Jesus A Dialogue with the Saviour
Chapter XXV: Lamb of God
It is not enough to know Jesus as the Master who speaks to me and the friend who attracts me. The good shepherd is also the Lamb of God. He is the victim who has offered Himself for me in sacrifice. Without an intimate knowledge of the lamb, I cannot know the heart of Christ.
John the precursor proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God. This proclamation is the first episode in the Saviour’s public life after His baptism. It is this proclamation which led John’s two disciples to follow Jesus in silence. The revelation of the lamb is the threshold of the mystery of salvation.
The precursor made one true discovery of the lamb, or rather, the revelation of the Messias as lamb was made to John. “And I knew Him not,” said John.
The precursor had spoken of the axe lain at the root of the trees. He had announced One mightier than himself who, with the winnowing fan in His hand, will cleanse the air and burn the straw.
But he had said nothing of the lamb. Now he proclaims the lamb, that lamb who forms a contrast with the formidable winnower. John’s revelation is unexpected. As soon as he sees Jesus coming, the day after His baptism, this cry: “Behold the Lamb of God,” comes not only from John’s lips but also from his heart.
The next day, two days after the baptism, John repeats the proclamation: “Behold the Lamb of God.” This time Jesus does not come towards John, but He goes towards His ultimate destiny.
Such are the two circumstances in which he who discovers the lamb gives witness of Him (and in so few words). The first instance is when the lamb comes towards us, the second is when He goes towards others.
“Behold the Lamb of God.” Here is the Lamb, concentrate your attention on Him.
John the Baptist, who invites us to look at the lamb, to become aware of His presence, pronounces these words while looking at Jesus. The Greek word used by the Evangelist describes a prolonged, penetrating look.
Have I looked at Jesus only with a passing glance, or have I put into that look something of that calm insistence and depth which John put into his?
Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is not the lamb chosen by men, but the lamb which God Himself furnishes for the sacrifice. He is the lamb which has always belonged to God and will belong to Him forever. He is the only lamb worthy of God, perfect and spotless. He is the real and definitive paschal lamb, the only one whose immolation brings with it salvation.
The lamb is the little one of the flock. Littleness is an essential element of the concept of the Lamb of God. It is in this way that the notion of lamb unites with the notion of childhood. Also:
St John Maximovitch on "The Little Things of Life". (click)
St John Maximovitch on "The Little Things of Life". (click)
St. Thérèse and her Little Way
Rev. John F. Russell, O.Carm.
Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. 07079
What is the meaning of “the little way” of St Therese? It is an image that tries to capture her understanding of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, of seeking holiness of life in the ordinary and the everyday. St Therese based “her little way” on two fundamental convictions: (1) God shows love by mercy and forgiveness, and (2) she could not be “perfect” in following the Lord. St Therese believed that the people of her time lived in too great a fear of God's judgment. The fear was stifling and did not allow people to experience the freedom of the children of God. St Therese knew from her life that God is merciful love; many scripture passages in the Old and New Testaments bore out that truth. She loved the maternal images for God in the Old Testament and the love of God for us in Jesus Christ. In fact, St Therese once wrote that she could not understand how anyone could be afraid of a God who became a child. She also knew that she would never be perfect. Therefore, she went to God as a child approaches a parent . . . with open arms and a profound trust.
St Therese translated “the little way” in terms of a commitment to the tasks and to the people we meet in our everyday lives. She took her assignments in the convent of Lisieux as ways of manifesting her love for God and for others. She worked as a sacristan by taking care of the altar and the chapel; she served in the refectory and in the laundry room; she wrote plays for the entertainment of the community. Above all, she tried to show a love for all the nuns in the community. She played no favourites; she gave of herself even to the difficult members. Her life sounds so routine and ordinary, but it was steeped in a loving commitment that knew no breakdown. It is called a “little way” precisely by being simple, direct, yet calling for amazing fortitude and commitment.
In living out her life of faith she sensed that everything that she was able to accomplish came from the generous love of God in her life. She was convinced that at the end of her life she would go to God with empty hands. Why? Because all was accomplished in union with God.
Catholics and other Christians have been attracted to St Therese's style. Her “little way” seems to put holiness of life within the reach of ordinary people. Live out your days with confidence in God's love for you. Recognize that each day is a gift in which your life can make a difference by the way you choose to live it. Put hope in a future in which God will be all and love will consume your spirit. Choose life, not the darkness of pettiness and greed. St Therese knew the difference love makes by allowing love to be the statement she made each day of her life.
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