Poor people and little children followed Him everywhere seeing Him as one of their own. The simplicity, the kindliness, the humble courtesy and the charity they witnessed in our dear Savior made them press close about Him. One day when He was preaching in the streets the children who were usually about him, pressed upon Him from behind. The apostles who were nearest to our Lord pushed them back. On seeing this Jesus rebuked His apostles and said to them, “Do not keep the children away from Me” (Mt. 19:14). When they gathered about Him He embraced and blessed them with gentleness and kindness. The poor, on seeing Him poorly dressed and simple in his ways, without ostentation or haughtiness, felt at ease with Him. They defended Him against the rich and the proud when these calumniated and persecuted Him, and He in His turn praised and blessed them on every occasion.
But how describe the gentleness of Jesus in His dealings with poor sinners: His gentleness with Mary Magdalene, His courteous solicitude in turning the Samaritan woman from her evil ways, His compassion in pardoning the adulterous woman taken in adultery, His charity in sitting down to eat with public sinners in order to win them over? Did not His enemies seize upon His great kindness as a pretext to persecute Him, saying that His gentleness only encouraged others to transgress the law of Moses, and tauntingly called Him the friend of sinners and publicans? With what kindness and concern did He not try to win over the heart of Judas who had decided to betray Him, even when Jesus was washing His feet and calling Him his friend! With what charity He asked God his Father to pardon his executioners, pleading their ignorance as an excuse.
Mary kept all Jesus said and did, pondering all in her heart. Mary did the Truth she saw and heard in her life with Jesus. So must we seek to follow Jesus as Mary did.
For your “heart” as well on this Friday. How we please the heart of Christ when we listen to the wisdom of His saints, and especially when we look to His Mother for the help we need to know and to love Him more.
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