Jerusalem, herald of good news!

I absolutely LOVE watching the Crucifix lifted high in the air come down the aisles in procession at Mass.   Christ, Triumphant, in all His Glory, going out before les miserables, leading us.  I am reminded how many warriors, martyrs and saints walked behind the Crucifix lifted high on their way to do something heroic, in Christ's Name, in times of persecution.

Yesterday, our Iraqi brothers and sisters were very much on my mind as I watched Christ Crucified leading His Priests and people.   A year after ending of the Obama administration, Iraq has been liberated from the Obama-financed-and-supported ISIS ethnic cleansing of Christians.

Christians have returned.  Here they are at Mass.

I couldn't hold back the tears as I thought about how they felt as Christ Crucified made His way to His Altar.

And the readings yesterday hit the bullseye.  As they always do.

Comfort, give comfort to my people,

says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her

that her service is at an end,

her guilt is expiated;

indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD

double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:

In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!

Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!

Every valley shall be filled in,

every mountain and hill shall be made low;

the rugged land shall be made a plain,

the rough country, a broad valley.

Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

and all people shall see it together;

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain,

Zion, herald of glad tidings;

cry out at the top of your voice,

Jerusalem, herald of good news!

Fear not to cry out

and say to the cities of Judah:

Here is your God!

Here comes with power

the Lord GOD,

who rules by his strong arm;

here is his reward with him,

his recompense before him.

Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;

in his arms he gathers the lambs,

carrying them in his bosom,

and leading the ewes with care.

Pretty amazing.