Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Today is The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross







Everyone has their favorite Crucifix.  This is mine.

It's the Crucifix that hangs in my bedroom.  I made it about ten years ago at the height of the sexual abuse scandal to remind me of what we all do to Our Lord.

One of the last things I did was the wound Longinus made when he pierced the side of Crucified Christ when my youngest daughter looked it over and asked me "Where's the blue?"

When I asked her what she meant, she said "The water, you know, the water that represents divine mercy".

The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross… Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him.

OOoooooooh. Yeah.   I added the gush of mercy.

The readings today are rich with symbolism for Catholics living valley of tears in the Boston Archdiocese.

In the first reading, the people were complaining to Moses  - "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." 


You freed us from bondage and saved our lives but we're starving and miserable.  Thanks a bunch.  Got any other bright ideas?


In [God ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things to Him, things in heaven and things on earth.  Ephesians 1:7-8




To free up our faith, our Sacraments, our priests for those who have a right to their inheritance, we have to reveal the state of affairs.  It is tempting to despair, to be demoralized and run away to something else.


Running away would make the sacrifice Christ made a waste.  


I'm not going anywhere and my advice, for what it's worth, is that you keep your feet firmly planted in the Mystical Body of Christ.   If you are tempted to run, find a Crucifix and gaze upon It and God will save you from the temptation.


When I am lifted up from the earth, i will draw all men to myself, says the Lord.


Mass ended yesterday with the following blessing;




May Almighty God keep you from all harm and bless you with every good gift. May he set his word in your heart and fill you with everlasting joy.  May Almight God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.

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