It is often said that God writes straight with crooked lines. This is Lent, a time of conversion and if the Almighty has ever peered down and saw a more crooked line – it’s me, folks! Fortunately, I’m in good company.
Okay, I did it again. Another family argument starts with one unthoughtful word and ends in an explosion. I just had to hurl the last hurtful word to my family. It flew from my lips like a dart with such precision that surely left a wound. I hang my head in shame, “I blew it again, Lord.”
Luckily, we have the cross as our strength; the cross, an agent of change. Our merciful Mother is reportedly appearing daily in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Hercegovina to visionaries since 1981. Only three of the original six see her daily as “Queen of Peace.” She comes with messages for world peace and speaks about the cross.
On March 18, 2015, Our Lady said,
“Dear children! I call you to, with complete trust and joy, bless the name of the Lord and, day by day, to give Him thanks from the heart for His great love. My Son, through that love which He showed by the Cross, gave you the possibility to be forgiven for everything; so that you do not have to be ashamed or to hide, and out of fear not to open the door of your heart to my Son. To the contrary, my children, reconcile with the Heavenly Father so that you may be able to come to love yourselves as my Son loves you. When you come to love yourselves, you will also love others; in them you will see my Son and recognize the greatness of His love. Live in faith! Through me, my Son is preparing you for the works which He desires to do through you – works through which He desires to be glorified. Give Him thanks. Especially thank Him for the shepherds – for your intercessors in the reconciliation with the Heavenly Father. I am thanking you, my children. Thank you.”
The entire message is included because she reveals much about God’s love and mercy. Wow! He said love comes from the cross. I do not have to be ashamed nor hide.
Again on Sept. 12, 1985, she said, “Pray, especially before the cross from which great graces are coming.”
How often have I looked at the Cross above our bed with apathy or indifference! I was reminded of that when the priest suggested I pray before the Cross. How had I forgotten about the abundance of graces that come to us from the blessed sign of our salvation?
The good news is that we as Christians always have a new day. Yes, we often equate the Cross with pain. We don’t want pain, but it’s through Jesus’s pain that out pain becomes something beautiful. I didn’t want to believe it myself, but yes, it’s true.
The pain you feel from a being snubbed once again? The Lord can make something beautiful from it if you offer it to Him. Finances are a bust? Offer it to Our Lord. Children away from the Church? Give it to Him who can take the thorns and gaping wounds in our lives and weave it into a magnificent tapestry.
A wise friend once told me, “There is no crucifixion without the resurrection and no resurrection without the crucifixion.” To me that means, so they go hand in hand. They cannot be separated.
Bravely, I swallow my pride and return to my family. I muster a weak, “I’m sorry. I was just upset about something else.” Still the hurt is there and now it will take some time to heal. I remember though, the resurrection will come.
Copyright 2015, Mary Mitchell
Mary Mitchell
Mary Mitchell, from Chicago, is a devout Catholic who likes to mix the divine truth with humor. She thinks it's the only way we can get through this life! Mary is the mother of three and has been married to her husband, Philip, more than 20 years. She has attempted to live the vows as a Secular Franciscan for about 20 years, but has a long way to go.
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