On Jesus fleeing after the Miracle

From  
Meditations on the Life of Our Lord 
by J. Nouet, S.J.


Nineteenth Week after Pentecost - Tuesday

1st Point. "Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet that is to come into the world." (John, vi. 14.) The soul tastes the delights of heaven, is endued with spiritual strength, and filled with consolation and joy.  Jesus Christ vouchsafes to nourish it with the adorable "Bread which cometh down from heaven." (John, vi. 50.)  Choose him as king, that he may govern you with absolute sway as Creator and Redeemer.  All your powers and affections should exclaim: We desire that Jesus reign over us.  The divine Saviour, who fled from the temporal royalty with which the people wanted to invest him, will never refuse to reign in souls that desire to live under his empire.    Make him, therefore, king of your heart: beseech him to reign there, sovereignly, universally, and eternally.

2nd Point. "And forthwith Jesus obliged his disciples to go up into the boat, and to go before him over the water till he dismissed the people." (Matt., xiv. 22.) It is with regret the disciples separate from their beloved Master, but he obliges them to depart, because he knew their weakness, and the ideas they entertained of the temporal glory of the Messiah.  He takes their minds away from vain, terrestrial honours.  St. Jerome observes, that in this our Lord displayed his wisdom and foresight though, to the apostles, the separation was a sort of violence.  If obedience require you to forgo his conversation of prayer, you may embark with the apostles without danger: your submission will be your safeguard; but you should never leave his internal presence without fear and sorrow.

3rd Point. "And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray.  And when it was evening he was there alone." (Matt., xiv. 23.) The Son of God employs his all-pervasive words to change the minds of the people who would make him king; but when the cross is presented later, he embraces it with generous devotedness.  You fly the contempt you merit, and seek honour of which you are undeserving.  Imitate this adorable model; renounce human praise, seek retreat and silence, and when you have succeeded in what might occasion vain glory, have recourse to prayer, and sink into the depth of your own nothingness.