Meditation for April 27, In Spirit and in Truth

"Although the Christian borrows his name from Our Lord," writes Father Saint-Jure, "the name is not enough to make him a true Christian."

To be a Christian it is not enough to invoke this divine Name; one must have faith in It. Let us remember fur­ther that the exterior Christian works, excellent as they are in themselves, are not enough, as it clearly appears from the conduct of the foolish virgins. (Matt. xxv, 1-12.)

"The Christian is true to his name if he practices the spirit of Jesus Christ. Just as a rational soul is essential to man, animating his body and giving it life, so that which constitutes the Christian is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, which is his very soul and character. According to St. John, what assures us beyond doubt that we dwell in Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ dwells in us, is the gift of His Holy Spirit."

Thus to be authentically Christian, it does not suffice to say Christian prayers, to perform exteriorly Christian practices; it is both necessary and essential to possess the evangelical spirit, the spirit of Jesus Christ, so broadly comprehensive, not only of the worship due to God, but also of the interest due our neighbor. How rare, therefore, is the true Christian spirit in the world! How rare it is even in the religious life, among souls consecrated to the service of their neighbor!
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)