MEDITATION III Christ the Model of Perfection
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Ignatius, of Loyola, Saint and Coppens, Charles
1st Prelude. See Christ carrying His cross, and saying: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me” (St. Matth. xvi, 24).
2nd Prelude. Ask for grace to follow Christ faithfully.
POINT I. Consider the consoling truth that Christ has really made Himself our guide. He is such by word and example. We could not have a nobler nor safer guide. He has led millions before us to the highest happiness. In this text He invites us to follow Him. Let us thank Him for this gracious offer and eagerly accept it. He is to us what the Angel Raphael was to Tobias. True, Tobias could see the Angel, but he did not know who he was; we cannot see Christ, but we know who He is and how He has acted. Our Society undertakes to follow Him in all the details of our lives. In this following consists perfection. We are actually following Him; but how earnestly? how generously? Can we not improve in many respects?
POINT II. Consider the words: “Let him deny himself.” Christ denied Himself: His ease, His health and life, His honor. In trying to follow Him we made a good beginning when we left our parents and all earthly possessions; to crown the work we must leave ourselves: 1st. Our ease, by hard work, without repining, with joy and perseverance. Many seculars work much harder than we do, but many do so grudgingly. Not so Christ; we must do like Him.
2nd, Our health and life, leaving all this in God’s hands, with proper care indeed, but no solicitude. Oh, if we could die in His service! It would be the greatest happiness. We may have that good fortune if we never shirk any duty. 3, Our honor. Christ willingly made Himself “A worm and no man, the reproach of men and the outcast of the people” (Ps. 21). The lowest on earth at first, He is now the highest in Heaven, and He invites us to follow Him. When we experience loss of ease, of health, of honor, how do we take it?
POINT III. Consider the words: “and take up his cross.” What is our cross? It is not so heavy as Christ’s. Our cross is: 1st, Our daily tasks. Perform them faithfully, zealously, cheerfully. 2nd, Our afflictions, sufferings, failures, disappointments. Be patient, do not despond: “Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof” (St. Matth. vi, 34). Trust in God: “No one hath hoped in the Lord and hath been confounded” (Ecclus. ii, 11).
3rd, Our passions; we must keep them in check by unremitting efforts.
4th, The conduct of others: “Blessed are ye when they shall revile you—Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven” (St. Matth. v, 11). “The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us” (Rom. viii, 18).
POINT IV. Consider the words: “And follow me.” Keep your eyes on Jesus carrying His cross. Notice: 1. His exterior behavior. Do we properly observe our rules of modesty? 2. His interior sentiments. Like His Sacred Heart, is our heart at peace? Kind to all? Conformable to God’s will? “Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to your souls” (St. Matth. xi, 29).
Colloquy. “Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou shall go” (St. Matth. viii, 19).