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Drawing of the Crucifixion
St John of the Cross
c. 1550
A great word from the Catecheses by St Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, in yesterday’s Office of Readings;
Especially as we begin our preparation for Lent next week.
Felt drawn back to reading it again today:
EVEN IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION, LET THE CROSS BE YOUR JOY
The Catholic Church glories in every deed of Christ. Her supreme glory, however, is the cross.
…..Do not, then, be ashamed of the cross of Christ; rather, glory in it. Although it is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles, the message of the cross is our salvation.
…..Certainly in times of tranquility the cross should give you joy. But maintain the same faith in times of persecution. Otherwise you will be a friend of Jesus in times of peace and his enemy during war. Now you receive the forgiveness of your sins and the generous gift of grace from your king. When war comes, fight courageously for him.
Jesus never sinned; yet he was crucified for you. Will you refuse to be crucified for him, who for your sake was nailed to the cross? You are not the one who gives the favor; you have received one first. For your sake he was crucified on Golgotha. Now you are returning his favor; you are fulfilling your debt to him.
I’ve been meditating on being a friend of Jesus not only in times of peace in my life, but when the unexpected happens ~
when a spiritual battle arises you never thought you’d have to fight, but He knows you’ve been trained to confront.
The courageous part can be a very fluid thing, but then that is the reason we look to the cross.
+PAX
February 9th, 2013 at 1:11 am
This was so beautiful Caroline. I haven’t been doing the Office of Readings lately…just Morning Prayer. I think I will get back to that during Lent.
I wonder if I will ever reach that state of peace during adversity as well as in joy. I pray God will give the graces since I possess nothing to offer.
Have a blessed weekend.
February 9th, 2013 at 3:00 am
Theresa, I love the Office of Readings. It’s like a Catholic education in four volumes : ) I don’t get to them everyday, but I find when I do, they prepare me for those times when I’m so caught off guard by an unforeseen difficulty.
I as well, have absolutely nothing to offer the Lord apart from is graces to me..And if there were something less than that…that would be me too.
In it all though, I’m discovering how much the Blessed Mother is willing to lead me to His mercies.
Blessings to you always +