- Romans 4:7-8 -


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Topic: Religions > Bible
User: "Trudie"
Date: 14 Sep 2007 11:32:55 AM
Object: - Romans 4:7-8 -
- Romans 4:7-8 -
"Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
_____________________________________________________________________
What can we do to get rid of guilt? David was guilty of terrible sins -
adultery, murder, lying - and yet he experienced the joy of forgiveness. We too
can have this joy when we (1) quit denying our guilt and recognize that we have
sinned; (2) admit our guilt to God and ask for his forgiveness; (3) let go of
our guilt and believe that God has forgiven us. This can be difficult when a sin
has taken root and grown over many years, when it is very serious, or when it
involves others. We must remember that Jesus is willing and able to forgive
every sin. In view of the tremendous price he paid on the cross, it is arrogant
to think that any of our sins are too great for him to cover. Even though our
faith is weak, our conscience is sensitive, and our memory haunts us, God's Word
declares that sins confessed are sins forgiven.
<<>><<>><<>>
September 14th - The Triumph of the Cross
This feast, known as "The Triumph of the Holy Cross" or "the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross" originated in the Western Church about the year 629. According to
tradition, it was on this date that the Emperor Heraclius recovered the relics
of the cross of Christ from the Persians who had taken them off in 614.
The story is told of the emperor carrying the Cross in procession, but when he
reached the Holy Places in Jerusalem, he was unable to proceed further. The
Patriarch Zachary, who was by his side, suggested that his imperial finery was
not in agreement with the humbleness of Christ when he bore this cross to
Calvary. The emperor is said to have changed to simple clothing, and going
barefoot continued in procession and placed the Cross where it had been
originally. The clergy and people venerated this cross and many miracles of
healing were said to have occurred at that time.
In the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches the feast is celebrated as the
"World-wide Exaltation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross." It is one of the
greatest feasts of the year and commemorates the finding of the cross and the
dedication of the Holy Churches at Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre. Egeria, a 4th
century pilgrim, tells us that the dedication of these churches, in the time of
Constantine, were set on the date of the actual finding of the cross. In the
East this feast commemorates more the finding of the cross and the dedications,
as well as a reported vision of St. Cyril of Jerusalem rather than its recovery
by Emperor Heraclius.
As this Western feast developed, the Eastern feast was moved to May 3rd
according to a Gallican usage. The feast day had a Palestinian origin and was a
festival celebrating the erection and dedication by Constantine of the basilicas
at the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary. The dedication festival was attended by the
bishops attending the Council of Tyre in 335. The festival also celebrated the
anniversary of the discovery of the cross by Constantine's mother St. Helen.
Our divine Redeemer is the spiritual king of our souls; and it is by the love
and spirit of his cross that he must reign in them. By this happy instrument he
has rescued us from the power of sin, and conquered death and hell. But do not
our sloth and malice still hold out against him? Have the boundless excess of
his love, and the omnipotent power of his grace, yet triumphed over our hearts?
Is his holy cross planted there? Does it daily grow and spread itself in our
affections? The spirit of the cross, or of Christ crucified, is the spirit of
that perfect humility, meekness, charity, patience, and all other virtues, which
he preaches to us by his cross. So long as self-love, pride, sensuality, or
impatience finds any place in us, we are so far strangers to this spirit of
Christ, and enemies to his cross. We justly glory in this holy and sweet mystery
of love, in this most tender and precious memorial of our infinitely amiable God
and Savior, and of the price by which he has redeemed us, and made us by so many
new strict titles, his own. But can we look on a crucifix, or form the cross on
our foreheads, without being pierced with grief, and covered with shame and
confusion to see ourselves so little acquainted with it and its happy fruits; so
filled with the contrary spirit of the world. Let us most earnestly and
assiduously conjure our loving Savior, by his holy cross, and by his infinite
love and mercy, to subdue our obstinacy, to extinguish in us whatever opposes
his sweet reign, perfectly to form his spirit in our hearts, and entirely to
subject all our power and affections to himself. He promised that when he should
be exalted on his cross he would draw all things to himself. Is it possible that
the malice of our hearts should be able to resist so wonderful a mystery of
love. Let us beg that he fulfill his gracious word to us, and that his spirit of
humility, meekness, and pure love may at length triumph in us. Then we shall
begin to taste the most sweet hidden manna that is found in the cross, that is,
in the devout remembrance and contemplation of that mystery and in the
participation or imitation of it by patient suffering. Then shall we under stand
the glory, the happiness, and unspeakable advantages and treasures that are its
portion.
Saint Quote:
If thou hadst once entered into the mind of Jesus, and hadst tasted, yea, even a
little of his tender love, then wouldst thou care nought for thine own
convenience or inconvenience, but wouldst rather rejoice at trouble brought upon
thee, because the love of Jesus maketh a man to despise himself. He that loveth
Jesus and is inwardly true and free from inordinate affections, is able to turn
himself readily unto God, and to rise above himself in spirit.
- Thomas à Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ
Bible Quote:
11 Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace and pursue
it: 12 Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their
prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things. (1 Peter
3:11-12)
<><><><>
Hymn for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Lift high the Cross
Refrain
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.
Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.
Refrain
Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.
Refrain
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.
Refrain
So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.
Refrain
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