Sustained at the Cross by Faith By Beth DeCristofaro

 

Sustained at the Cross by Faith By Beth DeCristofaro

Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

 

(Christ) was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures … After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. (1 Corinthians 15:4, 8-10)

 

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  …  “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:47-48, 50)

 

 

 

Piety

Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives of creatures,
spiral of sanctity, bond of all natures,
glow of charity, lights of clarity,
taste of sweetness to sinners--
be with us and hear us.

Composer of all things,
light of all the risen,
key of salvation,
release from the dark prison,
hope of all unions, scope of chastities,
joy in the glory, strong honor--
be with us and hear us.

  (St Hildegard of Bingen)

 

Study

Our church has changed and grown from groups of friends meeting, worshiping and learning around tables to millions of stranger-friends meeting in humble or grand houses of prayer spanning the globe.  We join our ancestors and others by our faith in Jesus, divine being who chose the identity of humble peasant-rabbi.  Yet we struggle with forgiving ourselves as much as they did.  They strove to earn his mercy while he time and time again showed them that he confers mercy freely, generously.  

 

In this time of CoVid, perhaps we can take the opportunity to exercise faith in his freely offered generosity.  Many of us are bereft right now of practices dear to us:  Eucharist, in-person Group Reunion, Liturgies, rosary and prayer shawl groups.  Even the comfort and support of informally gathering with friends who share values and the desire for God. It is a time of loss, a community stretched. Yet Jesus cannot be locked out; he remains intimately our friend.  He remains closer to us than our breath through the Holy Spirit, igniting us wherever we are.

 

We began this week with the Feast of the Exultation of the Cross, a tragedy chosen by God to lift and free us from the grips of sin and death.  We then celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrow whose willingness to stand firm in her faith as she was dealt the devastating blow of watching her son tortured and murdered on that Cross is a model of reliance on God.  Perhaps she questioned God; we do not know.  What we know is that she did not turn away and renounce God; she remained faith-filled in her greatest hour of agony.  The Cross and Our Lady show us the triumph – albeit possibly terribly won – of the disciple who accepts her / his cross and stands firm, aided by Him who died and rose in order to give us his Spirit, freedom, mercy and forgiveness because he loves us.  We are not victims. We are his beloved.

 

 

Action

What new insights are we open to in our “lockdown,” our “prison,” such as held Peter and Paul?  Rather than decry the “loss” of church – which is only restricted in numbers – are we building Church in our homes and tiny gatherings?  Have we found new space in our hearts for the fire of the Holy Spirit to flare? Rather than simmering over being kept out of church, can we invite our blessed Redeemer into the sanctuary of our own hearts?  Ask for the grace to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness as did Paul, the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle 

 

And perhaps say a prayer for the many unable to practice their faith in usual rituals due to other reasons than CoVid – illness, war, incarceration, housed in refugee or migrant camps, or who have no community with which to share.

 

 

 

Illustration: “Cosmic Egg”, vision of St. Hildegard of Bingen, (feastday 9/17/2020)   https://www.womenoffaithssa.org/featured-resources-september-2017/