Reflections: Sunday, April 3, 2005
THE
SUNDAY OF THE CROSS
Every major effort often
brings fatigue and sometimes discouragement before its conclusion. This is the
reason for today's special feast.
We have reached the half-way
mark of our Lenten journey. On this joyous day, the Church, acting as the compassionate mother, presents
to us the blessed Cross in order that we may receive the spiritual strength
needed to continue our Lenten journey with its special requirements and not be
overcome by its burden.
Friends, for whom Christ was
pinned to the Cross: This awesome and
blessed symbol is our source of invincible power and protection. It is our
inspiration, upholding the just and giving hope to us sinners. It is the great
symbol of victory.
Furthermore, the Cross has
procured for us the "everlasting
glory". It is the "impregnable foundation",
the "door of paradise",
the "strength of believers"
and the secure "weapon against
Satan." Yes, it is the "glory
of martyrs and their adornment".
The death of the Savior on
the Cross has transformed this former symbol of shame and death into a symbol
of glory and life. Yes, the mystery of
the Cross is the pride and glory of all who accept the Lord who willingly
endured his awesome Passion and Death.
The Cross is offered to us
today and planted in our midst that we may find health, strength and courage to
live our life united with Christ. Embrace it with abiding faith and love. May His Cross lead us from earth to heaven.
(FrJSD)
"Shine, Cross of the Lord, shine with the light
of thy grace upon the hearts of those that honor thee. With love inspired by
God, we embrace thee, O desire of all the world.
Through thee our tears of sorrow have been wiped away; we have been delivered
from the snares of death and have passed over to unending joy. Show us the
glory of thy beauty and grant to us thy servants the reward of our abstinence,
for we entreat with faith thy rich protection and great mercy."
Commentary
HOLY CROSS: OUR TREASURE
Our Lord said “where your treasure is there
will your heart be also.” (Matt 6:21) I am reminded of that as we
celebrate today the great feast of the Holy, Precious and Life-giving Cross and
in conjunction we remember our
I attended our
College/Seminary from 1955 to 1961. In
those days the facilities were minimal and a far cry from what we see
today. Nevertheless, while the physical
plant has been improved tenfold, the number of students in
the College and
While funds are always
difficult to come by, God somehow always provides. Our people, especially those
close to the Schools, have been the most financially supportive. But one area
still has not been given the boost it needs: vocations to the priesthood. Our Church in
How can we reverse this
trend? Parents and priest need to work
together to identify young men who exemplify a desire to be close to the Lord
and to aggressively recruit them for ministry. In the 42 years of the existence
of our parish, we have not sent any students to the Seminary. And that should concern you
as much as it does me. Encouragement of those young men and women who show an
interest should be a priority. The
future of our community in
Furthermore,
in addition to the annual Benefit Luncheon we have been holding for many years,
the Parish Council/Parish Assembly needs to heed the advice of yours
truly and place an annual line item in
our Operations Budget, in support of the
work of these two institutions. Also those individuals who have the
financial capabilities should come forth, as did the Yorgiadis
family. Let us remember that without priests to serve our church, there is no
Church.