Ferial - The Progress of Jesus in His hidden life - What Jesus owes to His Mother

It has been a long long looonng day. :)

I spent a good 8 hours "holed" up in one of the few air-conditioned eateries in NUS, writing up a lab report, discussing, tumbling through all we learnt during the 6 hour long practical, discussing, calculating, drawing up tables in excel, discussing, drawing up a chart in excel (it really showed how much we forgot how to draw graphs, especially after 1 sem of no lab modules), pressing the calculator, talking about plasmids, trying to figure out the plasmid map for the plasmid pGFPuv, discussing the experiment that was all about Restriction Endonuclease Digestion lah lah blah ... gah! lol!

My brain is officially now muddled, fuddled, with all its screws, nuts and bolts officially out of order. Alright, just joking :) - but the experience of doing up the report together with my lab partner was good. I finally feel like I'm learning something substantial, I finally feel like a scientist. lol.

There was an "ultra-goondu" (singlish slang for very silly) but very cute myna that got stucked in the canteen. It had flew into the enclosed area but had no chance to get out. It banged its head against the windows many times and flew up and down the length of the canteen trying frantically to get out, even though my friend and I opened some small windows and doors for the bird to fly out. In the end it flew out (finally: after all the "bangings"), but it was a very much welcome laugh after the seriousness of the work that we were engaged in.

God really works in very very marvellous ways. I cannot help but type and blog about it. After looking back at the whole day and thinking about everything, I somehow see the hand of God, the Most High, interested in every single thing that anyone of us engages in.

I was thinking about a chapter from the book Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda (link can be found on the side) on how Ven. Mary of Agreda, a 17th century nun (Mother Prioress) wrote about the Holy Trinity. How the Most High works in ways that are very much incomprehensible to all men. It was after all those hard work, analyzing all the results and interpreting the Agarose Gel Electrophoresis results that I came to understand that.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter of this, one of my favourite books in the whole wide world :)

O King, most high and most wise Lord: How incomprehensible are thy judgements, and inscrutable thy ways (Rom. 11,24)! Invincible God, enduring for ever and whose beginning is unknown (Eccli. 18,1)! Who can understand thy greatness and who can be worthy of thy most magnificient works, or who can tell Thee why Thou hast created them (Rom. 9,20)? For Thou art exalted above all of them and our vision cannot reach Thee and our understanding cannot comprehend Thee. Mayest Thou be blest, magnificient King, because Thou has deigned to show me, thy slave and a vile worm of the earth, great sacraments and most sublime mysteries.

We, mankind only of God's creation, from the first human created by the Most High, the Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Adam and then Eve from the rib of Adam, has had to think, understand, meditate, analyze, interpret, come to conclusions, write reports, understand, think, understand, meditate, analyze, interpret, come to conclusions, write essays, (I repeat to show that we all have been doing all that since the day we were born, until now, in all the fields of study, in our daily life, etc, throughout our whole life). Even though we were made in the image and likeness of the Most High, there are many ways in which we are not like the Most Holy Trinity - of course!. One very certain way in which we differ greatly and in which we can see our absolute nothingness and our inate need for the Most High, to be always in union with our Creator because He made us, is because we cannot think and understand like God. We spend our whole lives trying to understand, to know, to comprehend, in the end, to try to understand the ways of God...

God comprehends things in a split second. He was there even before time existed (if such a phrase existed). He was there even before the sun and the stars came into being. He was there even before all things were created. As St John the Apostle, the Evangelist writes in the last of the 4 Catholic Gospels, part of which is repeated at the end of every mass in the Last Gospel, and who can understand Him (Jesus) better than the one (St John) who at the first mass, the Last Supper, understood and comprehended Jesus's thoughts and heart intimately well, who was the only one of the Apostles who rested his heart on that of Jesus, whoose heart rested on Jesus's heart ... (St John, the Apostle whom Jesus loved)

Latin Vulgate (Latin translation of this spiritual reading)
John 1:

Gospel According to Saint John

The divinity and incarnation of Christ. John bears witness of him. He begins to call his disciples.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (the Baptist) 7 This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. 9 That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. 13 Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me, is preferred before me: because he was before me.

16 And of his fulness we all have received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No. 22 They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. 24 And they that were sent, were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?

26 John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not. 27 The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. 28 These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him, and he saith: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he, of whom I said: After me there cometh a man, who is preferred before me: because he was before me.

31 And I knew him not, but that he may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven, and he remained upon him. 33 And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and I gave testimony, that this is the Son of God. 35 The next day again John stood, and two of his disciples.

36 And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God. 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turning, and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith to them: Come and see. They came, and saw where he abode, and they stayed with him that day: now it was about the tenth hour. 40 And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard of John, and followed him.

41 He findeth first his brother Simon, and saith to him: We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter. 43 On the following day, he would go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip. And Jesus saith to him: Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth.

46 And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. 48 Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered him, and said: Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered, and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see.

51 And he saith to him: Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

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Coming back to the topic, God comprehends things in a split second, in a click of the hand, in a turn of a head, in a split of the match, He knows and understands, He sees and comprehends all the consequences, the analysis, the interpretation, the reasons, the works, etc. He is everywhere, because the Holy Trinity is everywhere by virtue of the fact that it was the Holy Trinity that created all things, that was there even before all things existed. The knowing, the comprehending and the loving of each of the three distinct persons in the Holy Trinity, who is but the only ONE and UNDIVIDED UNITY, leads to the creation of things and everything that is material (including us, humankind and the 2nd of the chief creatures of His creation, the Angels) out of the love that is present in the Holy Trinity. God is omnipresent, omnipotent.

:) Deo gratias!!!

And here's very good meditation materiel for today, January 18 - Ferial, on the Progress of Jesus in His hidden life from another of my favourite books, Alone with God. Here's also a link to a very good reading on What Jesus owes to His Mother (in 3 different parts - part I, part II and part III).

January 18, Ferial
The Progress of Jesus (Lk. 2:40-52)

1. Jesus, like unto us in all things, sin excepted, was like any other child; as His body grew, so did His mental faculties. It was a case of normal and healthy growth, not impeded by any sickness or ailment. Of all this Mary and Joseph were the delighted witnesses. With awe and reverence we behold this gradual development of the divine Child.

2. Petition: That we may believe and trust “in the grace that rests upon us”, through which we can grow “in grace with God and with men”.

I. Gradual Development

“And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom, and the grace of God was in him” (Lk. 2:40). After writing these words St Luke proceeds to related the unexpected and mysterious unveiling of the Divinity into the ordinary life of Jesus, who, at the age of twelve, unknown to His parents, remained in Jerusalem. And then the Evangelist continues: “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men” (Lk. 2:51,52).

Whatever was human in Jesus was subject to natural growth: as man He learnt to speak, even to pray, learning from His holy Mother to recite the Psalms; He acquired human knowledge as other children acquire it; St Joseph taught Him the work of a carpenter.

Nay more: Mary had her share in the moulding of Godman’s heart. Just as other mothers have a share in the moulding of their children’s hearts. Therefore it was befitting that the Mother of Jesus be immaculate in her conception, full of grace, exempt of even the shadow of sin. She who was to train this divine Infant had to be a paragon of perfection.

These thoughts should increase our admiration and our reverence for Mary. Holy Mother of God, pray for us; Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

II. Grace with God and Men

As the human faculties of the Child Jesus reached their normal development, He, as man, came to know His Father better, who is in heaven. To praise and love Him more perfectly. In the one Person of Jesus the human and the divine natures were united, with the result that never had human nature given to God such perfect praise, love and service. Christ’s humanity was God’s ideal instrument, indissolubly united to the Divinity, and giving perfect service to God. Several times the Father will bear this solemn testimony to Christ, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Gospel says that Jesus also grew more pleasing to men. The chief witness of this was Mary, His Mother. It had to be so: for the time being the Divinity was hidden in the shape of a perfect man, “the most beautiful of the children of men”. Of Him the Prophet had said: “He shall not cry . . . neither shall his voice be heard abroad . . . The bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench.” (Is. 42:2,3). At Nazareth He was meek and humble of heart as He would be later, when along the high ways of Galilee he “went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed” (Acts 10:38).

The day would come when His own would cast Him our, but at this time He had as yet offended no susceptibilities, and His fellow villagers saw in Him only the Son of Mary, whom they all knew.

With awe and wonder we contemplate this splendid example.

III. Divine Example

Every day we can and must grow in perfection. Remember that such growth does not consist in external practises, or mere feeling. Real progress and spiritual growth take place within the soul, and produce purer intentions, more self-forgetting love, deeper humility. “We faint not,” says St Paul, “but though our outward man is corrupted, the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor.4:16). This inward renewal must be a never ending process.

“He advanced in grace with God and men,” loving God and being loved by Him, loving men and deserving their love. To love God is the first and greatest commandment, but the second is like unto the first. Whosoever pretends to love God, and cares not for his brother, is a liar (1 Jn.4:20). Let all who strive after perfection never forget that strong expression.

May we “henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about by ever wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14). St Paul wants us to be manly and steadfast in God’s service, and not like children who yield to passing moods and impressions. Then we shall be spiritually grown up, “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, true God and true Man, in whom our human nature grew into a perfect instrument in the Father’s service, we beseech Thee, help us “to do the truth in charity, so that in all things we may grow up in Thee, who art the head.”

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum.