January 31

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MEDITATION FOR JANUARY 31

CONTINUATION OF CHRIST’S DISCOURSE

“He that hath My commandments and keepeth them; he it is that loveth Me. And he that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father; and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him” (John 14, 21).

First Prelude: In spirit kneel at the feet of Jesus to hear His loving promises.

Second Prelude: Give me the grace, O Jesus, to love Thee with a strong, generous love, that Thy glorious promises may be fulfilled in me.

FIRST POINT

THE OBSERVANCE OF THE COMMANDMENTS IS THE SUREST PROOF OF OUR LOVE OF GOD

Religious are often victims of a deplorable delusion with respect to divine love, when they believe sanctity to consist in lengthy vocal prayers, and in the performance of various exercises of devotion. Hence, some claim to be hindered by external occupations from loving God, and others neglect their most important duties to foster union with God in prayer. They are disconsolate when deprived of sensible devotion and consider all as lost. How little have they understood the words of Jesus: “Who keepeth My commandments he it is that loveth Me!” The more we love God the more perfectly we shall fulfill His holy Will, but our love shall be commensurate with our fidelity in observing His precepts and commandments conscientiously. If we faithfully fulfill the holy Will of God, manifested through the voice of our superiors, our Holy Rule and the inspirations of grace, we may rest assured that our love of God is genuine even though we experience no relish for prayer, and are absolutely devoid of consolation. Such aridity of soul is the touch-stone of true love,—a sure test to ascertain whether we seek God or self.

If God occasionally affords us consolations, He does so to draw us to Himself, to assist our weakness, to encourage, or, perhaps, to compensate, us for sacrifices made for Him. Jesus instructs us repeatedly on this point, especially when He says: “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matt. 7, 2). Was not Christ’s absolute conformity to the Will of His heavenly Father from the first moment of His life to His last breath on the cross, the very essence of His love for His heavenly Father? In a similar manner the saints testified their love, and today many of my fellow-religious give proof of true love of God by their prompt compliance with their Holy Rule and the injunctions of obedience.

Should I not be able to serve God with equal fervor? How many occasions have I daily to prove my love for Jesus by the practice of obedience, poverty, and self-denial! If I utilize them to my advantage I may claim to love God. Do I shrink from any sacrifice demanded of me in my holy calling?

SECOND POINT

THE REWARD OF OUR LOVE

What glorious promises does Jesus make to those who truly love Him! What more could we desire than to be loved by God! At what expense is the love of creatures often purchased, what hardships and difficulties are shouldered and borne cheerfully! And yet how often are these endeavors futile, and requited only with ingratitude! And even if we should succeed in gaining the favor of a creature, or the love of all mankind, what should it profit us? Under the most favorable conditions, happiness is only short-lived and may result in a great loss for eternity.

God’s love is unchangeable, it lasts forever; it makes us happy in time and inexpressibly happy for eternity. And how easy it is to merit this love! “If I only will to be a friend of God,” says St. Augustine, “I am His friend.” True desire for His love constitutes love itself.

How could Jesus fail to still our desire when, according to His words, “He came to cast fire upon the earth, and wills naught but that it be kindled” (Luke 1, 49)? “I will love Him and will manifest Myself to him” (John 14, 21). What a glorious promise of our Divine Saviour and how has He fulfilled it! By becoming Man and giving Himself to us in the Sacrament of His Love, He has entered into most active intercourse with us. This is a mystery of faith, transpiring in the souls of the just, but hidden from the eyes of the world. One day, however, it shall be revealed to all, to the confusion of those who have preferred foolish love of creatures to communion with their hidden God; to the greatest joy of the elect, who will find perfect bliss in the manifestations of the love of God for them.

Could I ever believe to be doing too much; could I find His commandments and the obligations of my holy vocation irksome or too exacting when I ponder the love of God, and in particular the love of Jesus? Must I not rather fear to render myself undeserving of intimate communion with Him, by my lack of the spirit of immolation.

Affections: Couldst Thou, O Jesus, promise us anything more glorious than Thy love? How is it possible that hearts are so ungrateful, so cold and indifferent, as not to correspond to such love! Even I, Thy spouse, have so often rendered myself undeserving of it. Oh, permit me not to languish further in this coldness, to be so foolish as to prefer earthly affections to Thy divine love. Inflame my heart ever more with Thy holy love, that I may be faithful in observing Thy commandments. Come and take possession of my soul, dispose of it according to Thy pleasure, and effect that intimate union which embodies the plenitude of all heavenly goods.

Resolution: I will rejoice in being able frequently to testify my love of Jesus by a sacrifice.

Spiritual Bouquet: “He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father; and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him.”

Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary . . .