cry. He would bring them to a land “flowing with milk and honey”. Jesus always talked to us up on the mountain because from there, a wider vision can be observed, and long-term plans can be made. We should look further to our aims and our lives, stop and listen to the voice of the Lord. The trait of the Legion of Mary is its spirituality, we should stop and think deeply. When God led the people out of Egypt through Moses, although there was suffering, there was also hope. God used “fire” to lead them out of the wilderness, it is in fact similar to our situation now, there are always uncertainties. Some people may query why is there war, famine etc., they question the existence of God. We should not be satisfied with ourselves or our praesidium. We should spread our love, especially to our neighbours who are in need. When we distribute necessities to people in need, we are showing our love and concern for them. We should pray for mercy to renew our lives. There is an increasing number of homeless people in society, is it because they lost their jobs? Or because of the pandemic, once they got infected, they cannot stay where they are for isolation purpose? There is also a need to distribute rapid test kits to the needy ones. There are now many different demands in society.
God’s mercy is what Jesus expressed on the crucifix, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”, and when the criminal said to Him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”, He replied, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Our hearts should always be with Jesus in order to receive God’s salvation. Our sin is in our being indifferent, we should care for others’ needs, other things can be adjusted subject to certain conditions.
Note that the online mode being used now is a temporary measure, it should not be a regular practice. In the community, we should help each other and have interpersonal interaction with others. We should not allow the new media to change our faith. When in person meeting is resumed, we should go back to interacting with people and creating interpersonal relation. We should be aware of what is happening around us now, such as, war, our brothers and sisters in agony, etc. Let us pray for them in the communion of love. We have to think positive in order to see light among darkness.
Spiritual Director
Fr. Francis Tam
20 March 2022