A Note From Fr. Tom
My dear friends in Christ, believe it or not, Holy Week has begun! This week, I would encourage you to stay close to the Cross with Mary and St. John as we await the joy of Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday. When we gaze at Jesus on the Cross, we see the perfect example of every single virtue. Here’s a great reflection by St. Thomas Aquinas:
“If you seek the example of LOVE: ‘Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.’ Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.”
“If you seek PATIENCE, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or, when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great.”
“If you seek an example of HUMILITY, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and die.”
“If you seek an example of OBEDIENCE, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.”
“If you seek an example of DESPISING EARTHLY THINGS, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, to whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.”
“DO NOT BE ATTACHED, therefore, to clothing and riches, because ‘they divided my garments among themselves.’ Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourging's. Nor to greatness of rank, ‘for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head.’ Nor to anything delightful, for ‘in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.’”
Please know of my prayers for you as we enter into this most sacred week of the year.
Peace,
Fr. Tom Skaja
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