Feb 28 2009
On The Way of the Cross (Opening Meditation and Prayer)
And behold Thy time wa the time of lovers…And Thou wast made exceedingly beautiful-Ezek 16:8, 13. How deeply are we Christians indebted to the Lord, in that he has caused us to be born after the coming of Jesus Christ! Our time is no longer a time of fear, as was that of the Old Law, but a time of love; having seen a God dead for our salvation, and in order to gain our love. It is of faith that Jesus has loved us, and for love of us has given himself over unto death: Christ hath loved us, and hath delivered Himself up for us (Eph 5:2). And where would ever have been the power to make an omnipotent God die, had not he himself voluntarily willed to give his life for us? I give my life…no one taketh it from me; but I lay it down of Myself (Jn 10:17). Wherefore St John observes that Jesus, by his death, gave us the greatest possible proof that he could have given us of His love: Having loved His own, He loved them unto the end (Jn 13:1). Jesus, by his death, says a devout writer, gave us the greatest possible sign of his love, beyond which there remained for him nothing that he could do in order to show how much he loved us: “The highest proof of love was that which he showed forth at the end of his life upon the cross”
Omy beloved Redeemer, Thou hast for love given Thyself wholly unto me; for love I give myself wholly unto Thee. Thou for my salvation hast given Thy life; I for Thy glory wish to die, when as Thou dost please. There was nothing more that Thou couldst do in order to gain my love; but I have ungratefully exchanged Thee away for nothing. I repent of it, O my Jesus, with all my heart. Pardon me through Thy Passion; and in token of pardon, help me to love Thee. Through Thy grace I feel within myself a great desire of loving Thee, and I resolve o be all thine; but I see my languidness and the betrayals of which I have been guilty. Thou alone canst help me and render me happy. Help me, then, O my love. Make me love Thee: I ask Thee for nothing more.
Dear Jesus, Thou dost go to die
For very love of me:
Ah! let me bear Thee company,
I wish to die with Thee.
