Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/750

 we  must  remember  this,  that  the  Body  of  our  Blessed  Lord,  conceived by the  Holy  Ghost  in  a wonderful  and  perfect  manner,  was  much more sensitive  to  pain  than  our  bodies;  and  that  the  more  innocent, holy and  noble  a person  is,  the  more  intolerable  to  him  is  ingratitude, injustice, and  malice. The sufferings  of  Jesus  were,  therefore,  inconceivably great. All this  ought  to  serve  to  fill  us  with  a horror  of  sin, on account  of  which  our  dear  and  Blessed  Lord  suffered  so  much,  and impress us  with  the  greatness  of  His  love,  which  made  Him  endure  all this for  us!

To die  a good  death, we  must  do  as  our  Lord  Jesus  did,  i.  e.  resign ourselves  entirely  to  the  will  of  God,  and  commend  our  souls  to  the care  of  our  heavenly  Father,  with  a childlike  love  and  confidence.

Just think  what  it  cost  your  Saviour  to  redeem you! Will you  not,  therefore,  make  some  effort  to  save  your own soul? Jesus accomplished  His  work; He  gave  His  Blood  and His Life  to  save  you. Do your  part  now: watch  and  pray; avoid and resist  sin.

Our Lord  suffered  all  this  for  you  individually,  as  much  as if  you  were  the  only  human  being  on  earth. You can,  therefore, say with  St. Paul (Gal.  2,  20):  “He  (my  Saviour)  hath  loved  me (a  sinful,  ungrateful  creature),  and  delivered  Himself  for  me.”  But how have  you  hitherto  loved  Him? “If any  man  love  not  our Lord Jesus  Christ”,  says  St. Paul, let  him  be  anathema”  or  accursed (1  Cor.  16,  22). And if  you  picture  to  yourself  all  that your Saviour  has  done  and  suffered  for  you,  you  will  understand the meaning  of  the  Apostle’s  words. In order  that  this  curse may not  fall  on  you,  try  (especially  when  you  are  looking  at a crucifix)  to  awaken  in  your  heart  a deep  love  for  your  crucified Lord.

N order  that  the  bodies  of  those  who  were  crucified  might  not remain on  the  Cross  during  the  Sabbath,  the  soldiers  came and broke  the  legs  of  the  two  thieves,  but  coming  to  Jesus,  they