Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph

LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART

09 Jun 2025 - 30 Jun 2025

Rev. Fr. M. Wolff SJ has written more than fifty reflections on Jesus’s glorious attributes to assist his sisters in meditating on, praying for, and practising these virtues as imitators of Christ our Lord in their lives and mission. Most of Fr. Wolff’s reflections, meditations, prayers, and spiritual discourses express his great love for the Eucharist and his true belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Here is one of those reflections (Overweging - LXIV), which focuses on the heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as an example to be followed. Fr. Wolff asks us to contemplate – by hearing Jesus Christ, who says, “learn from me, for I am humble and gentle in heart.” Through this contemplation, he asks us “to pray for the grace to follow this divine example in everything of our lives.” He presents his contemplation on the heart of Jesus by explaining the three virtues of humility, obedience, and patience that the heart of Jesus reveals.

Humility – Jesus’ humility is especially evident in the fact that such a great God, before whom the angels and saints in heaven prostrate themselves, deigns to come down to us. He humbles Himself in such a way that He wants to come to a wretched creature like me.

• There is no better way to shame my pride than to contemplate this so excellent humility of my God and Saviour. I have nothing to boast about, and I have every reason to humble myself, but I am still haughty and arrogant!

Obedience – Jesus is obedient to the Father unto his death on the Cross. Fr. Wolff contemplates further on the obedience of Jesus to us humans by being present in the Most Blessed Sacrament! He is obedient to remain present in the Blessed Sacrament, even if a great and unrepentant sinner receives Him in Holy Communion. He remains obedient to be brought overall, even if it is to a most wretched beggar in his sickness. In the Most Holy Sacrament, the creator of all things, obeys the voice of a human being.

• There again, I am ashamed. So obedient is Jesus to come to me, and I find all kinds of excuses to release me from obedience, if what is asked of me is not to my desire and taste.

Patience - How patiently Jesus Christ waits in the Most Holy Sacrament! He endures everything. He is a lover of purity, and one of the fruits the Blessed Sacrament offers us is the purity of soul and body. He willingly waits for me in this Sacrament.

• With a body as wayward as mine, with a soul as lukewarm and with a thousand other weaknesses that surround me, I especially need the Most Holy Sacrament, so as not to succumb, not to fall and sin.

Prayer written by Fr. Wolff to be prayed at the end of the contemplation - Come to me then, my dear Jesus! Come and strengthen me in all dangers. Give me the grace to persevere in Your holy service, according to obedience, then I will be able to say with you, ‘truly it is accomplished’, Amen.

Fr. Wolff explains – “The heart is the symbol of the love with which the sister devotes herself completely to God. Attached to the heart are two white wings. They symbolise that life in your community must be simple like that of the doves, and that your heart must not attach itself to the things of this world. The fiery flame above the heart refers to the fire of divine love, which must always continue to burn in your heart. The heart is located above the arms of Mary. This expresses that she is your mother and intercessor. She will always complete what is lacking in your love.” Therefore, as we keep our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is appropriate for us to contemplate the heart of Jesus and learn from Him, to be humble, patient, and obedient.