MEDITATION
XIII
SECOND FRIDAY
Jesus wished
to suffer so much in order to gain our Hearts.
Baptismo habeo
baptizari; et quomodo coarctor usque dum perficiatur!
I have a
baptism wherewith I am to be baptized; and how am I straitened until it be
accomplished! St. Luke 12: 50
Consider how Jesus suffered, even from the first moment of His life,
and all for the love of us. During the whole of His life He had no other object
in view, after the glory of God, than our salvation. He, as the Son of God, had
no need to suffer in order to deserve Paradise; but whatever he suffered of
pain, of poverty, of ignominy, He applied it all towards meriting for us
eternal salvation. And even although He could have saved us without suffering,
yet He chose to embrace a life of nothing but sufferings, poor, despised, and
deprived of every comfort, with a death the most desolate and bitter that was
ever endured by any martyr or penitent, only to make us understand the
greatness of the love He bore us, and to gain our affections.
He lived thirty-three years,
and He lived sighing after the hour in which He was to sacrifice His life,
which He desired to offer up to obtain for us Divine grace and eternal glory,
in order that He might have us with Him forever in Paradise. It was this desire
which made him say:
“I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized; and how am I
straitened until it be accomplished!” He desired to be baptized with His own
blood, not to wash out His own sins, since He was innocent and holy, but the
sins of men whom He loved so much: “He loved us, and washed us in His own
blood.” Oh, excess of the love of God, which all the men and angels that ever
existed will never arrive at understanding or Praising as it deserves!
St. Bonaventure complains on
considering the great ingratitude of men for such great love: “It is wonderful that the hearts of men do not break for love of Thee.”
It is a wonder, says the saint, to see a God endure such sufferings, shedding
tears in a stable, poor in a work shop, languishing on a cross; in short,
afflicted and troubled the whole of His life for the love of men; and then to
see these men, who not only do not burn with love towards such a loving God,
but even have the boldness to despise His love and His grace. O Lord, how is it
possible to know that a God should have given Himself up to so much suffering
for men, and yet that there should be men who can offend, and not love this
merciful God!
AFFECTIONS AND PRAYERS
My beloved Redeemer, I am also one of those ungrateful wretches who
have repaid Thy immense love, Thy sorrows, and Thy death, with offences and
contempt; O my dearest Jesus, how is it possible that, seeing as Thou didst the
ingratitude that I should show Thee for all Thy mercies, Thou couldst yet love
me so much, and resolve to endure so much contempt and suffering for me! But I
will not despair. The evil is already done. Give me, therefore, O my Saviour,
that sorrow which Thou hast merited for me by Thy tears; but let it be a sorrow
equal to my iniquities. O loving Heart of my Saviour, once so afflicted and
desolate for my sake, and now all burning with love for me, I beseech Thee,
change my heart, give me a heart that shall make reparation for the offenses I
have committed against Thee, give me a love that shall equal my ingratitude!
But I already feel a great desire of loving Thee. I give Thee thanks, my
Saviour, because I see that Thy mercy has already changed my heart. I hate,
above every evil, the insults I have offered Thee; I detest them, I abhor them.
I now esteem Thy friendship above all the riches and kingdoms of the world. I
desire to please Thee as much as is possible to me; I love Thee, who art
infinitely amiable; but I see that this my love is too small. Do Thou increase
the flame, give me more love. Thy love for me ought to be responded to by a
greater degree of love by me, who have so much offended Thee, and who, instead
of chastisement, have received so many special favors from Thee. O sovereign
Good, permit me not to be any longer ungrateful for all the favors Thou hast
bestowed upon me: ‘I will die with love of the love of Thee, I will say with
St. Francis, “who hast deigned to die for love of the love of me. Mary, my
hope, help me; pray to Jesus for me!
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