What do people exalt in these day?
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If this populist culture even refers to that term at all, it certainly isn’t remotely connected to suffering.
But THIS day, it is, and has been since about the fourth century. It’s a Feast Day in the Church known originally as the Exaltation of the Cross. The reference changed, but not the feast, and it’s now celebrated as the Triumph of the Cross.
I love St. Paul. He’s always been a favorite for his zeal and clarity in evangelizing people both open and hostile. And I love how direct he was in confronting even those who believed the message, if they were slipping.
In today’s Liturgy of the Hours, the Office of the Readings has one of those great letters of St. Paul’s, in this case to the Galatians (though one could read ‘modern day Christians in America, Europe, Eastern Europe, Australia…)
You senseless Galatians! Who has cast a spell over you–you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was displayed to view upon his cross? I want to learn only one thing from you; how did you receive the Spirit? Was it through observance of the law or through faith in what you heard? How could you be so stupid?
We need this kind of preaching around today.
After beginning in the spirit, are you now to end in the flesh? Have you had such remarkable experiences all to no purpose–if indeed they were to no purpose? Is it because you observe the law or because you have faith in what you heard that God lavishes the Spirit on you and works wonders in your midst?
Great questions. Snaps you out of complacency, or at least that’s his intention. Great teachers teach best that way.
Benedict has been doing a magnificent job of that this week.