Holy Thursday: Pausing to Consider Christ's Love
“If we but paused for a moment
to consider attentively
what takes place in this Sacrament,
I am sure
that the thought of Christ’s love for us
would transform
the coldness of our hearts
into a fire of love and gratitude.”
– St. Angela of Foligno
Image: “Last Supper – John the Beloved and Christ” by Ann Chapin
How much He loved us then and how much He still loves us now! We try so hard to understand. We are Blessed! May our hearts be opened to this Burning Love of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God! ” For God so loved the world…”
Let us once again hear His words…DO THIS WHEN YOU REMEMBER ME! And let our AMEN be our YES!
For a wonderful reflection on this icon, read the poem “Whom Jesus Loved” by John Barford (1886-1930). It begins “Come little John, tell me the lovely tale of your fine friendship with The Man, nor fail to whisper every detail that shall prove His glorious love.”
How loved we are. I am grateful to Jesus for dying on the cross and for instituting the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist (His Real Presence) and Reconciliation/Confession. His death freed us from being slaves to our sinfulness and controlling the passions of our bodies! I have always felt truly loved and blessed by Jesus and I want to return Jesus’ love. I have often failed by offending (sinning against) Him but through the Sacrament of Confession, He abundantly pours out His mercy and forgiveness on me and I am made anew and strengthened to persevere in obeying God’s Commandments and doing God’s will. A Priest once said to me, “Tori, each day that you wake up, God is giving you the chance to be a better person and to better serve Him. This is very comforting to a sinner 🙂 Hallelujah! Jesus has risen!
In the love of Christ,
Tori