Meditation On The Passion: Jesus Therefore Said To Peter: Put Up Thy Sword Into The Scabbard

CESARI, Giuseppe 
The Betrayal of Christ 
1596-97 
Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Jn.xviii.

Consider first (suffer now) that is, it is enough, proceed no further with thy sword and defense. He doth not reprehend the fact of Peter, but he saith it is enough, that thou in thy defense and in thy wrath mayest keep a mean: according to that, Be angry and sin not.

Secondly consider these four reasons, by which he admonished Peter not to go about to hinder his passion. Thou mayest learn hereby the willingness of Christ to suffer, who used so many reasons that he might be permitted to suffer. But thou doest avoid al troubles for Christs sake, & seek out all reasons that thou mayest suffer nothing.

Thirdly (which shall take the sword) that is, they which by their own authority shall use the sword, not receiving from God, deserve by law to be put to death; and although they escape the sword of men in this world, yet they shall perish with that sword which keepeth the entry into Paradise: Learn to leave all revenge unto God.

Fourthly consider the great multitude of Angels, which are always ready to help good men, that thou mayest learn to trust in God, which hath assigned so many Angels to have care over thee: For Helizeus had experience in himself of that which Christ here affirmeth of himself:

Consider fifthly (the Cup which my Father hath given unto me:) He calleth his passion a cup, thereby diminishing rather then increasing the greatness thereof, that thou shouldest not lightly complain of the grievousness of thy miseries: He acknowledgeth that his father gave it him; because thou shalt not ascrib thy afflictions to men or to devils, but to God alone, which blessed Job, who was vexed both by devils & men; Our Lord hath given, our Lord hath taken away, & know that God doth not leave to be a father, when he doth afflict, but rather sheweth himself to be a Father when he chastiseth.

Sixthly consider that the Scriptures are fulfilled by the passion of Christ, & are likewise fulfilled by thy passions: For through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

Give thanks to Christ, who with so ready & so prepared a mind came to his passion for thy sake. Stir up his love in thee, & pray him that he will stir up in thee a desire to suffer for his name, and that in all things, which shall happen unto thee, thou mayest find out the reason that it was just which thou didst suffer.

Fr. Francis Costerus S.J. 1616

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