mixed emotions
"I hear the whisperings of many." —Jeremiah 20:10
A week from today will be Good Friday. We almost cringe as we think of hearing the reading of Christ's passion and death. How will we be able to endure venerating the cross by kissing His wounds? We naturally are upset when we recall the death of our older Brother and loving Savior. We are even more disturbed when we realize that, through our sins, we were part of the gang that murdered Him (see Catechism, 598).
At first, the blood Jesus shed horrifies us; but when we see it covering our sins, we begin to rejoice in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14). The horror of Calvary becomes the joy of Good Friday. What began as the worst day in the history of the human race ended as the greatest day. This was the day of our salvation. So "sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for He has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!" (Jer 20:13)
Lord Jesus crucified, have mercy on us.
Prayer: Father, may the last week of Lent be among the most important weeks of my life.
Promise: " 'John may never have performed a sign,' they commented, 'but whatever John said about this Man was true.' In that place, many came to believe in Him." —Jn 10:41-42
Praise: By not eating lunch on Fridays, Mary is able to witness to her co-workers about Jesus and the power that comes from fasting for love of Him.
Reference: (To grow in love of the Lord and joy this coming Easter, order our leaflet Lent and the Renewal of Our Baptismal Promises or on audio AV 83-1, AV 83-3, AV 84-1, AV 84-3 or our two-part video series starting with V-83.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 3, 2008
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