#vineandbranches — Public Fediverse posts

Jesus called Himself the head of the Mystical Body, of which we are the members (Rom 12:5). He is the vine, we are the branches (Jn 15:1–8). He laid Himself in the winepress and Himself trod it. He handed us the wine so that, drinking it, we might lead His life, might share His suffering. Whoever wishes to do My Will, let him daily take up his cross (Lk 9:23). Whoever follows me has the light of life (Jn 8:12). I am the way, He said (Jn 14:6). I have given you an example, so that as I have done so you may do also (Jn 13:15). And when His disciples did not understand that His way would be a way of suffering, He explained this to them and said, “Should not the Christ so suffer, in order to enter into His glory?” (Lk 24:26).

Mary, who kept all God’s words in her heart (Lk 2:19, 51), in the fullness of grace granted her, understood the great value of suffering. While the apostles fled, she went out to meet the Savior on the way to Calvary and stood beneath the cross (Jn 19:25–27), in order to share His grief and shame to the end. And she carried Him to the grave, firmly trusting that He would rise.

We object when He hands us the chalice of His suffering. It is so difficult for us to resign ourselves to suffering. To rejoice in it strikes us as heroic. What is the value of our offering of self if we unite ourselves each morning only in word and gesture, rather than in thought and will, to that offering which we, together with the Church, make of Him with whom we are in the one body?

Oh, that this day we might realize the value God has placed on the suffering He sends: He, the All-Good.

Saint Titus Brandsma

Introduction to Het lijden vergoddelijkt (excerpts)
Office of Readings, Memorial of St. Titus Brandsma

Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.

Featured image: German photographer David Köhler captures this beautiful image of Concord grapes ripening in the summer sun. Image credit: David Köhler / Unsplash (Stock photo)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/04/27/brandsma-winepress/

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