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Pauline
Reflections 08 - 4th October 2008
CARITAS CHRISTI URGET NOS
THE LOVE OF CHRIST URGES US ON
2 Corinthians 5:14
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 is very similar
to 2 Corinthians 4:14 in emphasising the concept of life
after death. Paul, having concluded that one man, Jesus,
died for us all, now stresses that we who now live might
no longer live for ourselves, but for him who for our
sake died and was raised. The very powerful and
inspiring sentence that begins v.14 is highly
remarkable: Caritas Christi urget nos, meaning ‘the love
of Christ urges us on’.
I find great strength in these words,
especially in moments of crisis and challenge. At such
times, Paul asks each of us to take Christ as a model:
he suffered humiliation and rejection in his own life
and yet never gave up. “Though he was harshly treated,
he submitted and opened not his mouth. Like a lamb led
to the slaughter or a sheep before its shearers, he was
silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and
condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought
any more of his destiny?” Isaiah 53:7-8. Therefore,
for the sake of the love of Christ, we too must endure
and persevere on our journey through the pains,
crosses and challenges of life.
Some scholars have pointed out that
the precise interpretation of 2 Corinthians 5:14 is
debatable. Whose love is Paul referring to? Could it be
Paul’s own love of Christ or Christ’s love for us? I
think Paul is referring to both: Christ’s love for each
of us and our love in return for him in response to his
sacrificial love for us. A realisation of his love for
us should urge us on - thus, Caritas Christi urget nos.
Since Christ had died for us all, he
becomes the focus of our esteem. Our self-esteem pales
into insignificance in the face of the saving power of
his death and resurrection: we have nothing to boast
about. By virtue of his resurrection, we are assured of
life, - a new life in eternity. Now is the time to hope
and prepare for this new life of grace. So the love of
Christ compels and unites us to Christ, to the point
that we determine not to separate ourselves from him
again - no matter what crisis we face. “For I am
convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature will be able to separate us from the love of
God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 38-39.
Prayer
Lord God, in all the challenges of
life, grant that I may fully know your love for me and
hold on to you for strength and courage, following the
example of Jesus who loved me, suffered, died and rose
again, that I might have life in its fullness in this
world and in eternity. Amen. |
