Thursday, November 16, 2017

TRUST AND JESUS CRUCIFIED


There is one abundant source of trust, unhappily too often forgotten by all too many fervent souls.  It is the Source which sprang from the barren rock of Golgotha at the feet of Jesus Crucified.  It is a fertile Source that never runs dry, and that is known only to privileged souls. All too many men, wistful of perfection too often forget it: in their spiritual barrenness, in the night of the soul, they forget to go to Calvary, there to contemplate Jesus and to comfort themselves at this refreshing Source of perfect trust....

The love of the Divine Crucified, the love of Christ who died for the sake of me, his unworthy and insignificant creature- who died for me to win my stubborn heart and my wavering love, though it be perceived only in part, is at once and at first sight recognised as a love that has never been surpassed......
He died to make all my affections his and to make me holy - Jesus holds out to me his pierced hand crying aloud to me this truth: "Never my poor little creature, will you love Me as I love you. Behold! that I may win your heart, I die upon the cross. For your heart My own heart hungers and thirsts. I yearn to possess your love utterly and entirely". Thus he may win me for himself. Jesus is there upon the cross not merely to save my soul does he hang there. If that were all a single word, a single thought of his would have availed There he hangs, that he may win my heart, that he may drive all other affection from it, that in my soul he may arouse a love that is alive zealous, disinterested and self-forgetful a love that is pure love. To conclude : there He hangs upon the cross that he may make a Saint of me.....
Jesus thirsts for my perfect union,....to inspire in me the love which is capable even of that ultimate holiness, the noble folly of the cross: his desire for this exceeds, infinitely exceeds, my own.....This Jesus who died for me could not let slip a single moment without busying himself with me, without seeking to win my heart......
I am infinite Love, I am Love's infinite, wish for love. To give love is my burning desire. To give Love is my unceasing, my irresistible, my sorrowful need. In utter trust come to me, O you who are yearning for true love! Ask of Me, who am Jesus Crucified, all that you can desire in regard to love, whether it be for yourself or whether it be for others! To give you such love is my unspeakable happiness. Do not withhold this happiness from Me!.....
Your desire to receive true love shall never equal my desire to give it.....
Give me your heart; give me your life. In you and through you I thirst once more to satisfy My vast love for my Father;.... As though you were no more you, as though not you lived but only I in you: Give Me your life.
I who died for love of you Dwell in you!
(Paul De Jaegher S.J.]