Today we
venerate the cross of Jesus – the symbol of shame that became a symbol of
triumph a symbol of death that is now a symbol of everlasting life.
In God’s love
and mercy he sacrificed his only son to bring us to new life. Jesus’ death on this cross has forever
changed the cross in the Christian heart, from a symbol of despair to symbolize
God’s overwhelming love for his children.
In God’s love he
readily forgives us all our weaknesses, -- without hesitation; clutching us into
his embrace, comforting and consoling us – loving us as we desire love, -- as
we deserve to be loved.
Recently, I
spoke with a young woman who, for most of her life, did not feel love, God’s
love or the love of family, and especially the love of her father. Given up to foster care at a young age by
parents who were not ready to care for a child, -- she bounced from foster home
to foster home until she was finally settled, in her teens with her natural mother. As an impressionable young woman, she longed
for her father’s love, but (she) was told stories about her father that led her
to believe that he never loved her and never wanted her to be a part of his
life.
When she was in
her late twenties, her father sent word to her that he was dying and wanted to
see her. She had many reasons not to go,
but curiosity and a longing to confront the man who had abandoned her as a
child led her to make the trip to visit him on his death bed.
When she met her
father, -- a man, she discovered, who had never stopped loving his little girl –
a man who had suffered greatly the loss of his daughter because of the
hard-hearted-ness of others. She
discovered a man who loved her so much that he bent to the wishes of others; --
staying out of her life -- believing it was best for her.
She found
pictures of herself displayed in his home from various times of her life, -- in
a school play, -- on her sixteenth birthday; -- wearing her prom dress, -- all taken
and sent to him by a sympathetic relative.
When she spoke with him -- he knew every detail of her life as if he had
been with her throughout. She discovered
her father’s love was constant and unwavering, full and complete.
She carried away
from that meeting her father’s love and found new joy in her life – she said it
was as if she were reborn. But she also
now carried the lies she had been told by her mother all her life, -- lies that
denied her - her father’s love. It would
have been easy to transfer the hate she once felt for her father -- to her
mother, but the power of her father’s love overwhelmed her – showing her that
love conquers all; helping one to endure all manner of pain and sorrow. She prayed to God the Father for help and
guidance and found forgiveness in her heart.
As we approach
the cross today, let us too take all our hurt and disappointment, -- all our
pain and sorrow, -- all our suffering, hate and fear and lay them at the foot
of the cross. Let us place at the feet
of Jesus, all that separates us from the love of God and from one another – to be
reconciled with God -- to find love in our lives – love in our families and
friends – love in our relationships – and with all whom we meet.
For we are all
brothers and sisters, children of the one God – who’s sent His Son to live
among us:
- Taking on our human condition
- Teaching us of the Father’s love for us
- Showing us how we are to live in love with one another
- He endured the pains and sufferings of this world;
- Taking on all our sins and corruptions - to the cross of death transforming it into the Tree of Life
- All for love of us –
- To bring us to Life everlasting Kingdom of God's Peace and Love
~ Amen
Peace,
Deacon Don Ron
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