07.03.25 Tanpa Penyangkalan, Tanpa Kekudusan: Perjalanan Prapaskah yang Sejati

Friday after Ash Wednesday "Mt 9:14-15" Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast." There is a time for celebration – such as a wedding – and a time for mortification – such as Lent. Today is the third day of Lent; let's check how my mortification is going so far. Do I have a list of sacrifices? Am I following it? Can I improve or be more consistent in my sacrifice? Let's be really generous! In terms of generosity in sacrifice, let's look at Jesus on the Cross. He didn't accept the Cross half-heartedly and nor should we. Besides, mortification doesn't harm your health; if anything it makes you stronger. Carthusian monks offer many sacrifices each day; among them, not eating meat on any day of the year. When Pope Urban V (1310-1370) was told about this harsh diet, he decided it must stop because it would give the monks health problems. Ten Carthusians were sent to visit the Pope and explain their sacrifices; the youngest of them was already over 90 years old. Another approached the Pope, walking without any support, and said, "I'm over 100 years old... What do you mean by health?" The Pope then understood, and the monks were allowed to continue with their diet which has remained unchanged for 1000 years! There is no holiness without mortification. Jesus was very clear: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." It is necessary for personal holiness and for the salvation of others. As Jesus said to St Faustina: "You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone." St Philip Neri summarised it well when he taught "without mortification nothing can be done." My Mother, I learn to be generous in sacrifice when I contemplate you at the foot of the Cross, accompanying your Son throughout His ordeal. With my daily sacrifices, may I come close to Jesus on Mount Calvary, so that, with you, Mother, I can help Jesus to save the world.