The Wood of the Cross

There is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the cross, which Christ used for his own sacrifice of boundless charity.  ~~Saint Ignatius of Loyola!!

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Thanks be to God!!!!

Cathy

Reflection of the Day

Reflection of the Day

How precious the gift of the cross, how splendid to contemplate!  In the cross there is not mingling of good and evil, as in the tree of paradise:  It is wholly beautiful to behold and good to taste.  The fruit of this tree is not death, not darkness, but light.  This tree does not cast us out of paradise but opens the way for our return.   ~~Saint Theodore the Studite~~

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Thanks be to God!

Cathy

The Truth That Sets Us Free

April 29-Saint Catherine of Siena, a photo by -Sancta Maria, Mater Dei~ on Flickr.

This reflection was offered yesterday in the Magnificat.  To me it is a treasure.  It's here because I don't want to lose it.

Saint Catherine of Siena says:

It is easy to see Christ's patient forbearance...in the face of our sins, how he seems to pretend not to see...  What great patience, that he disregards the wrong done him!  On the cross he hears the clamor of those who first shouted, "Crucify him!" and now challenge him to come down from the cross.  And he cries, "Father, forgive them!"  He does not move when they shout that he should come down, but stays there till the end.

Then he joyously shouts, "It is finished!"  Yes, those seem to be sorrowful words, but they were words of joy to that soul aflame and consumed in the fire of divine charity, the soul of the incarnate Word, God's Son.   It is as if the gentle Jesus  wanted to say, "I have completely fulfilled what was written of me.  Fulfilled too is my painful desire to redeem the human race.  I am happy, exultant, that I have finished this suffering.  I have fulfilled the commission given me by my father, a commission I so longed to accomplish..."

Shame, shame on our human pride, our self complacency, our self-centeredness, when we see how good God has been to us, how many gifts and graces he had given us--and not because he has to but because he wants to.  Obtuse as we are, we seem not to see or feel this love so hot that, if we were made of stone, it would long ago have burst us open!...  Unhappy me!  I can see no other reason except that the eye of our understanding is not focused on the tree of the cross.  For there is revealed such warm love, such gently persuasive teaching has torn open his very body, has shed his life's blood and with that blood has baptized and bathed us.  We can and should make use of the baptism every day with continual remembrance and great love.  ~~Saint Catherin of Siena~~

Saint Catherine of Siena (+1380), Doctor of the Church, was a Dominican, stigmatist, and papal counselor.

Most eye-opening.  A lesson here to be learned by all, especially me!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

The Unnamed Woman

Today one of my reflections has come to me from The Women of the Passion by Kathleen M. Murphy. The first chapter of the book relates to Matthew's Gospel about the "Unnamed Woman Who Anointed Jesus at Bethany" (Matthew 26: 10-11)  It places me in the house of Simon the Leper.  I can witness the entire event.  Jesus is anointed by a woman who is obviously an outsider and worse yet a sinner.  She enters without invitation and then to the shock and dismay of the other guests bathes Jesus in beautifully aromatic oil.  It's expensive and even to the Apostles it seems to have been wasted for it could have been sold and the money used for the "cause."

But Jesus aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman?  For she has done a beautiful thing to me.  For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. (Mt 26:10-11)

The illustration here is meant, I think, to cause reflection on how, in my life, I have cared for the poor, neglected, or marginalized.   Do I spend more time in acquiring my "wants" and fail to consider the "needs" of others?

I am often saddened by the tragedies in this world.  Though I contribute regularly to causes for the poor and marginalized and pray for them, is that all I can do.  I guess what I need is guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead me to better see the road I must take in becoming more sensitive to the needs of others personally.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!