Saturday, April 18, 2009

the cross and the upper room

In his humility, Christ entered the dark regions of our fallen world and he is glad that he became so humble for our sake, glad that he came and lived among us and shared in our nature in order to raise us up again to himself. And even though we are told that he has now ascended above the highest heavens - the proof, surely, of his power and Godhead - his love for man will never rest until he has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with his own in Heaven. So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him.

St. Andrew of Crete, 8th century, Archbishop of Crete.
 
We cannot forget this journey is always and forever about love. His radical love and mercy is beyond our imagining. His justice is also beyond our imagining. The cross shows us both His great love, and great justice. These two, love and justice, are why you and I can never assume a thing. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, St. James tells us. If love is our goal, it is what we must do. St. Paul said that he presses on because he has not reached the goal. Here is the question we must ask ourselves throughout these days we are given, "How much does Jesus love me?" If we ask this often, we will find we are loved madly! His love for us never takes a day off. His desire for our love given back to Him is our hope for union with God. The next question is this, "How much do I love You Lord?" Ask this with great honesty. I ask Mary to show me how to love her Son. She always points me to the cross and to the upper room, the two places of His Passion and death. His love for us is deeper than any depth we can fathom. Let us pray to love Him with abandon. He is risen!
 
wkm
 
St. Andrew of Crete with St. Mary of Egypt

No comments: