My Jesus, it was with
deep grief that Mary finally took You into her arms and
saw all the wounds sin had inflicted upon You. Mary
Magdalene looked upon Your dead Body with horror.
Nicodemus, the man so full of human respect, who came to
You by night, suddenly received the courage to help
Joseph take you down from the Cross. You are once more
surrounded by only a few followers. When loneliness and
failure cross my path, let me think of this lonely
moment and this total failure - failure in the eyes of
men. How wrong they were - how mistaken their concept of
success! The greatest act of love was given in
desolation and the most successful mission accomplished
and finished when all seemed lost. Is this not true in
my life, dear Jesus? I judge my failures harshly. I
demand perfection instead of holiness. My idea of
success is for all to end well - according to my liking.
Give to all men the grace to see that doing Your Will is
more important than success. If failure is permitted for
my greater good then teach me how to use it to my
advantage. Let me say as You once said, that to do the
Will of the Father is my food. Let not the standards of
this world take possession of me or destroy the good You
have set for me - to be Holy and to accomplish the
Father's Will with great love. Let me accept praise or
blame, success or failure with equal serenity.
Amen
