Glorious Cross April 9
Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name (Gospel acclamation, Good Friday).
One sunny day, the moment arrived. To eyes not accustomed to the ways of nature, the event could have been seen as a stroke of bad luck. But there was another way to look at it. In a silent moment, after a time of maturation, the grain was suddenly displaced. Was it voluntary or not? Its natural place seemed to be on the stalk. But, by some mysterious force, the stalk made its grain fall. What terror in that free flight! With what impact would it hit the ground? What conditions would welcome its landing? Would it end up in a bed of recovery or death? Its anguish might have made it expect the worst. But despite all the uncertainty and fear in the grain’s eviction, the earth received it as a mother who disciplines her child toward adulthood. Painful, but necessary. Whether the grain wanted it or not, it was going to die, experiencing in its dark fall all the agony of birth pangs, because it was destined to be the source of future life. Its glory was not to stay in its limited place on the stalk, but, rather, to be transformed into new life in the tomb of resurrection. By this life-giving self-denial, the grain would be exalted in fruitfulness in full sunlight—like Christ.
One labors at the surface; beneath is the mystery. (Bahaya)
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