Devotional Thought of the Day:

⁴  I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace. Titus 1:4 (NLT)

772      These are the unmistakable signs of the true Cross of Christ: serenity, a deep feeling of peace, a love which is ready for any sacrifice, a great effectiveness which wells from Christ’s own wounded Side. And always—and evidently—joy: a joy which comes from knowing that those who truly give themselves are beside the Cross, and therefore beside Our Lord.  (1)

It is one of the greatest Paradoxes of our faith.

That a place of torture would be the place we find serentiy.

That a place of horrific death is the place we will find the greatest of peace.

That the place where we give up our desires, where our very being is sacrificed, is the place where our lives truly begin.

The Cross of Christ,

The place where we are joined with His death.

In  a week where a friend’s mom lies in critical condition, where another is dealing with great grief, where the politics of my church body are extremely frustrating, and churches are struggling and not being strengthened, there should be a lack of peace. I could go on and on, as our church on Sunday had 134 different people, families and groups to pray for, and we did,  ( Everytime we get down to 100, it seems to grow back up)

Except for the cross, the cross where we can bring those burdens, those anxieties, those sins, both that we commit, and are committed against us.  All three sacraments lead us back to there, as we are joined to His death in baptism, as we feast on His Body and Blood, given and shed there, and the absolution that is ours, as our sins are atoned for and washed away….

It is at that cross where we find ourselves joined to Him… and that is enough…..and more.

Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 2773-2776). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.