Thursday, March 20, 2008

Magnificent Obsession

"The Savior hangs before you with a pierced heart. He has spilled his heart's blood to win your heart. If you want to follow him in holy purity, your heart must be free of every earthly desire. Jesus, the Crucified, is to be the only object of your longings, your wishes, your thoughts.
The world is in flames. Are you impelled to put them out? Look at the cross. From the open heart gushes the blood of the Saviour. This extinguishes the flames of hell. Make your heart free by the faithful fulfillment of your vows; then the flood of divine love will be poured into your heart until it overflows and becomes fruitful to all the ends of the earth.
Do you hear the groans of the wounded on the battlefields in the west and the east? You are not a physician and not a nurse and cannot bind up the wounds. You cannot get to them. Do you hear the anguish of the dying? You would like to be a priest and comfort them. Does the lament of the widows and the orphans distress you? You would like to be an angel of mercy and help them. Look at the Crucified. If you are bound to him by the faithful observance of your holy vows, your being is precious blood. Bound to him, you are omnipresent as he is......Your compassionate love takes you everywhere, this love from the divine heart. Its precious blood is poured everywhere, soothing, healing, saving.
The eyes of the Crucified look down on you, asking, probing. Will you make your covenant with the Crucified anew in all seriousness? What will you answer Him? 'Lord, where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.' " by Edith Stein, from Bread and Wine, Readings for Lent and Easter.

This is from my reading this Good Friday. Thinking about the sacrifice of the Saviour. Feeling so unworthy. Knowing how far short I fall from this kind of love and mercy. Seeking to become one with Him more each day. These thoughts bring to mind a song from Steven Curtis Chapman from a few years' back: "This is everything I want, this is everything I need; I want this to be my one consuming passion...everything my heart desires, Lord, I want it all to be for you. Jesus, be my MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION."

Blessings on all my readers this Good Friday, as we commemorate the greatest sacrifice ever made.


4 comments:

Kimberly said...

So beautiful and challenging!!
It is so easy to "be obsessed" with trivial things and "forget" this all important need. I also love the imagery of only being able to provide for others Through Him. Seems like we're thinking alike today! Love to All!

Leah said...

And a Happy Easter to you and all the family.

Anonymous said...

May my heart find its sole obsession in Him as well. Thanks so much for the beautiful reminder!

Since I'm running a bit behind, let me offer hearty congratulations to your brother and his fiance!! I'm so happy for you all. She really does seem like a lovely person (if I may comment after only one meeting). :) Also enjoyed the many pictures. Your kids make me laugh!! And I mean that in the absolutely best way possible. I think they're great.

Hope to see you Thursday!!

Anita Marie said...

I'm back in the blogesphere after a month of travelling. It's good to catch up on everything. Hope you had a nice Easter.