April 10, 2009
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With the Timbers of the Cross, Christ Built His Church
(From the catechesis by St. John Chrysostom, bishop.)
If we wish to understand the power of Christ’s Blood, remember where itcame from, how it ran down from the Cross, flowing from the Master’s side. The Gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung on the Cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out Water and Blood. Now the water was a sign of baptism and the Blood of the Holy Eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord’s side and breached the wall of the sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb; the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.
There flowed from his side Water and Blood.
Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that Water and Blood symbolized Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from Baptism, the cleansing water that gives re-birth through the Holy Spirit, and from the Holy Eucharist. Since the symbols of Baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Moses gave a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!
As God then took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion woman, so Christ has given us Blood and Water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the Blood and Water after his own death.
Do you understand, then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat?
By one and the same food we are both brought into being and are nourished. As a woman nourishes her child with her own blood and milk, so does Christ unceasingly nourish with his own Blood those to whom he himself has given life.
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Comments (25)
It is nice to see you back.
and hugs.
Nice to see you again. Wishing you a happy and blessed Easter!
Thank you for posting this. I actually read it before I read the office of readings and it was very good to encounter it twice.
Hmm, I loved that in the Office readings! I spent 12+ hours at Church yesterday!!
I’ve never done a Good Friday service before.
BTW, SJAB told me you sent a nice letter… any chance nosy me could see it?
Hope you had a blessed Lent and a wonderful Resurrection Day!
I shared this with my red-headed sister, and she said, “Wow… that’s heavy.” I hope she keeps thinking about it!
HAPPY EASTER, once more!
Happy Easter, Jacob!!!
I had never heard that interpretation; the water coming from Christ’s side as a symbol of baptism. I like it though, it is very fitting.
thanks =)
i am learning more about St.John Chry
@Rhamiel@revelife - You can hardly go wrong with that! Thanks for stopping by and for the friend invite. I went to your site to see who was inviting me, and as soon as I saw the ashes on your head it was quite a simple decision.
Welcome, brother!
thanks for the comments jacob! adn this entry is great it explains it very well
you know, its funny because i do know all that. growing up with the knowledge that i am a daughter of God and that He knows me personally and loves me, makes me feel as though i am worth so much.
but, even though i KNOW all this and have felt His love for me so many times when i have been at low points in my life, somehow having an ed and suffering depression takes it all away. that knowledge is there. but its smothered. if that makes sense lol.
so even though i know He loves me, i dont feel like anyone really does. because im not “perfect” (but there’s WAY more to it than just that).
@s2__light_as_a_feather__s2 - Each person is so much a mystery, with God at the very heart of it, and you are no exception to that! So I am sure there is far more to it that you could articulate easily. I am happy, though, that you know of God’s love and that you have experienced it! Just remember and try to think about it as often as possible, even when things are going very well.
It is hard, too, to really believe in that love and let it change our lives when we know so well our imperfections. It would seem that these imperfections should keep us away from God. But because Jesus died for you, because Jesus took your place on the Cross, because the very Spirit of God dwells in you… when God our loving Father looks upon you, sister, he doesn’t just see you, but he sees his own Son, who is perfect and beloved of the Father.
Besides the love that God has for you, besides the love of all the angels and all those in heaven, I can assure you, too, of my love, which you will always have, even should we never meet, even should I never really get to know you. You are beloved of God, the God that I love very much, so I love you because he loves you, and I love who he loves. Granted some people are very hard to love! But with the heart you have been revealing to me slowly through your blog and comments, even if it is not a complete picture, I know that yours is a heart capable of being loved.
God bless you, sister, and may you come to experience and realize more and more how truly loved you are in every moment of your life.
honestly, i dont think it is humanly possible to comprehend His love for each of us. I understand the principles of the atonement, however to fully understand it… i dont think i’ll ever get to that point here on earth. i hardly think its possible for anyone to fully come to that understanding in this mortal existence.
so are you catholic?
@s2__light_as_a_feather__s2 - That I am! And all things are possible with Christ…
I’m sorry I haven’t responded to your kind and loving comments! Thank you, as always. It’s fantastic to have you back. You’re sort of… like the voice of reason, and it was strange without you around. There was a void! But, like I said, glad to have you back.
I hope you’re doing well!
yes, i know =)
I miss you!
So, not to sound presumptuous or confrontational (but probably sounding it anyway), might I ask why you’re commenting on the hypersexualized Mancouch? Pearls before swine, sir.
Well, if you’re actually having success, then more power to you. Good luck.
thankyou so much for that! you are such a strong support. =)
im going through a very hard point in my life right now. and church is helping me. i honestly dont know what i’d do without the gospel in my life and the greater knowledge i have of this existence.
its interesting though… i know that we have doctrinal differences in our beliefs… but i want you to know that i still respect you for being so Christlike; i guess you have to be!!! haha you’ve chosen that as your profession =P
ps. umm im sorry i use so much crude language in my posts… here is a place for me to vent all my feelings out because i cant in my day-to-day life. im not actually like that in person lol =/
@s2__light_as_a_feather__s2 -
dont worry, i do!!!! like i said earlier, the atonement is something i am SOOOOO grateful for. i’d have nothing to hope for if Christ had not paid the ultimate price for us.