THIRTY FIRST MEDITATION FOR LENT
And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying and saying: "My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt." (Matt. 26:39)
Jesus Christ had passionately desired to give His Blood for the salvation of men, and He has given proofs of His desire a hundred times: "I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized," said He, "and how am I straitened until it be accomplished." (Luke 12:50). It is not then death which terrifies Him and renders this chalice so bitter, but the ingratitude of those men who refuse to profit by His death. "I have desired, Eternal Father, and I desire more than ever to deliver these slaves, but I have never desired to make people ungrateful. The outrages which I am going to receive from My enemies do not terrify Me, but the contempt which I foresee that My own children will have for Me afflicts Me. The blindness of the former touches My heart with sorrow." Jesus Christ passionately desired the coming of the time for the institution of the Blessed Sacrament of the altar, but the abuse and contempt with which people were to treat this august Sacrament were for Him a great cause of sadness, and the principle reason that made Him cry out: "My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me." (Matt. 26:39). Truly, this chalice must have been very bitter, but do we know that it depends on us to remove this bitter chalice from Him? As it is we ourselves who by our contempt and our indignities have caused Him all this bitterness, it is we who present Him with this chalice. It depends on me, then, O my Savior, to sweeten this chalice by my homage, and shall it be said that I will refuse to do so?
[From 'The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus' by Fr. John Croiset, SJ]
Jesus Christ had passionately desired to give His Blood for the salvation of men, and He has given proofs of His desire a hundred times: "I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized," said He, "and how am I straitened until it be accomplished." (Luke 12:50). It is not then death which terrifies Him and renders this chalice so bitter, but the ingratitude of those men who refuse to profit by His death. "I have desired, Eternal Father, and I desire more than ever to deliver these slaves, but I have never desired to make people ungrateful. The outrages which I am going to receive from My enemies do not terrify Me, but the contempt which I foresee that My own children will have for Me afflicts Me. The blindness of the former touches My heart with sorrow." Jesus Christ passionately desired the coming of the time for the institution of the Blessed Sacrament of the altar, but the abuse and contempt with which people were to treat this august Sacrament were for Him a great cause of sadness, and the principle reason that made Him cry out: "My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me." (Matt. 26:39). Truly, this chalice must have been very bitter, but do we know that it depends on us to remove this bitter chalice from Him? As it is we ourselves who by our contempt and our indignities have caused Him all this bitterness, it is we who present Him with this chalice. It depends on me, then, O my Savior, to sweeten this chalice by my homage, and shall it be said that I will refuse to do so?
[From 'The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus' by Fr. John Croiset, SJ]
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