Jesus is holy and filled with passionate and compassionate love for us.

In the close of chapter two in Delexit nos, Pope Francis points out that Jesus was an emotional human. He was emotionally moved by the actions of others, grieved, and shed tears for his friend who died. Jesus was very aware of the cares and concerns of our lives.

The Gospels do not hide his raw emotions as he faced his violent death! In Gethsemane he told Peter, James, and John, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch” (Mark 14:34). The agony he must have felt as his friends abandoned him at that hour.

The culmination of all his human feelings reach its great crescendo at the cross. Here at the cross we find passionate love!

The Holy Father said, “The cross is Jesus’ most eloquent word of love. A word that is not shallow, sentimental or merely edifying. It is love, sheer love” (2.46). We are not saved by how much Jesus suffered. We are saved by how much he loved in his suffering.

Pope Francis notes that Saint Paul was moved to preach the Gospel to the ends of the world. Paul was not moved by intellectual conviction. What moved his heart above all is the recognition that he was loved by this crucified Lord.

Do we allow grace to work within us? Jesus loves us personally in all our mess, failings, and doubts. Jesus loves us and calls us to his heart. This burning furnace of love moves my own heart to live for him. He is inviting me to love him in return.

A Benedictine Twist on Love

As we recognize this compassionate and passionate love of Jesus, never be afraid to ask Jesus for what we need. He knows what we need and waits patiently for us to ask him.

Look at Saint Scholastica, whose feast we celebrate today.

Scholastica wanted her twin brother to stay with her through the night and talk about spiritual things. He resisted, so Scholastica prayed. Here is an excerpt from the account by Saint Gregory the Great from his Dialogues:

So Scholastica turned to Jesus in prayer. She clasped her hands together, bowed her head, and asked him for one last night with Benedict. She would not move from this position, asking Jesus again, and again, and again. Benedict, not wanting to leave her like this, waited for her to stop.

Finally, she lifted her eyes to heaven, and her prayer was answered in an unexpected way. A severe thunderstorm erupted, unleashing torrential rain, thunder, and lightning, making it impossible for Benedict to return home.

Benedict was astonished. “God forgive you, sister,” he said. “What have you done?” Scholastica replied calmly, “I asked a favor of you, and you refused it. I asked it of God, and he has granted it.”

So, Benedict stayed, and they spent the entire night talking about Heaven. Scholastica passed away just a few days later.

Live in my heart Jesus. Help me be daring in asking you what I need. You are a loving God who knows what is best for me. Let me hide in the shadow of your cross where all love, all desires must be rooted.