April 9, 2009

The Way of the Cross

13. The body of Jesus is placed in the arms of his mother

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

According to church tradition, Mary received the broken body of her son, laid in her lap by Joseph of Arimathea. Michelangelo's statue, Pieta, captures the poignancy of this moment.

Each Sunday the priest breaks the bread and remembers Jesus' broken body, given for us. Each Sunday we take the wine and remember Christ's blood poured out for us. Mary held the Body and Blood of Christ in a very different way, and it was not until much later, after the sorrow became joy, that she learned to call it Eucharist…great thanksgiving.

Sorrow and brokenness can be means of grace, if we can accept them. Can we sit with Mary and hold the body of Christ?

Word made flesh, the bread he taketh,
By his word his Flesh to be;
Wine his sacred Blood he maketh,
Though the senses fail to see;
Faith alone the true heart waketh to behold the mystery.
Therefore we, before him bending,
This great Sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes our inward vision clear.
 
Glory let us give and blessing
To the Father and the Son,
Honor, thanks and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing
Who from both with both is One.
Thomas Aquinas

Holy God
Holy and Mighty
Holy Immortal One
Have mercy upon us.

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