Fr Mario Attard, San Ġwann
A day for deep personal reflection (1)
Good Friday reminds us of Jesus' trial. For a number of reasons explained and unexplained, life is full of trials. Irrespective of the way they are conceived and lived, trials per se bring about anguish on those who suffer them. Think for example when a person is continually persecuted by another person, situation or state of mind.
In these difficult moments what stands to reason is primarily trust in Our Lord's mercy. The crucified Christ inspires us how to behave when confronted with any sort of persecution. "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly" (1 Pt 2, 23).
God's word gives us a lot of courage in our daily ordeals. "If God is for us, who is against us...? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Rom 8, 31.35).
It all boils down to our personal relationship with the crucified and risen Lord who transcends any kind of authority both in the world and in the Church. Thus goes on the aforementioned letter: "For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8, 38-39). He is the Lord of everyone and everything!
In times of great trials let us remember with great hope and confidence St Paul's exhortation in his letter to the Philippians: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil 4, 13). Let us rest assured of Jesus' greatest promise for all times: "I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matt 28, 20).
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Robert Attard
Apr 11th 2009, 09:23
I guess the cross could symbolise torture for those who do not believe.
carmel.pule
Apr 9th 2009, 17:35
My teenage years were spent in UK at Chatham Dockyard and later at Newcastle University. There were so many people who asked me to change my Christian religion to a more modern one. I was often invited to discuss the matter with my clleagues.
Europe's civilised way of life seem to have been atttributed to a Christian Doctrine even if Europe does not obey all the ten commandments and some changed the original versions. Christ seem to have found a reasonable formula for a healthy human life caring for both social and spiritual aspects.
It would appear that Europe's Christian Pasts , though full of human errors seem to have brought about adecent living code for many European nations and even political orientations associalism and communism and democractic ways all seem to bear the origins of Christianity. Letus hope that the results and success and advocating of charities tothe neededwill not attract Non Christianfundumentalists inenough numbers that will eventually destroythe hand and philosophies that cared for them. Such a pity that the sign of the cross was thought to be unessary on the necklace of BEA airhostess and even as beingoffensive in some school classes with a mixed religions.