Oct 31 Sat
Why was there cowardice among the Apostles?
What if we were to make a list of the stubbornness, recklessness, obstinacy, cowardice, and selfishness of the twelve Apostles, as described in the New Testament? We’d never finish.
John was so jealous, so ridiculously exclusive, that he said: “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he doesn’t follow us.” And Jesus rebuked this behavior, as he did when they argued along the way –out of human ambition!– about who would be first in the Kingdom.
Yet they did not learn the lesson –about serving others– taught by the Master on this occasion. Sometime later, they quarreled among themselves and the Son of God had to speak to them about generosity once again, because neither He nor His own came to be served, but to serve.
It seems the advice was already clear, doesn’t it? Well, no. At the Last Supper, Jesus had to set words aside and teach them by example. He washed and dried His disciples’ feet, and then said to them: “For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done.”
Among the hundred thousand flaws of these twelve Apostles, I’ll single out one as a prime example. As you know, Christ’s life centered on the Redemption of humankind. And at the very center of that Redemption stood the Cross. Then, at the crucial moment of dying on the cross, only one Apostle stood his ground –the youngest. The rest hid; they were afraid. Such are the shortcomings of the chosen ones.
All these men –fickle, boastful, of little faith, reckless, distrustful, always loving yet sometimes displaying attitudes that revealed a lack of love– will become saints… because they persevered. Only one withdrew, and he ended up badly.
To be effective, we are all called to persevere in the struggle; that is true holiness: An inner life that manifests itself in love for God, in service to others, in lending a hand to those in need, and in overlooking others' petty faults.
Holiness does not consist of standing on a pedestal with a palm branch in hand. Saints cannot remain inactive. We must take action: care for a brother’s illness, make sure the rice doesn’t stick to the pot, and talk to our children’s teachers.
These are today’s saints, who ride the subway, pray the Rosary, work in the fields, use a cell phone, spend the weekend relaxing with their loved ones, and return on Monday mornings to do what they always do –what they do every week, all year long: making sure that everything they do today –Communion, work, service– is done with a little more love, affection, and fervor than yesterday.
Let’s not lose hope. If we have fallen, like the saints, let’s also strive to imitate them in getting up again. Let’s renew ourselves in love. We need it. Today is a good day to say to God: “I’m starting now!” Even if it’s been a while since we last said that to Him. We still have a long road ahead of us. “I’m starting now!”