Page:Sermons for all the Sundays in the year.djvu/50

 " what was sufficient for redemption was not sufficient for love." To show how much he loved us, he wished to shed not only a part of his blood, but the entire of it, by dint of torments. This may be inferred from the words which he used on the night before his death: "This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many." (Matt. xxvi. 28.) The words shall be shed show that, in his passion, the blood of Jesus Christ was poured forth even to the last drop. Hence, when after death his side was opened with a spear, blood and water came forth, as if what then flowed was all that remained of his blood. Jesus Christ, then, though he could save us without suffering, wished to embrace a life of continual pain, and to suffer the cruel and ignominious death of the cross. " He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phil. ii. 8.)

3. " Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John xv. 13.) To show his love for us, what more could the Son of God do than die for us ? What more can one man do for another than give his life for him ? " Greater love than this no man hath." Tell me, my brother, if one of your servants — if the vilest man on this Earth had done for you what Jesus Christ has done in dying through pain on a cross, could you remember his love for you, and not love him?

4. St. Francis of Assisium appeared to be unable to think of anything but the passion of Jesus Christ ; and, in thinking of it, he continually shed tears, so that by his constant weeping he became nearly blind. Being found one day weeping and groaning at the foot of the crucifix, he was asked the cause of his tears and lamentations. He replied: " I weep over the sorrows and ignominies of my Lord. And what makes me weep still more is, that the men for whom he has suffered so much live in forgetfulness of him,"

5. O Christian, should a doubt ever enter your mind that Jesus Christ loves you, raise your eyes and look at him hanging on the cross. Ah ! says St. Thomas of Villanova, the cross to which he is nailed, the internal and external sorrows which he endures, and the cruel