Christ is God’s final arrow

Friends in Christ, tomorrow begins the Sacred Triduum; this is when Jesus will reveal God’s love poured out for us.

St. Augustine says, that God, in order to captivate the love of mankind, has shot several arrows of love into their hearts. What are these arrows that God has shot forth? They are firstly, all the beautiful things we see around us in creation. The lovely earth, living creatures, the summer trees and blue sky- all these, that man might love him. Says Augustine, ‘O Lord, heaven and earth and all things, tell me to love Thee.’

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When St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi would hold in her hand a fruit or a flower, she would say that they were like many darts into her heart, to wound her with the love of God.

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St. Teresa said that all the fair things we see, the lakes, the rivers, the birds – all are tokens of the love God bears us.

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But God was not satisfied with these arrows into our heart only; the choicest arrow he had reserved, and it is shot forth to wound us; God’s final and best arrow is Jesus Christ. And this is referred to by the Prophet Isaiah: ‘ Hear O islands; listen O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, he has made me a polished arrow, and in his quiver he hid me.’

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Cardinal Hugo says, that as the sportsman keeps in reserve the best arrow for the last shot, in order to catch his prey, so did God among all his gifts, keep Jesus in reserve until the fullness of time should come, and then he sent him as a last arrow, to wound with love the hearts of men. And this love is revealed in the events of the Sacred Triduum beginning tomorrow.