Dear Parishioners and Friends,

These days more and more I find myself looking into the eyes of the crucified Lord on the Cross, begging Him to show all of us in the Church and the whole world the right path.  (I hope that you had time to read the address by Pope Pius XII inserted in the bulletin last week and on the website.) I know that many are praying in the same way.  With our fervent prayers we also offer up our sacrifices and penances.  Though not worthy to even look upon His Most Holy Face, when I dare to catch His piercing gaze, I see no malice or anger, only innocence, purity, tenderness, and above all love. I see in His eyes pity and hurt, maybe even tears, if that is possible, because He is wounded by His wayward brothers and sisters.  His kindness and sympathy never fail to disarm us and then win us to his side. He will not abandon us during our hour of need.   In fact, our sufferings are united to His.  That is good theology. From the cross He draws all men to Himself.   All is grace!

Though Jesus was without sin, He took all sins upon Himself for the sake of our redemption.  Nevertheless, His love did not in the least diminish the pain and agony He bore for our sins in His crucifixion and death. In fact, His love deepened His pain.  Have you ever noticed that the more you love the more you suffer when separated from that loved one or when he or she hurts? Jesus’ suffering was real, not fake.  His feet, hands, and side were pierced through by the cruelty of mankind’s rebellion against His Father. What is very sad is that in His Church there are always those, who pledge to lay down their lives for Him; but then betray Him.   The first was Judas.  Then all the apostles eventually ran away. The beloved disciple John was the first to return and stand next to Mary and the other holy women at the foot of the cross.  So must you and I. Here is where we belong in the midst of the scandals of our time.    We then entrust ourselves through the Immaculate Heart of Mary to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In fact, the horror of mankind’s sins was so great that Jesus cried out from the cross: “My God My God why hast thou forsaken me (Mt. 27:47)?”   He was not in despair.  He knew what He was doing and why.  “I have not been confounded; therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; He who vindicates me is near (Isaiah 50:7-8).” The depths of mankind’s revolt for all time were heaped upon Him.  St. Paul writes (Romans 5:20): “And where sin abounded, grace did more abound.”  The gates of heaven were then thrown open and all sin could be forgiven for those who sincerely repent.   Love triumphed and continues to triumph.  

From the cross Jesus cried out: “I thirst (John 19:28)”.  He thirsts for souls, yours and mine, pleading for us to drink the life-giving waters of grace.  Unless, we drink this water, our souls will die of thirst.    Finally, after commending Himself to His Father, He proclaimed that the work of redemption was now established for all time: “It is consummated! (John 19:30).” The poison has an antidote that works. Blood and water flowed from His side to point us to His Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, that gives us courage; and the waters of Baptism, that wash us clean and make us sons and daughters of our Father in heaven.  This new life flows in the most efficacious way in all seven sacraments. Though the human race did its worst, Jesus did His best.   From His wounded side the Church was born and remains until He returns.  We live in that Church of All Time.      

At the end of the Gospel at Mass today, we learn a powerful lesson from the Master, from another perspective. Our Lord teaches the apostles and all of us the best way to be great in the eyes of God. We must not let ourselves become corrupted by the world, the flesh, and the devil.  Who is not touched by the words: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me, but the One who sent me (Mark 9:37)?”  In Mathew 18:3 Jesus solemnly teaches: “Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”    Is this not already a glimpse of the Resurrection and the glory of souls in heaven?  Indeed, all are called to become like little children to know, love, and serve God in this world so as to be happy with Him forever in the next.  Though brutalized in His crucifixion and death, Jesus remained the innocent one, who could save because He is God.   No one else could have atoned for our sins.  The salvation of souls and the survival of civilization depend on this truth. We see in the “little child” the triumph of the cross that will come to perfection in heaven in those pure and innocent souls, who, by the grace of God, refuse to be corrupted by the world; who mirror the goodness of God Himself no matter what, in season and out of season, all lifelong. May our souls be preserved unto life everlasting.

“For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).” 

Yours in her Immaculate Heart,