Love is not loved

Forgive me for my gross neglect of blogging, again. And not only that, I have neglected to post anything for Lent, the Annunciation, Holy Week...yup. :( I am sorry.

I have shared some things on Facebook in the past couple days that may be of interest. For my last-hour Good Friday post, however, I shall just share a picture and a quote.


This is a picture by Russian artist Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov...I do not know what it is called, and I would love to know if there is a completed version of this sketch. (You should be able to click on it to make it bigger.)

At any rate, when I first stumbled across this, I must have gasped softly. There is something so clear, so startling, and so haunting about this picture of Our Lord, depicted in the manner commonly known as 'Ecce Homo' - Behold the Man. There is some soft, deep, ache in His eyes that makes it hard for me to look at, the blood from the crown of thorns dripping down His face. Have I done this? Yes, yes, I have. Through all my sins, my iniquities, my countless infidelities: here is the Bridegroom whom I spit upon, here is the Husband from whose love I turn away! "Love is not loved!" cried St. Francis of Assisi. Love is not loved.

O Lord, my God, have mercy on me, a sinner! Only with your Blood poured out will my sin-inflicted bleeding wounds -in heart, mind, soul, and flesh- be healed. Oh, I need You now, more than ever before....

I ask you, readers who may come here tonight or tomorrow, to gaze upon this Face, this Holy Face of our Redeemer, and ponder these words that struck me also this morning (emphasis mine):

"Look, look on Jesus, poor and crucified, look on this Holy One, who for your love has died, and remember as you contemplate the sacred mysteries, this Jesus whom you gaze upon loves you most tenderly."

~ St. Clare of Assisi