THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN.
Jesus speaks:
I had three things in my
death. First, Faith, when I bent my knees
and prayed, knowing that the Father could
deliver me from my Passion. Second, Hope,
when I waited so constantly, and said: Not
as I will. Third, Charity, when I said : Thy
will be done. I had, too, anguish of body
and the natural fear of my Passion, when the
blood issued from my body. Let not my
friends then tremble as if abandoned, when
tribulation comes upon them ; I showed them
m myself that weak flesh always shrinks from
trouble. But you may ask, How did a bloody
sweat issue from my body ? As the blood of
the sick man is dried and consumed in all his
members, so my blood was consumed by the
natural fear of death. Finally, my Father
wishing to show the way by which heaven
should be opened and excluded man enter in,
out of love delivered me lip to the Passion,
that by accomplishing it, my body might be
glorified. For in justice, my humanity could
not enter glory without passion, although I
might have done so by the power of my
divinity.
How then do they deserve to enter into my
glory, who have little faith, vain hope, and no
charity? If, indeed, they had the faith of
eternal joy and horrible punishment, they
would desire naught but me. Did they be-
lieve that I know and see all things, and am
powerful over all things, and seek judgment
of all, the earth would grow vile to them, and
they would be more afraid to sin before me
for my fear, than before men. Had they firm
hope, then their whole mind and thought
would be to me. Had they divine charity,
they would at least think in mind, what I did
for them, how great was my labor in preach-
ing, my pain in my Passion, my charity in
death, because I preferred death to abandon-
ing them. But their faith is weak, tottering,
as it were, to fall ; because they believe, when
the assault of temptation is absent, — they dis-
trust, when any thing contrary comes upon
them. Their hope is vain ; they hope that sin
will be forgiven without justice and truth of
judgment. They trust to obtain the kingdom
of heaven gratis ; they desire to obtain mercy
untempered by justice. Their love towards
me is all cold, because they are never inflamed
to seek me unless compelled by tribulation.
How can I be warm with such, who have
neither right faith, firm hope, nor fervent love
for me? So when they cry out to me and
say: “Have mercy on me, O God,” they do
not deserve to be heard, nor to enter into my
glory. As they will not follow their Lord to
his passion, they shall not follow him to his
glory. For no soldier can please his Lord,
and, after falling, be restored to favor, unless
he first humbles him to show his contempt. —
Lib. L, c. 39.
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