For those of us who believe in Jesus we understand that the Holy Cross is one of the greatest mysteries—an instrument of torture becomes for us the sign of our salvation and sanctification. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Today in the Catholic Church we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. I would propose to you that all believing Christians should seek to remember the Passion of Christ and His agonizing death on the Cross each and every day, not just on a special feast day or on Sunday’s.

I would encourage you to create a new special memory with God and every day at 3pm, which is the time Our Saviour Jesus Christ died for us, see Jesus dying on the Cross for you! Each and every day, let this sacred moment at 3pm penetrate your heart with deep reverence and with profound spiritual understanding. Jesus loves His people so much! Jesus loves you so much!

The tragedy is that today many Christians do not think about the Passion of Christ or grieve the pain we caused Our Saviour Jesus!

Imagine suffering the most brutal torture and agonizing death by crucifixion and then to NOT be remembered!

One day St. Francis of Assisi was seen crying and he was asked, “why are you crying?”

This was St. Francis’ answer:

“I am weeping over the pains and insults of my Divine Master. But what grieves me most is that men for whom He suffered so much never think of the torments He endured.” ( Words of St. Francis of Assisi)

The sacrifice of Jesus has power over us if we choose to allow it to have power. The Cross of Jesus will transform us if we choose to allow ourselves to be transformed.

Does the woman who refuses to go out on a date with a man desirous of her company ever fall in love with him?  (Give Jesus a chance; get to know Him!)

What happens when we do fall in love?

If we have wronged that person prior to falling in love, how much do we grieve having hurt them?  (Never forget the price of your sins on the Cross and in this way you will never forget the greatness of Christ’s love for you!)

Once we are in love, how likely is it that someone else will catch our eye?  (Fidelity is born in the tender embrace of Our Saviour!)

ALLOW YOURSELF TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CRUCIFIED JESUS – SEE HIM ON THE CROSS SUFFERING FOR YOU!

God speaks to us in the Book of Isaiah with these powerful words:

“Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no one else.” Isaiah 45:22

I urge you to look at Jesus upon the Cross and fall in love with Him!  Jesus is your Saviour; He is the sole source of salvation!

The name of Jesus means, “God saves”. Jesus is the living God who incarnated and became man to redeem mankind and create an eternal home for all souls who will believe in Him.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17

What does it mean to you to believe in Jesus?

To me it means to understand that Jesus is Our Lord and Saviour, true God and true Man, the source of our redemption and sanctification. Jesus is God and God is love and I want my faith in Jesus to be a living testimony that I belong to Jesus and that I exist to please Him. I never want to forget the price of my sins and all the sins of mankind because in this way I keep the greatness of Christ’s love ever before my eyes and I stay focused on trying to please Jesus by serving Him and one another.

A Communion of Denial, of Suffering, of Hope, of Joy, of Purpose

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24

There is a mystery and a special grace in denial that is only understood when we truly begin to give up some of the worldly pleasures we have been focusing on.

I’ll tell you a little story of the night I fell in love with the man I married over 30 years ago. We were in Italy at a little café and we were only 17 years old. My cousin, Valentino, was there. He was an older man, a shepherd, who was very disabled, but so very cheerful and kind. That night we were sitting with him and talking when I realized that I didn’t want to go to dancing with the other teenagers. Suddenly the young man who would become my husband whispered to me “Why don’t we stay here tonight and keep Valentino company?” It was as though he read my mind. My cousin Valentino was physically crucified by disability but his spirit was God’s Spirit and in spite of the fact that he had difficulty communicating verbally, he could communicate his love with his gentle smile.

I still remember that night over 30 years ago because it was that night that I realized I was falling in love.  My future husband’s willingness to forgo the dancing and youthful entertainment to stay behind to quietly enjoy the company of my cousin touched my heart.   I discovered his kindness and willingness to honour a man who was so worthy of being honoured.

Who is more worthy than honour than Jesus Christ?

I have discovered that the more I deny myself, the more God indulges me giving me spiritual graces that enrich my soul and spiritual life. I have finally understood that it is upon the Cross where my holy communion with Jesus Christ occurs. He gives all to us on the Cross and we must also strive to give all to Him, patiently accepting whatever suffering life brings.

Jesus said to St. Faustina, “There is but one price at which souls are bought, and that is suffering united to My suffering on the cross. Pure love understands these words; carnal love will never understand them.” (Diary of St. Faustina 324)

Jesus endured the greatest suffering on the Cross for us and we must endure our crosses too. Just as Jesus endured and prayed for our salvation and gave up all for us, we must strive to follow His holy example.

A Prayer to Jesus

Holy Lord, I never want to forget how much You suffered on the Cross to save us!  Each day at the solemn time of 3pm, I will remember Your sorrowful Passion and pray for Your mercy upon our world so broken by sin. I am so deeply sorry that we have hurt you so much with our sins and I pray that we may now become a source of comfort, of consolation and of joy to You and one another. You are my heart’s desire Lord Jesus! I give You my heart, broken and contrite. Please fill me with Your grace so that I can fulfill the plans You have for me. Thy will be done Jesus! All glory and honour be Yours sweet Saviour. Reign in my heart today and always! I love You Holy One!