Divine Appeal Reflection - 251
Our Adorable Jesus shows us not only the pain of His wounds, but also the sorrow of a world that struggles to endure true holiness. His Passion was no mere miscarriage of justice—it was the open defilement of sanctity by a fallen humanity. The sinless One, radiant with divine purity, stood encircled by hatred, slander, and derision—not because He had transgressed, but because He embodied the very innocence the world could not tolerate. In a painful reversal, the Holy was treated as guilty, the Lamb of God as a criminal. This same spirit continues today. A society drunk on self-will mocks virtue as bondage and holiness as madness. By rejecting what is sacred, it wounds Christ again and echoes the cry: “Crucify Him” (cf. Lk 23:21). As the Catechism teaches, sin began when man refused to let God be God—choosing pride over trust (cf. CCC 397). And today, sin often wears the face of mockery: turning sacred things into jokes, replacing reverence with sarcasm, and drowning out truth with constant noise.
This rejection shows itself not only in big ideas but in the quiet details of daily life. A student who mentions prayer or the Blessed Virgin in school may be laughed at. A young man or woman who chooses chastity might be told they are “behind the times.” An honest worker who won’t lie or cheat may be pushed aside at work. Even in families, those who try to pray the Rosary, go to Confession, or attend daily Mass may be called “too much” or “overly devout.” These are not small troubles—they are the little crosses that echo Our Lord’s own suffering. Jesus, the Holy One, stood alone before a crowd that misunderstood Him—even His own friends failed to grasp His mission (cf. Jn 1:11). His Passion continues wherever truth is rejected, goodness is punished, and the sacred is mocked. In these moments, the Church must not hide, but stand firm—not with harshness, but with the quiet strength that comes from the Crucified (cf. 1 Pt 4:14). Every time someone suffers for remaining faithful, Jesus suffers with them—and through them, He triumphs in hidden glory.
This hatred of holiness is not just a passing mood—it is the sign of a deeper battle. Beneath the laughter and mockery is a soul running from God. Pride darkens the heart and hides from the light that reveals its emptiness (cf. Jn 3:19–20). Our Adorable Jesus, radiating unblemished light, stands not as a judge who condemns but as Truth itself—unflinching, pure, and piercing. We see this even in family life: a child is teased for dressing modestly; a father is looked down upon for opposing abortion or defending marriage; a grandmother is ignored for praying her beads of the rosary or speaking of the saints. What used to be honored is now called foolish—not because it is wrong, but because it is right. The sufferings of Jesus—false names, cruel jokes, beatings—show the age-old struggle between God’s kingdom and the kingdom of self (cf. Jn 15:18–19). In this fight, holiness is not hated because it is ugly—but because it is beautiful. And beauty, when not welcomed, becomes a burden.
Even so, our answer must never be to strike back. Jesus, when insulted, did not return evil for evil but suffered silently, with majesty (cf. 1 Pt 2:23). The saints followed His path. Though misunderstood or ridiculed, they bore all with humble courage. They did not explain their holiness—they lived it. Today, when a priest is mocked for wearing his cassock, or a sister is scorned for giving her life to Jesus in purity, they must remain steady. When parents choose Mass over comfort, or teenagers choose purity over popularity, they are sharing in the quiet glory of the Cross. We are not called to argue for holiness, but to make it visible—real, gentle, joyful. In every genuflection before the Blessed Sacrament, every act of decency, every silent refusal to gossip, we help restore the beauty of what is sacred. The world may laugh—but heaven is comforted. And the Heart of Our Adorable Jesus, so deeply wounded by mockery, is healed by each soul that dares to love Him with fidelity.
Prayer:
Our Adorable Jesus, mocked in Your holiness and scorned for Your truth, give us the courage to love what the world despises. In a time that ridicules virtue, make us steadfast. Help us live with reverence, speak with wisdom, and suffer with patience, that we may console Your Heart. Amen.
Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.
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