Father Bernard Vaughan, the famous Jesuit, was one of several priests in a splendid Catholic family of England. In the recollections of his holy home he relates an incident of his early childhood. One evening his mother took him on her lap, and told him that nobody on earth loved him as much as she did.
She told him how she proved her love by taking care of him, by nursing him, by working for him. In loving gratitude little Bernard threw his arms about his mother's neck and smothered her with boyish kisses. For a moment she stopped speaking. Slowly she took out her crucifix. She pointed to the tortured figure of our Lord and then told her son:
"There is somebody who loves you more than mother. Look at His hands and look at mine. There are no nails ploughing mother's hands. There are no nails plunged into mother's feet. There is no spear breaking its cruel way through mother's poor heart. Who loves you most? Yes, Jesus Christ. Always love Him more than anyone, who loves you so much more than even I do."
Love without limit
The love of Christ is without limit. It is a subject so vast that we want to limit our thoughts tonight to the love of Christ as it was shown during His passion and death, the love that prompts one to give his life for another.
Love in the face of affliction
He is truly charitable who remains so in the face of affliction and suffering. Such charity was Christ's. We will pass over for the moment that supreme act of love which impelled Him to die for us. We want to note the acts of kindness and consideration He performed in the midst of the most horrible sufferings of soul and body. Every breath from Gethsemani to Golgotha was a breath of love.
Charity in Gethsemani
As Christ entered the garden He told eight of His apostles to stay behind. He wanted to spare them the sight of His bloody sweat, and the sound of His pleading prayer to His Father. He even leaves the chosen three to rest and seek solace in sleep, although their company would have been a consolation to Him.
Here come the soldiers, watching for the sign, the traitorous kiss of Judas. They seize our Lord who thinks only of His followers:
"If, therefore, you seek me, let these go their way." St. John, 18:8.In that hour of stress St. Peter whipped out his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest. But Christ told the Big Fisherman to put up his sword.
"And he touched his ear and healed him." St. Luke, 22:51.Jesus stretched out to this man the very hand this fellow had come to
put in chains. What forgiving love, what infinite charity!
During His Passion
During the bitter sufferings of that night Christ bore in patient silence the cruel mistreatment of the soldiers, in order not to provoke their anger and violence and thus increase their guilt. Christ even hoped, by His patience, to move them to pity.
What kindness Christ. showed to St. Peter. After the apostle had denied Him, Christ turns such a loving look upon the leader of His chosen band that he who had sworn he did not know Christ an hour before, now weeps unabashed for his fault.
On the way to Calvary
On the way to Calvary Christ continues His kindness. Veronica does Him the simple service of offering a towel to dry the face that was wet with sweat and blood and spit. Generously our Lord rewards that act by miraculously imprinting on the veil the image of His face.
Although dead tired and deeply in need of comfort Himself, our Lord turns to the weeping women and offers them a word of consolation.'
On the Cross
And now think of Christ's love as He hung upon the cross. One would expect that in this terrible torture, in this agony of soul and body, Christ would have no desire or power to show any special love for men in general or for anyone in particular. Yet, He proved that it was Love itself hanging there.
He is kind to His murderers, His torturers, His executioners. "Father," He cries, "forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." St. Luke, 23:34.
He is kind to the robber on His right, the good thief, who realized and proclaimed publicly the innocence of the Victim in the center. Jesus told him:
"Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise." St. Luke, 23:43.He was kind to His mother when He declared:
"Woman, behold thy son." St. John, 19:27.He was kind to St. John and to you and me when He left us a merciful mother with the words:
"Behold thy mother." St. John, 19:27.After Death
And even after death had closed His lips and stopped His heart, Christ continued to show His charity by permitting a soldier to pierce that Sacred Heart with a lance, so that we might all have a loving place of refuge, so that we might peer in and see in that Sacred Heart the boundless love that drove Him to death for the men of all time.
Never should we forget that love. Ever must we keep it in mind. That is one reason Mother Church puts into the official expression of her belief, the Apostles' Creed, the following words:
"I believe...in Jesus Christ...who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried."Greatest Love
In those few words we have the greatest love story ever told. Here we have the fruits of a love greater than any other. And what is this greatest love? In the words of Jesus Himself:
"Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends." St. John, 15:13.Love has gone to its limits when it lays down its life to save a friend. The greatest love was that which prompted Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, to give His life to save you and me. As the Franciscan poet, Father Flavian Larbes, has simply put it:
"And love has reached to its ends,Love nailed Him to a Cross
"When a man shall die for his friends."
The children in a school of Harrow, England, were once told to write about something they saw in the classroom. There was a crucifix on the wall. One little girl chose this for her subject. She shyly handed the following masterpiece to her teacher:
"Look, There is a cross;There, in child's language, is the reason for the cross, the reason for the sufferings and death of Christ: He loved us so much.
"And Jesus is nailed to the cross.
"And He was hurt,
"And He was sad.
"But He knew He was to be nailed to the cross,
"He did not mind,
"He was to be nailed to the cross,
"But He knew He was to be nailed to the cross,
"But He loved us so much
"He had to be nailed to the cross."
Lovest Thou Me?
Times without number during His life Christ showed His love for all men and especially for His followers. We choose an incident that took place at the sea of Tiberias. St. Peter and several other apostles had fished all night, catching nothing. Suddenly our Lord appeared and told them to cast their net on the right side of the ship. Immediately their net was so filled that they had to drag it to shore.
On landing they noticed "a fire ready and a fish laid upon it and some bread." (St. John 21:9). Christ had prepared a meal for them, knowing they would be hungry and tired.
"Come and breakfast," is our Lord's invitation. St. John, 21:12.
Our Lord waited upon them as they ate. Then He said to Simon Peter: "Simon, son of John, dost thou love me more than these do."
"Yes, Lord," St. Peter answered, "thou knowest that I love thee."
"Feed my lambs," Christ commanded.
"Simon, son of John," our Lord asked a second time, "dost thou love me?"
Again the prince of the apostles declared that he did, and again Christ told him to feed the lambs. For the third time Christ asked the same question. Somewhat grieved, St. Peter answered:
"Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee."
"Feed my sheep," was Christ's final command. St. John, 21:15-17.
Echo of Love
Someone might ask, "If our Lord knew all things, why did He ask St. Peter whether he loved Him?"
Jesus wanted to hear the words of love. Never does Love tire of hearing the echo of His love in the hearts of those He loves. True love always has that mark - it wants to be known and admitted and spoken of. That is even a characteristic of merely human love. It definitely marks God's love for us, and our love for God. That love demands expression, expression in the form of words, expression in the form of sacrifice and service, expression in the form of adoration and spiritual activity.
Love's Return
Shortly after the Little Poor Man of Assisi had founded the great Franciscan Order, a noted friar occupied the pulpit in one of the great cathedrals of Italy. The edifice was filled to capacity. Dusk darkened the dimly lit sanctuary and the upturned faces of the congregation.
His topic was, "God's Love For Men and Their Response." With passionate eloquence, born of love and zeal, he pictured God's mighty work of creation, the wonders of life that God gave to the body and soul of man, the beauty of all that God had made. He dwelt with particular fervor on the gift of the Only-begotten Son. He described the matchless beauty of Christ's life, the glorious work of redemption, and the precious gifts of grace offered to all who would share them. A solemn stillness hung over every head in that vast throng. By this time the sun had almost gone down, the darkness had deepened, and the congregation could barely make out the form of the brown-robed figure in the pulpit. "Now," he declared solemnly, "let us consider how man has responded to the divine goodness and mercy."
He left the pulpit and walked slowly to the altar. He ascended the steps, seeming to pause on each one. He took one of the candles and lit it. It was the only light in the huge cathedral. Its gleam spot-lighted a huge crucifix hanging above the altar. Slowly and solemnly, and without speaking a word, the friar raised the candle until it lit up the wound in the right hand of Christ. Reverently he moved the light over to the wound in the left hand. Then to the wounds in the feet. Oh, how those wounds stood out in that darkness and in that breathless silence. For a moment he held the candle before the pierced heart of Christ, and lastly before the sacred, agonized face of the crucified One.
He held it there for a brief time. Not a stir or shuffle could be heard in the audience. He blew out the candle and returned to the sacristy. That sermon those people would never forget.
This Lent we want to look more thoughtfully and lovingly at the crucifix. We want to think of what God did out of love for us, and what we have done in return. We have nailed Him to a cross by our sins.
Look at your Crucifix
Did you ever really look at Christ on the cross? Did you look at Him closely? Did you see how His hands and feet are torn by the nails? Did you notice the gaping wound in His side? Did you observe the crown of thorns above His suffering face? Look at Christ closely and intently. Then ask yourself: Why must He suffer so? Answer your own question: He suffered because of my sins. He suffered out of love for me.
What does the crucifix mean in your life? Christ on the cross - what does He mean to you? Too many of us never really look at the cross. We do not realize what it means.
Make the crucifix a part of your daily life, particularly during Lent. Have a good-sized crucifix in your home where you cannot miss it. Look at that figure on the cruel wood. When tempted, when in pain, when in trouble, look at your crucifix.
Take a good look at your crucifix tonight. Keep it in mind as much as you can. Then you will begin to realize some of the love that led our Lord to give Himself to death for you. Then you will begin to realize that it is Love being crucified. Then you will get your first real lesson of love. Look into the face of Jesus Christ, hold the candle of your thought and devotion up to His face, see His wounds, number His bones, hear His sighs, heed His words. He is meeting the test of love which He laid down Himself:
"Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends." St. John, 15:13.I am that friend for whom Jesus is laying down His life. Why for me? O Lord, do You love me that much, do you love me so ardently, so intensely, so generously, that, not content to suffer for me, You even lay down your life for me. You do it because You made me, made me for Yourself, made me for eternal, undying love. And love - not morality, not faith, not hope - but love is my everlasting destiny. I was created for love and here it is.
Too often we forget Christ's love. Too often the world forgets. Too often are the words of the poet true:
"I lived for myself, I thought for myselfWhen I forget that I am unhappy.
"For myself, and none beside
"Just as if Jesus had never lived,
"As if He had never died."
Meaning of Love
Just what do we mean by love? In general love is an impulse, a tendency of the soul towards some good. In love of the senses, or sensual love, it is a good which appeals to one of the senses or to the imagination. In rational thinking, love is a moral good which reason tells us is worthy of esteem. In Christian love the good is something which faith points out as good, a good which is above nature and above reason.
Four Elements of Love
In all love we find four ingredients:
1. A sympathy for and a harmony with another person, in so far as they complete each other.We find all four elements in God's love for us, and in all true love of God. We might illustrate with the story of the fellow who had a quarrel with the girl to whom he was engaged. He suddenly took seriously sick. The doctor pulled him through the critical stage of the disease, but nevertheless the young man was dying. The doctor happened to meet the estranged sweetheart, who asked how her beloved was getting along.
2. An impulse of the soul toward the beloved, a being drawn to him and enjoying his presence.
3. A union or communion of mind and heart wanting to share the possessions of both.
4. A sense of pleasure or happiness in possessing the object of our love.
"Well," answered the doctor, "he's passed the critical stage, but he is dying."
"I don't understand," the young woman insisted, "if he has passed the crisis, why isn't he getting well?"
"He is dying of undying love for you," the doctor explained.
With the doctor she hurried to a florist's shop, bought some beautiful flowers, wrote on a card the words, "With my love," and begged the physician to take it to his patient. The doctor laid the bouquet on the breast of his patient, who was sleeping fitfully. On awaking he whispered: "Thanks for the flowers, doc."
"They are not from me," the doctor said, "you will find the name on the card."
The sick man read the words, "With my love," and the name beneath. He cried out: "Tell me, doc, did she write that of her own free will, or did you beg her to do it."
When the doctor assured him that the girl had written the words out of her heart, the dying man began to get better. Every day the miracle of love worked an improvement. On the ninth day there was a quiet wedding in the hospital room.
God wants to win our love. The Almighty dropped the fairest flower of earth or heaven into the manger at Bethlehem - to win our love. And when that flower was full-blown, the Almighty pinned that Flower to a cross - to win your love and my love. Amen.
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Adapted from With Christ Through Lent
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (©1951)
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