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| And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed. (Luke 2:35) |
From The Imitation of Mary:
The Believer:
Noble Virgin, can we show Jesus true love only by following Him to Calvary and suffering with Him? Can we not also show our love in tranquility and peace?Mary:
In tranquility and peace, my child, it is easy to give proof of that love; but it mst also be proved in pain and tears.
Jesus said: "Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple." (Lk. 14:27)
You must therefore regard any day as a happy one on which you have occasion to endure something for love of Him.
Many Christians love the divine Giver solely for His gifts; they are like earthly friends who never love except for a return.
They claim to love Jesus with all their hearts yet they have not the courage to stay awake with Him for even an hour in the gardon of his agony. (Mt. 26:40)
They claim that they will follow Him even to death (Mt.25:35), but fear of suffering weakens love very quickly and they follow Him only at a distance (Lk. 22:54).
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| Bartolome Estebn Murillo |
My child, if you love Jesus, you must love His cross too, and if you love Him with all your heart, you must embrace with all your heart the crosses He sends you. Anyone who is not forced to carry Jesus' cross, as Simon of Cyrene was, but gladly shares the bitter gall given to Him on Calvary, truly loves Jesus. For in fire gold is tested and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. (Sir. 2:5)
Jesus lived amid tears; would you live amid delights?
The true Christian is a man like the patient Jesus, dying and dead on the cross.
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