Day Seven
“People still avoid Jesus,” Fr. Gaitley points out in this morning’s reflection. Even with all the “meek and mild” paintings of Jesus looking at us from a kitschy face all painted up with eye liner and rouge, we know that Jesus Christ is “not a tame lion.” We know that we should regard Him, above all, on the Cross, in bloody agony, suffering the consequences of our greed and hatred. The true Christ frightens us, and many folks simply say “no thanks” to Christianity.
The Bible tells us that it all began with a woman (which is another reason folks say “no thanks” to our religion!). But Bible goes on to tell us of another woman, Mary, who gently corrected her sister Eve. She corrected Eve by suffering quietly at the foot of her Son's Cross. The Blessed Mother doesn't blame anyone for the violence that mars her life; she “just wants to heal the wound.”
Christ’s heart was slashed open on the Cross, pouring forth oceans of mercy. Mary’s heart was pierced as well, but she suffered quietly. We are afraid to look at the bloody gore on the Cross, but we are not afraid to look at the beautiful Mother. Even the US Postal Service still issues a stamp every Christmas with the most-painted scene in history of Mary with her Child. And we are that child. If you are afraid to look at God, don’t worry. God has given us a mother to “protect” us from his blazing omnipotence. Pray the rosary, with devotion, and you will surely see the God whom no man can see and live.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. Bring me, through Mary, to the Fountain of Mercy.
Novena Prayer to St. Joseph
O God, who in your ineffable providence, have chosen Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother and father to your Only Begotten Son. We beg that under his patronage our parish and school may flourish, teaching us to pray and leading us to heaven. To the glory of God the Father, through the grace of Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.