Monday of the Thirty-third week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day
Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938), Spanish Trappist monk
Spiritual writings, letter to his aunt, 16/11/1935
"The man immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God"
I possess such great wealth. I would like to shout for joy and cry out to all creation: praise the Lord, love the Lord who is so great, who is God… The world doesn’t see; the world is blind and God needs love. God needs so much love. I can’t give him all he asks for; I am small, I become mad, I would like the whole world to love him but the world is his enemy. Lord, what great suffering! I can see it and I can’t bring the cure to it. I am too small and insignificant. The love I have for you is crushing me, I would want my brothers, all my friends, everyone to love you very much…
How sad those people make me who, seeing the procession of Jesus and his disciples, remain unmoved. What joy must the apostles and friends of Jesus have felt every time a soul opened its eyes, left everything and joined them in following the Nazarene – he who asked for nothing else but a little love. Will we follow him, my dear sister? He sees our intentions and looks at us, smiles and helps us. There is nothing to fear; we will go to be the last in the procession that traverses in silence the Judean countryside yet sustained by a very great, immense love. He has no need of words. We don’t have to raise ourselves to his level for him to see us. We have no need of great works or of anything that attracts attention: we shall be the least of Jesus’ friends but those who love him most.
- Pope St. Pius X