A Homily on the Song Behold, the Bridegroom Comes at Midnight

Brothers! Today is the day of the betrayal to suffering and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Souls faithful, able to value and feel the greatest self-sacrifice for our salvation, O common Lord and friend of us all! Guard from this day forward your heart most carefully for Him alone, and do not let anything worldly, corruptible, or any passion take hold of you. Prove that you too know how to answer love with love, that you are true Christians, and out of love for Christ can watch with Him, that is, keep vigil over your own heart, at least a few hours in which He alone drank for us the cup of heavenly wrath. Bring into your hearts by faith Christ the Lord suffering for us, suffer there in your own heart together with Him; bring to remembrance your sins, be penitent, and if you can, weep for them. “Weep for yourselves” (Lk 23:28), says the Lord. Send your sighs and tears to Christ: and this will be the most pleasant sacrifice to the suffering Lord for us. You will soon feel in your heart the favor of God toward you for your sincere gift. “Peace” in the soul, “surpassing all understanding” (Phil 4:7), and heavenly, quiet joy will announce to you that your sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart is not despised but accepted by the Lord on His most high and spiritual altar. Having cleansed yourselves in the sacrament of repentance this evening if you have not done so before, tomorrow you will be deemed worthy to partake of His body and blood: may this supper of love unite you with Him who commanded to celebrate it in His remembrance, may it ever remind you of His boundless love for us, and may it grant you strength to spend the coming great days holily, in a spirit of fervent love toward the Lord, who laid down His life for us. Amen.