The living way that the Lord is giving us by listening to his Word, and now for a few days the waiting for his Advent, have led me many times to consider this Holy Place. But I must say that the mystery of God's way of being and acting emerges strongly, in contrast to ours. I would like to pay attention to that fleeting moment that precedes the arrest of the Lord, the reaction of his disciples and the fundamental words that the Lord reveals. On that night of Easter, a night lit by the full moon, the Gospel narrates the approach of a crowd of people, soldiers and guards sent by the chief priests and the elders… among them there is Judas who kisses him and, through that sign of love contaminated by evil, he is released. There is great tension, the situation is taking an unexpected turn ... the disciples are gripped, they feel panic, bewilderment and fear, for the Master and towards them: "And behold, one of those who were with Jesus, put his hand to the sword, took it out and struck the servant of the high priest, taking off his ear" (Mt 26, 51). Jesus with great force stops the aggressiveness and the evil that is being unleashed: "Put the sword back in the scabbard, because all those who put their hands to the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot pray to my Father, who would immediately give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, according to which it must take place? "(Mt 26: 51-54). This question of Jesus greatly affects me: "how the Scriptures would be fulfilled". I still perceive it as an open question that gathers us all and leads us, with a particular meekness, to confront ourselves with our story, which is still waiting to be fertilized by the humble presence of the Lord (Christmas), and invites us to live the same mode of love that He, the Lord, manifested in his Passion, Death and Resurrection. I ask you to pray with us on this Word of His: "But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, according to which it must take place?" Let us feel it addressed to us, its gift and consolation, especially in dark and violent situations, or in unimaginable circumstances, in order to be able to stop the evil in his image and with his help.
Useful references for prayer: John 4, 33-34; 5, 36; 9, 4
