THIRTY SIXTH AND LAST MEDITATIONFOR LENT
And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 6-7)
There is place for everyone, there is no place for Jesus Christ! The world begins to reject and despise our Divine Savior even before His birth. The Man-God is reduced to be born in a stable, while mere men are born in palaces. What were, then, the sentiments of Jesus Christ at seeing Himself so badly lodged, and what must still be His sentiments in our days at seeing Himself so badly received, while many Christians are lodged in magnificent houses? Do the sacred vessels which continually contain Jesus Christ, do the holy places where He resides, correspond to the sumptuous magnificence which appears in the houses and in the furniture of people of the world? But at least, would that Jesus Christ did not find Himself so often in impure souls and in hearts sullied by a thousand sins! I know, O my Savior, that Thy delights are to be in a pure heart; purify my heart then in order that Thou mayest find Thy delights there that I may have henceforth the pleasure of receiving Thee less unworthily. Inflame this heart of mine with Thy pure love; may Thy Sacred Heart come and take the place of mine, and let mine henceforth be so intimately united to Thine that our two hearts may have henceforth always the same sentiments. Amen.
[From 'The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus' by Fr. John Croiset, SJ]
There is place for everyone, there is no place for Jesus Christ! The world begins to reject and despise our Divine Savior even before His birth. The Man-God is reduced to be born in a stable, while mere men are born in palaces. What were, then, the sentiments of Jesus Christ at seeing Himself so badly lodged, and what must still be His sentiments in our days at seeing Himself so badly received, while many Christians are lodged in magnificent houses? Do the sacred vessels which continually contain Jesus Christ, do the holy places where He resides, correspond to the sumptuous magnificence which appears in the houses and in the furniture of people of the world? But at least, would that Jesus Christ did not find Himself so often in impure souls and in hearts sullied by a thousand sins! I know, O my Savior, that Thy delights are to be in a pure heart; purify my heart then in order that Thou mayest find Thy delights there that I may have henceforth the pleasure of receiving Thee less unworthily. Inflame this heart of mine with Thy pure love; may Thy Sacred Heart come and take the place of mine, and let mine henceforth be so intimately united to Thine that our two hearts may have henceforth always the same sentiments. Amen.
[From 'The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus' by Fr. John Croiset, SJ]
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