“near the cross, near the cross”
“Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life.” —John 3:16
“When I behold the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.” This traditional hymn simply says that when we look at the cross, we can change dramatically.
“They shall look on Him Whom they have pierced” (Jn 19:37). “The centurion who stood guard over [Jesus], on seeing the manner of His death, declared, ‘Clearly this Man was the Son of God!’ ” (Mk 15:39) When we see Jesus lifted up on the cross, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, we are drawn to believe and “have eternal life in Him” (Jn 3:14-15; 12:32). St. Paul transformed the most hardened hearts by speaking “of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). He proclaimed the gospel by displaying before the eyes of all Jesus Christ upon the cross (Gal 3:1).
Would you prayerfully consider looking for ten seconds daily at a representation of Jesus on the cross? This prayer in action will be the occasion for Jesus transforming you into a new person. You will proclaim with St. Paul: “May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through it, the world has been crucified to me and I to the world” (Gal 6:14).
Prayer: Jesus, may I always consciously live in the shadow of Your cross.
Promise: “It was thus that He humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross! Because of this, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name above every other name.” —Phil 2:8-9
Praise: The 4,200 white crosses erected in front of a local church, representing the number of babies surgically aborted in one day, have helped people realize the gravity of abortion.
Reference:
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio November 22, 2023"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.