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MEDITATION FOR JANUARY 28
CHRIST'S DISCOURSE AT THE LAST SUPPER
“A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 13, 34).
First Prelude: In spirit, enter the hall of the Last Supper, behold our Divine Saviour in the midst of His disciples, and, with profoundest reverence, hear His adorable words.
Second Prelude: O Divine Heart of Jesus, impart Thy loving sentiments to my heart, that I may perfectly fulfill Thy new commandment.
FIRST POINT
THE NEW COMMANDMENT
Though our Lord is the source of all the commandments of the New Law, He designates the command of love, especially as “His commandment,” to indicate His pleasure in its observance. He calls it a new commandment because love was unknown in the Old Testament. Men loved one another from natural motives—the Jews because they were children of a common father, Abraham, and disciples of Moses. Jesus desired to teach them another kind of love by setting Himself up as their model. “Love one another” He exhorts us, “as I have loved you.” And how has He loved us? He has loved us when we least deserved His love, yes, He has loved us when we offended Him, and were His enemies—when we fled from Him and remained at a distance. He manifested His love for us by the most tender words, calling us His brethren, His friends, His beloved.
Jesus loved us not alone in words, but a thousand times more in deed, by suffering and immolating Himself for us. “He hath purchased us with His Blood”—made us co-heirs of His kingdom. This should likewise be the extent of our love of our neighbor. We must make an effort, at least, to penetrate deeply into the loving design that prompted our Divine Saviour to issue this command.
He exhorts all to manifest love for one another as He has loved us, and from the same supernatural motives. Even when our neighbors seem not in the least deserving of our love, or requite it with ingratitude, we should love them sincerely to the extent of immolating our own lives, should love demand it. This is the new commandment, bequeathed by the parting Master to His beloved disciples. He gives it to them when in the act of achieving the greatest wonders of His love—the institution of the Blessed Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
How happy should I be to find occasion in my holy calling for fulfilling this new commandment perfectly! Is it really my aim, after the example of Jesus, to be a victim of immolation for His suffering members, and do I cheerfully render them the lowliest services?
SECOND POINT
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD
Jesus had indeed given His disciples a “new commandment”; for, when the first Christians began to practice it, the pagan world in astonishment cried out: “See how the Christians love one another!” According to the Acts of the Apostles, they were “one heart and one soul.” They not only had earthly goods in common, but were ready to sacrifice all, even life itself, to afford mutual consolation and encouragement and to confirm one another in the faith. Oh, how far have most people deviated from the sentiments of the early Christians! How rarely do we find genuine, unselfish, self-immolating, persevering love! Thanks to God, Holy Mother Church still numbers among her children many true disciples of Christ, who, like the first Christians, distinguish themselves by their magnanimous charity. Thousands devote themselves to the education of youth, to missionary labors, to the corporal and spiritual wants of the neighbor, renouncing all prospects of honor, wealth, and the pleasures of life to immolate themselves in the exercise of heroic charity.
In the Catholic Church, alone, is the spirit of the discipleship of Christ fostered and cherished, because she, alone, possesses the living source of love—the adorable Sacrament of the Altar, whence the souls draw new courage and strength for self-immolation. When ingratitude and faithlessness of creatures are their portion, they look upon their Divine Model, who instructs them in the Holy Eucharist that the disciple is not above the Master. Strengthened by His grace, they gladly forfeit claim to any acknowledgment from creatures, with a view to the reward that is theirs as a compensation for their love.
So must our love for God be the sole motive of our love for our neighbor. We shall never be able, however, to meet the requirements of the Holy Rule with regard to charity unless love of God is deeply rooted in our hearts. Am I, everywhere and always, a disciple of Christ and a true religious? Do I contribute to the best of my ability that of our congregation, it may be said: “See how the members love one another”?
Affections: O my Divine Saviour, how sublime is the commandment of charity which embodies Thy last Will! How happy am I to have occasion in my holy vocation to fulfill this sweet command at every moment! Oh, inflame my soul with ardent love, that I may prove myself Thy true disciple, by faithfully discharging my duties. O Jesus, replenish us all with a disinterested, universal and magnanimous love, that we may incessantly glorify Thee and promote the salvation of souls.
Resolution: To prove my love for Jesus, I will exercise charity and mildness toward all, especially my fellow-religious.
Spiritual Bouquet: “A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 13, 34).
Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary . . .
First Prelude: In spirit, enter the hall of the Last Supper, behold our Divine Saviour in the midst of His disciples, and, with profoundest reverence, hear His adorable words.
Second Prelude: O Divine Heart of Jesus, impart Thy loving sentiments to my heart, that I may perfectly fulfill Thy new commandment.
FIRST POINT
THE NEW COMMANDMENT
Though our Lord is the source of all the commandments of the New Law, He designates the command of love, especially as “His commandment,” to indicate His pleasure in its observance. He calls it a new commandment because love was unknown in the Old Testament. Men loved one another from natural motives—the Jews because they were children of a common father, Abraham, and disciples of Moses. Jesus desired to teach them another kind of love by setting Himself up as their model. “Love one another” He exhorts us, “as I have loved you.” And how has He loved us? He has loved us when we least deserved His love, yes, He has loved us when we offended Him, and were His enemies—when we fled from Him and remained at a distance. He manifested His love for us by the most tender words, calling us His brethren, His friends, His beloved.
Jesus loved us not alone in words, but a thousand times more in deed, by suffering and immolating Himself for us. “He hath purchased us with His Blood”—made us co-heirs of His kingdom. This should likewise be the extent of our love of our neighbor. We must make an effort, at least, to penetrate deeply into the loving design that prompted our Divine Saviour to issue this command.
He exhorts all to manifest love for one another as He has loved us, and from the same supernatural motives. Even when our neighbors seem not in the least deserving of our love, or requite it with ingratitude, we should love them sincerely to the extent of immolating our own lives, should love demand it. This is the new commandment, bequeathed by the parting Master to His beloved disciples. He gives it to them when in the act of achieving the greatest wonders of His love—the institution of the Blessed Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
How happy should I be to find occasion in my holy calling for fulfilling this new commandment perfectly! Is it really my aim, after the example of Jesus, to be a victim of immolation for His suffering members, and do I cheerfully render them the lowliest services?
SECOND POINT
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD
Jesus had indeed given His disciples a “new commandment”; for, when the first Christians began to practice it, the pagan world in astonishment cried out: “See how the Christians love one another!” According to the Acts of the Apostles, they were “one heart and one soul.” They not only had earthly goods in common, but were ready to sacrifice all, even life itself, to afford mutual consolation and encouragement and to confirm one another in the faith. Oh, how far have most people deviated from the sentiments of the early Christians! How rarely do we find genuine, unselfish, self-immolating, persevering love! Thanks to God, Holy Mother Church still numbers among her children many true disciples of Christ, who, like the first Christians, distinguish themselves by their magnanimous charity. Thousands devote themselves to the education of youth, to missionary labors, to the corporal and spiritual wants of the neighbor, renouncing all prospects of honor, wealth, and the pleasures of life to immolate themselves in the exercise of heroic charity.
In the Catholic Church, alone, is the spirit of the discipleship of Christ fostered and cherished, because she, alone, possesses the living source of love—the adorable Sacrament of the Altar, whence the souls draw new courage and strength for self-immolation. When ingratitude and faithlessness of creatures are their portion, they look upon their Divine Model, who instructs them in the Holy Eucharist that the disciple is not above the Master. Strengthened by His grace, they gladly forfeit claim to any acknowledgment from creatures, with a view to the reward that is theirs as a compensation for their love.
So must our love for God be the sole motive of our love for our neighbor. We shall never be able, however, to meet the requirements of the Holy Rule with regard to charity unless love of God is deeply rooted in our hearts. Am I, everywhere and always, a disciple of Christ and a true religious? Do I contribute to the best of my ability that of our congregation, it may be said: “See how the members love one another”?
Affections: O my Divine Saviour, how sublime is the commandment of charity which embodies Thy last Will! How happy am I to have occasion in my holy vocation to fulfill this sweet command at every moment! Oh, inflame my soul with ardent love, that I may prove myself Thy true disciple, by faithfully discharging my duties. O Jesus, replenish us all with a disinterested, universal and magnanimous love, that we may incessantly glorify Thee and promote the salvation of souls.
Resolution: To prove my love for Jesus, I will exercise charity and mildness toward all, especially my fellow-religious.
Spiritual Bouquet: “A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 13, 34).
Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary . . .
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