March 25, 2014 Tuesday: Divine Mercy Week 5
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This week, we are praying for the gentleness in priests, for priests are often with people who are at their most vulnerable time of their lives--death of a loved one, marriage conflicts, and personal crisis. At such times, we need more than ever priests who take to heart Jesus’ instruction, "Learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly of heart.” We also hear from Prophet Isaiah about Jesus, “A bruised reed he will not break.”
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To be gentle means that the priest must recognize the vulnerabilities of the other and the ways in which his arrogance or ego can threaten those weaknesses, even when he bears no malice to the other. Take the example from today’s Gospel. Did you notice how the mighty Archangel Gabriel approached the young teenager Mary? Although Archangel Gabriel was powerful and mighty, he protected the littleness and weakness of Mary from the danger implied by his own bigness and power. When he spoke to Mary, “Hail full of grace,” his tone was not that of forceful urging to submit to God’s will, but a gentle invitation in which the Almighty God gave the lowly, human girl plenty of freedom to choose.
A priest is considered an expert in spiritual matters. It’s really important that he is gentle in his approach. Consider for example, the computer expert, who knows exactly what silly mistakes someone is making and could put him in his place with a well-chosen sneer or two. The computer expert, if he is not to overwhelm and
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We must pray that priests have a devotion to the Sacred Heart, for Jesus’ heart contains the key to cultivating this necessary virtue. Gentleness comes from growing in union with the Heart of Jesus, as they love, trust, and imitate him more.