Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
TUESDAY, April 5th Jn. 8:21-31 “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
St. Vincent Ferrer: “Although Christ had other ways of redeeming us, nevertheless this way – through the cross – was appropriate, in which the satisfaction corresponded to the offense. Holy Mother Church touches on this, saying, ‘You decreed that man would be saved through the wood of the cross. The tree of man’s defeat became his tree of victory; where life was lost, there life has been restored through Christ our Lord.’”
POWER OF THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST – A CONTEMPLATION by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
Let us meditate upon what the saints have said about the power of the cross and then spend time in silence and meditate upon the crucifix, the most eloquent symbol of love in the entire world. With Saint Francis of Assisi who bore the wounds of Christ in his body through the mystical grace of the stigmata, let us pray with all of our heart: “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”
WHAT SOME OF THE SAINTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE CROSS…
“It is not the finest wood that feeds the fire of Divine love, but the wood of the cross.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola)
“Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.” (St. John of the Cross)
“The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.” (St. John of the Cross)
“The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. The greatest and most overwhelming work of God’s love.” (St. Paul of the Cross)
“O cherished cross! Through thee my most bitter trials are replete with graces.” (St. Paul of the Cross)
“Our Savior’s passion raises men and women from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights.” (St. Maximus of Turin)
Now let us enter into our own meditation/contemplation on the Mystery of the Holy Cross as we lift our gaze to a graphic crucifix and peer into the five deep wounds of Jesus, who loved me so much that He was crucified, suffered and died for me. How great is the love of God for me!!!
1. CRUCIFIX ON THE WALL OF THE BEDROOMS IN YOUR HOME.
It is highly recommended that all of your bedrooms have a crucifix on the wall. A crucifix has a Corpus— meaning, the Body of Christ nailed to the wood of the cross. The cross without the Corpus of Christ almost deprives the cross of its real meaning: Jesus suffered and died on the cross; His Body hung on the cross for three long hours, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm, for our salvation.
2. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS.
Get into the habit before retiring every night of spending at least a few moments in silence contemplating, looking deeply at the cross and He who died on the cross for love of you—the Savior, Jesus Christ, and offer Him your immense love and gratitude. Contemplation is a form of prayer in which we think deeply with our mind and love immensely with our heart for the immense love that Jesus has not just for all, but for me individually.
3. RECALL TO MIND THE WORDS JESUS SAID ON THE CROSS.
A very salutary and sanctifying practice is to call to mind the seven last words (phrases) that Jesus pronounced from the cross. Take these words into your mind and your heart. Ven. Fulton J. Sheen asserts that from the pulpit of the cross, Jesus preached His last and best homily. Let us be attentive students and listeners.
4. MEMORIZE THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS, THE MOST ELOQUENT PREACHER:
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. (Lk 23:34)
Amen, I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise. (Lk 23:43)
Woman behold thy son; son behold thy Mother. (Jn 19:26-27)
I thirst. (Jn 5:19:28)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me. (Lk 23:46)
It is finished. (Jn 19:30)
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. (Lk 23:46)
5. IMITATE THE SAINTS AND KISS THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST CHRIST.
Prayer is not simply a cerebral, that is, a merely intellectual function. Prayer involves the whole person. St. Francis and many of the saints would express their love for their crucified Savior by kissing Jesus’ five wounds on the crucifix. You do the same! By doing so, you are manifesting the heartfelt love that you have for Jesus. Every one of those open wounds that Jesus endured – the nails that perforated His hands and His feet, the lance that entered His side and pierced His Heart causing blood and water to gush forth, were for love of you and your eternal salvation. How great is the love of the crucified Savior for you and how great His desire for the salvation of your immortal soul!
6. LIKE MARCELINO, TALK TO OUR CRUCIFIED LORD.
(Movie: Miracle of Marcelino – 1955 black and white version.) In this movie-classic, imitate the little orphan boy, Marcelino, and talk to the Lord Jesus from the depths of your heart. Use simple words, but words anointed with great love and passion, expressing your heartfelt gratitude for the Lord Jesus, and all He did for you.
7. CONTEMPLATE THE CROSS AND CALVARY RELATED TO THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
As you lift your gaze to Jesus hanging from the cross, call to mind the intimate relationship between Jesus crucified on Good Friday on Calvary and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Invisible as it is, and with the utmost depth of mystical meaning, every time an ordained priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Calvary and the crucified Lord Jesus are present. In every Mass, the fruits of the crucified Lord are available to all of humanity. Next time you go to Mass, contemplate the big Crucifix on the wall behind the priest who is celebrating Mass and remember that Calvary is present when the priest lifts up the Host and elevates the Chalice! O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!
8. JESUS’ OPEN ARMS ON THE CROSS.
Contemplate now the open arms of Jesus as He hangs from the cross. There is depth of meaning here. Saint Augustine, giving a symbolic interpretation of the crucifix and the position of Jesus Body says: Jesus has His head bent to kiss us; His arms open to embrace us; and His heart open to receive us! Jesus’ open arms are symbolic of the arms of the Father of the Prodigal Son. The meaning? Despite the sad reality of our many sins, God always, in all times and on all occasions, has His arms wide-open to receive us – symbolic of forgiveness. As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be as white as the snow.” (Is. 1:18) In concrete, Jesus beckons us to return to Him with a sincere and contrite heart through the reception of the Sacrament of His Mercy, the Sacrament of Confession, and be renewed, reformed, and made anew!
9. JESUS’ BLOOD STAINED BODY AND GARMENTS.
As you contemplate the blood-stained body of Jesus and His few garments, the virtue of purity and modesty should surge in your mind and heart. Both the stripping of Jesus, as well as the brutal scourging at the pillar were accepted willingly by Jesus to repair for the countless sins of impurity committed by all of humanity and by us individually. Our Lady of Fatima commented sadly that most souls are lost due to sins against the 6th and 9th Commandments; that is to say, sins committed against the virtue of purity. May our contemplation of the lacerated and bloody Body of the Lord Jesus inspire within us a great desire for purity—in body, mind, thought, word, deed, desire and intention. Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)
10. THE CROSS AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS AND OURS.
As you look up to the cross and contemplate Jesus with love recall His words: “Anyone who wishes to be my follower must renounce himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt. 16:24) Spend some quiet time in prayer before the Crucified Lord Jesus and open up the very depths of your heart, pour out your feelings and emotions with respect to your cross. Jesus desires to listen to you, accompany you, and help you. He us not indifferent to the cries and supplications from your heart but desires to help you. What might be your cross or crosses? A health problem, an economic strait, a difficult relative, a rebellious son or daughter, a tense relationship with a spouse, a work conflict, a spiritual doubt, the loss of a loved one, the pain of a past deep wound, fear of the dark and ominous clouds of the future, the fear of suffering and of your own mortality and death.
All of the above can be the subject of your colloquy with the crucified Lord Jesus. Our cross often is simply too heavy because we fail to invite Jesus to come and help us carry our cross. Listen to His words: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and the burden light. (Mt 11:28-30)
