To a vast majority of Christians, Jesus Christ is nothing more than a topic for a CCD program or catechesis in a Catholic school. To a still greater number of Christians, Jesus Christ is not even that because they have not had the opportunity of receiving any catechism classes. As for the small number of people who still attend Sunday Mass, if anyone truly thinks that they are going to receive any knowledge of Jesus Christ through the homily there, then that person is in urgent need of psychiatric treatment.

          And yet, Jesus Christ is the nucleus and explanation of the entire human life: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…The Word was the true light that enlightens every man who comes into this world (Jn 1: 4.9). God created man so that man would be loved and would learn how to love. This love, through which the human creature shares the divine nature –God is Love—, must be made real through Jesus Christ: through Him, and with Him, and in Him. Unfortunately, countless are the human beings –including Christians—whose existence is lived without knowing Him.

          In the second letter Saint Paul wrote to the faithful of Corinth, he stated that the love of Christ urges us (2 Cor 5:14). Indeed, the Apostle could as well have said that love (without adding more) urges us. Truly speaking, according to the passage, it is the love of Christ in her which prompts and earnestly entreats the bride.[1] Nevertheless, the passage does not exclude, on the contrary, that Christ also feels Himself pressed in the same manner. In fact, at this moment, Christ Himself is the one who is compelling and urgently entreating, thus following in the footsteps of the bride. To be sure, true love means yearnings and longings to be with the beloved person; it connotes both a full-speed running –where no delay could possibly take place (Lk 15:20)—in order to find the beloved as soon as possible, as well as insufferable longings and pains because of his absence (Jn 20:13). True love does not admit delays or postponements, unless imposed against its will; true love does not rest in its search for the beloved person, not even at night or while sleeping: I sleep, but my heart is awake (Song 5:2)…On my bed, at night I sought//the beloved of my soul;//I sought him but I could not find him! (Song 3:1).

          In connection with this, what is said almost as in passing at the beginning of the Parable of the Ten Virgins is a veritable reproach for all of them, not only for the foolish ones: As the bridegroom was long in coming, ‘they all’ became drowsy and slept (Mt 25:5). Hence, he who loves – during the night that the absence of the beloved person becomes for the him – watches ceaselessly and does not hesitate to urge, even importunately, the night watcher to keep alert and not to drop his guard: Watchman, what about the night?//Watchman, what about the night?//The watchman answers,//`Morning is coming, then night again.//If you want to ask, ask!//Come back! Come here!’ (Is 21: 11—12).

          It must be noted that the first verse is repeated, the intention surely being to urge the watchman to stay alert and not to drop his guard at any moment, because something of fundamental importance is at issue here. Also the night is too dark and worrisome enough to feel the urgent need to know about it, especially about the moment when it will end. Truly enough, morning comes, as the watchman answered: Because the night is nearly over, daylight is at hand (Rom 13:12); although the day comes in such a way that the night, at least for the time being, is not definitely left behind: Morning is coming, then night again; for the Christian, as long as he is in this world, lives in the already and in the not yet. The love of the Groom is already possessed by the bride; but for now, only as a pledge and first fruits. Therefore one can only keep on searching, persistently asking here and there: If you want to ask, ask!

(To Be Continued)