SET YOUR EYES ON CHRIST

If you are suffering trials, or are sad, look upon Him on His way to the Garden. What sore distress He must have borne in His soul to describe His own suffering as He did and to complain of it! Or look upon Him bound to the Column, full of pain, His flesh all torn to pieces by His great love for you. How much He suffered, persecuted by some, spat upon by others, denied by His friends, and even deserted by them, with none to take His part, frozen with the cold and left so completely alone that you may well comfort each other! Or look upon Him bending under the weight of the Cross and not even allowed to take breath: He will look upon you with His lovely and compassionate eyes, full of tears, and in comforting your grief will forget His own because you are bearing Him company in order to comfort Him and turning your head to look upon Him.

"O Lord of the world, my true Spouse!" you may say to Him, if seeing Him in such a plight has filled your heart with such tenderness that you not only desire to look upon Him but love to speak to Him, not using forms of prayer, but words issuing from the compassion of your heart, which means so much to Him: " Art Thou so needy, my Lord and my Good, that Thou wilt accept poor copanionship like mine? Do I read in Thy face that Thou hast found comfort, even in me? How can it be possible, Lord, that the angels are leaving Thee alone and that Thy Father is not comforting Thee?

"If Thou, Lord, art willing to suffer all this for me, what am I suffering for Thee: What have I to complain of?  I am ashamed, Lord, when I see Thee in such a plight , and if in any way I can imitate Thee I will suffer all trials that come to me and count them as a great blessing.  Let us go both together, Lord: whither Thou goest, I must go; through whatsoever Thou passest, I must pass."
                                                     (from St Teresa's Way of Perfection, chapter 26:5-6)