"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

Today is the feast of the Martyrdom of St John the Baptist... such an interesting comment on how he became "shortened" - by losing his head (decapitation); "but Christ died raised up by the lifting up of the Cross."  St Thomas Aquinas, doctor of the Church points out this graphic example of decreasing so that Christ can increase... Truly the Cross is the way we are lifted up from the darkness of the world and brought to the Tree of Life... fed with food that will bring us to life everlasting.

I can never listen to this and ponder it too often...Philippians 2:6-11  

"Though he was in the form of God,

Jesus did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped at.

"Rather, he emptied himself

and took the form of a slave

being born in the likeness of men."

"He was known to be of human estate
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!"

"Because of this,

God highly exalted him

and bestowed on him the name

above every other name,

So that at Jesus' name

every knee must bend

in the heavens, on the earth,

and under the earth,

and every tongue proclaim

 to the glory of God the Father:

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!"

More to ponder in line with this thinking... Words from Christ to us; "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."  (Mt 16:25)  Give it all to Him with Trust!

Looking at the false happiness that the world holds out to us... wealth, beauty, pleasure, etc... these words from Christ to us also are very "cutting off of our heads."  "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  Or what can one give in exchange for his life?"  Mt 16: 21
True happiness is not a life without any hardships - the cross - rather it is filled with those chances we are given to leave it all behind and follow Him down the narrow path - through the doors that are opened before us- showing us His Plan for us in life.  "The Cross looks like unbearable suffering, but, seen through the eyes of faith, it is the doorway to eternal glory."  see http://www.magnificat.com/

Jesus, fill us to capacity with your LOVE and your LIGHT!  We want to be empty of all the lies and distractions that lead us to sin and darkness.  It might seem wonderful and beautiful, but anything that seperates us from you is deceiving us from the Truth.  Your words once again..."I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6  We see this over and over as we fall and you help us to our feet, or we are weak and overwhelmed by life and you carry us in your loving and forgiving arms!  How many times must we forget and turn away?  May the time spent in prayer, reading your Word, and taking advantage of the lifegiving Sacraments... allow us to stay close to you and allow you to fill us with Your Life and Light.  May your Strong Words ring in our hearts, minds and spirits... Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in men:

it is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

I was hard-pressed and was falling

but the Lord came to help me.

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he is my savior.

There are shouts of joy and victory

in the tents of the just." 

Psalm118