I have often heard it said that there is no resurrection without crucifixion. I thought this meant we had to take the bad with the good. But that’s not right, not even close. Christ on the cross is “life giving.” It is a pouring out of unconditional love, for each of us and for humanity. He gave his life so we might have ours. A life redeemed, renewed and restored to the beauty of creation itself. Christ looked down from the cross and through the eyes of Christ crucified he said, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they are doing.” Forgive them for what they have done and forgive them for the errors they made. Christ crucified looked horrible, seemed shameful and it appeared to be the end. It wasn’t, it was just the beginning, the beginning of new life, a life reunited and reunified with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Let this sink into your heart so it may foster the love, joy and peace the Lord gives us. God bless you.
Tag Archives: Catholic Faith
Ephesians 1:3-14 Commentary
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us to journey into Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. God chose us for himself, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. With God’s love he destined us for adoption through Jesus Christ. Through the beloved, God gave us the covenant, the favor of his will, and the glory of his grace.
In Christ Jesus we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, and we are in agreement with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, Christ has made known to us the mystery of his will. With the covenant and with his favor, he set forth his plan for the fullness of time, to sum up all things in himself, in heaven and on earth.
In Christ’s glory we were also chosen, destined for the covenant with the purpose of God who accomplishes all things, according to the intention of his will. In Christ, we exist for the praise of his glory; we who first hoped in Christ. In Christ we have heard the word of truth, and the gospel for our salvation; we who have believed in him. We were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. This spirit is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, and for the praise of his glory.
Sorrow, Suffering and Heartbreak
What if I could tell you the cause of your sorrows and heartbreak, why you suffer? Would you be interested, would you listen? This may sound counterintuitive, what I’m about to say, however, if I choose my words carefully, they will point to a simple truth. You, you are the cause of your suffering and heartbreak. Stay with me for just a moment. I’m not saying you are the source, or that you produce the sorrows you feel and think about. Although our imagination can be much more sorrowful than our reality, perhaps this will be a discussion for another day. I’m not saying you bring the heartbreak on yourself, yet sometimes we do, even when our intentions are good. Actually, the most important issue we will discuss is why we are the cause of our heartbreak and what to do about our sorrows.
Go talk to your best friend, your priest or your psychologist, tell them about your plight, that sick feeling you get when things aren’t right, when you know they are terribly wrong. Tell them about those shadowy, sometimes hidden anxieties; the worries and those tired and depressing thoughts that won’t go away. Sometime, probably sooner than later, one of them will ask you, what triggers these episodes, what do see “out there” that makes you so unhappy? What external events, what circumstances, what issues and where are they coming from, that interrupt the gentle flow of your everyday well-being and happiness? Therein lies the source of your heartbreak, the poorly choreographed stage play of the worst movie you’ve ever seen.
Therefore, it is those external circumstances which you can blame for your heartbreak. No, not really. It’s you and I’ll tell you why. You have a loving and caring heart which holds values and virtues as your highest ideals and your best interests and intentions. It is your internal compass which guides you to a place of moral excellence built on a foundation of integrity and perseverance. It is those internal mechanisms which led you to a rich and rewarding life, a life you want to share with those you love, a life you want for those you love. Where did you get this loving heart, you know as well as I, from our Lord, our redeemer, our rescuer, from the triune God we all know and love. And here’s the kicker, He never meant for these beautiful gifts to cause you any suffering or pain. This love, these values, the caring heart is meant to produce a joy greater than we can imagine.
So, what’s the solution to this twist of fate, this paradox of the greatest gifts which cause the most sorrow? Remembering the truth is simple, seldom easy. Knowing you can give it all to Christ Jesus. He knows you can’t carry your cross. He was among us, and during His time of torment and pain, He couldn’t carry His cross either. He fell three times and His persecutors finally called on the Cyrenian to carry the cross for Him. He knows the utter futility, the sick and undeniable reality which tells us, nothing good can become of this. Yet, His journey to Calvary led to the greatest gift of all, the salvation of souls and the redemption of the new world to come. Give it to Him, it’s His plan and purpose from the beginning of the beginning and for all times to come. Give it to Him, so His gifts may be the source and foundation of our greatest joy, which He intended, so your heart’s desire may be fulfilled, and your joy may be complete.
You see, you know you wouldn’t want it any other way. You would never give up the treasure which has richly, through the grace of God, been given to you. So, keep your pearl of great value, the greatest gift. Live in and with the grace given and received. Keep what’s yours by giving it back to the giver of all good things. Give it all to Him. Blessings for all of us.
Vatican II
What does the Second Council ask of us? To be an evangelist, proclaiming the Gospel of hope and faith. Discovering ways of teaching which guard the deposit of sacred Christian Doctrine and effectively maintain its integrity. Deepening the understanding of authentic doctrine by employing healthy psychology and solid philosophy in a literary form consistent with modern thought. To be imitators of Christ through love and mercy without condemnation. The Church is directing each and every one of us for the salvation of our souls not for building an empire of religious mandates. We are Christians who reflect sacred tradition and sacred scripture because we too are bound together in seeking unity and community in a world of beauty, goodness, and truth.