On the thirst of the Lord Jesus as he hangs on the Cross
On the thirst of the Lord Jesus as he hangs on the Cross
LORD JESUS CHRIST, Fountain of living water and Source of salvific wisdom, I bless and thank you for the acute thirst you experienced as you hung on your Cross. Inasmuch as your sacred and precious blood had flowed from you and all your body’s natural liquids were consumed—this was due to the excessive torture that you endured—your body was completely dry and so you thirsted. You thirsted still more, however, because of your ardent desire for our salvation, and very much like a poor beggar you asked for a drink saying: I thirst.1 But to this simple request there was no one who would respond, not even to offer a cup of cool water to you, who made all the waters of this world.
There were those standing nearby who heard this request, but rather than being moved to pity they were incited to greater brutality. Satisfying the malice they nourished in their breasts, they soaked a sponge in vinegar mixed with gall and offered this most bitter draft to your sweet lips. Such a drink would not even have been given to dogs.
I praise and honor you, for your humble resignation in accepting and tasting that acerbic drink; you did this to expiate the illicit delights that our first parents experienced. As the tasting of that forbidden fruit brought death into the world, so your tasting of that bitter draft becomes medicine for our salvation.
But woe to you, an unbelieving people, a stiff-necked and degenerate race! How could you have so turned around as to free Barabbas and to crucify Christ? How could you have fallen into such insanity as to offer vinegar, when a refreshing drink was requested? Try offering such a drink to your high priest or to one of the rulers of the people and see if they would agree to drink it! What did Christ do to you, or in which way did Jesus of Nazareth antagonize you? Answer me, I beseech you!
Did not God send down manna from heaven for you, and did he not bring forth water from a huge boulder, so that you might eat and drink your fill? And now, in return for the sweet tasting manna you offer him wine mixed with myrrh, and in return for the abundant waters that freely flowed forth you offer the thirsty Christ not even a single drop.
If Christ so desired, he could have turned all your waters into salt water, and when both bread and water were lacking, you would perish because of extreme interior dryness, and all this because you refused to show pity. In fact, if Christ had actually desired a refreshing drink, the holy angels would certainly have quickly and willingly brought him a lifesaving liquor from heaven—sweeter than any known—as they had, on another occasion, brought him food after he was thrice tempted by the devil in the desert. But Christ was unwilling to vindicate himself and he did not choose to manifest his power by a miracle. Rather, he chose to show his patience and longsuffering, so that he could give an example to all who have professed vows of poverty.
And you, who are a disciple of Jesus, drink from this cup with its bitter contents as a remedy against a gluttonous appetite. If you wish to share Christ’s banquet in the kingdom of his Father, then do not let your heart crave sumptuous dishes or expensive wines, neither comfortable couches nor fine clothing. Such things are altogether contrary to Jesus’ simple manner of life and sorrowful Passion.
Do not permit yourself to be overcome by the delights of the flesh, but keep a rein on the stirrings of concupiscence by exercising moderation at table. However, if you have gone overboard by overeating or in your desire for delicacies, then set this aright by daily labors and night vigils, at the same time reflecting with sadness on the bitter cup that Christ was given to drink.
O Jesus, heavenly manna and sweet nectar, as you hung upon your Cross you experienced an uncommon thirst, but you were not offered the least bit of water to refresh you, instead you were given vinegar and gall to drink. When I sit down for a meal let me remember this bitter draft of yours, so that I may not be overly concerned about my body’s nourishment but may be entirely absorbed with the sacred reading.
May I learn to take only as much food as is necessary and to return sincere thanks to you for benefits received. Let me not grumble about the quantity or quality of the food served, otherwise I should consider myself unworthy to be fed by the alms received from the poor and ashamed to be supported by another’s hard labor. Lord, grant that I may hunger for the food that does not perish but remains unto eternal life. Also grant that I may thirst for the fountain of everlasting life and that I may now and then pick up from the heavenly banquet table a crumb of the living bread and taste its true flavor, even though it be of short duration, and experientially taste how sweet is your spirit that you pour into the hearts of your children of grace.