Lest You Remain

7 For you, your Savior, the Good Shepherd, gave his life and breathed the last breath. He did it in particular so that you, redeemed, would not hesitate to devote your life to Him and to your brothers. He expects this from you when He says: “See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (Ex 25:40). On which mountain? On Golgotha. What was shown? Christ, God’s Son, crucified for you and for all mankind. Look at Him, Him who you are to follow, not sparing oneself for the salvation of the brothers, treating others gently, praying for one’s enemies, offering oneself to God’s justice for sinners, running to God in the midst of sorrows and persevering in good deeds. This example and model was shown to you on the mountain. If you refuse to follow Him, abandon the intention to receive Christ. The one who shrinks from acting with Christ and for Christ, is unworthy of being nourished by Christ. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 8 Contemplate the blessing of Redemption, when the Son of God, equal in all things to His Father, was willing to take human nature, to lead you, a revolting man, back to the house of the Father, to free you from the prison of the Eternal Abyss and Hell awaiting you. Unlimited, he was embedded in the womb of the Virgin; not sub- ject to suffering, He suffered all His life, various persecutions, afflictions, failures: cold at birth, a knife at circumcision, importunities of climate and many discom- forts during the flight to Egypt; when He was teaching, He had to resist the tongues of the unbelievers, avoid the stones, experience temptations from Hell, and in return for the good, He received all the worst. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 9 To teach you humility with his word and example, the Son of God descended from the womb of the Eternal Father and from the gorgeous Royal Palace, and found a dwelling in the womb of a mortal maiden (which, to the Son of God, appeared to be Heaven) and in this maiden’s womb, He started teaching the supe- rior wisdom which assumed humility of spirit, and contempt for the vain doctrine of the wise of this world. Fr. Founder’s Selected Thoughts on the Religious Life 109