Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8
Luke 9:43b-45
Reflection:
Wonder of His Love
The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” LK 9:22
We were impressed by the outpouring of love and affection in England at the funereal ceremonies of Queen Elizabeth II. Hundreds of thousands of people saw on the coffin the Queen’s scepter. On the top of the scepter is the cross of Jesus and under it was the most expensive diamond in the world, the 430 karat Star of Africa! Its value is so great that $400 million probably far underestimates its worth!
What a wonderful symbol of the value of the cross of Christ! We see close to the cross this incredibly precious jewel reminding the whole world of the worth of the Crucified Jesus’ love for us! Today is the feast day of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, affectionately known as Padre Pio. He once said, “If we only knew how God regards us, we would risk our lives to be present at a single Mass.” His devotion to the Eucharist was based on his faith that it contained the living and explosive love of the crucified Christ.
Padre Pio lived a beautiful life of prayer. He, like a host of saints, saw in the sufferings of Christ the amazing love of God for us. He was touched like his founder, St Francis, with the stigma of wounds of Christ! We all can imitate Padre Pio in his prayer life.
I feel that reading the quotes of the saints is the best way to understand them. The quotes of Padre Pio are quite moving. Here are some of Padre Pio’s quotes “Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.” “Prayer is the best weapon we possess, the key that opens the heart of God.” “My past, O Lord, to Your mercy; my present, to Your love; my future to Your providence.” He was a man of prayer inspired by the precious jewel of the Cross
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.