Blog by-the-Sea

Beneath the Cross

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet,
O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet!
As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven.

There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side
The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide
And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save
A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

- "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" by Scottish Presbyterian Elizabeth C. Clephane, 1868, published posthumously.

Picture: Crucifix in the Chapel of Reconciliation, Church of the Nativity, Rancho Santa Fe, CA.

Reflections on Holy Thursday

Each of us can uniquely be God’s instrument to touch those around us in whatever church we are at the moment.  Each person in a congregation can be that example of prayer, reverence, worship, remembered by someone sitting near us as an example of who and what a Catholic is.  When I was new to Nativity, it was a few people here and there, a woman sitting in the pews, a woman buying a rosary, a teenage boy who picked up the reading glasses I dropped, people who did simple things, who impressed me with the congregation.  It is the same in other churches that I have visited over the years.  If we understand that the church is different because we are a part of it, and that our very presence in the room changes it, can we more easily abide in the vine and let Him work through the gifts He has given us?

In Gethsemane, Jesus asked God to save him from this hour, but added “but for this cause came I unto this hour,” and added, “Father, glorify your name.”  (John 12:27-28).

We sing about the New Commandment that Jesus gave that day, to love one another (John 13:34) -- "ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est".  It is a commandment that Jesus gave after He washed His disciples feet, before they went out to the Mount of Olives to pray.  There, He told them to watch with Him one hour, and to pray that they enter not into temptation.  He spoke of love and obedience in his last hours with them.

He washed their feet, making Himself their servant, and told them to wash each other’s feet.  Then He asked them to watch with Him as He prayed.   He was already preparing them for their work after He would ascend into Heaven, when He would no longer be with them in human form.  They would need to minister to each other, love each other, and be the ones who do the watching more than ones who are watched.  He spoke to them more plainly (John 16:29).  They slept for sorrow, John’s Gospel says, as He encouraged them to watch with Him one hour and to pray to avoid temptation.  He too was overcome with sorrow, but He remained awake and prayed, and He awaited the arrival of the soldiers who would lead Him through a trial and the crucifixion.  As He said, “for this cause came I unto this hour.”

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est,
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est,
Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:
Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.
Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.
Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est,
Simul quoque cum beatis videamus.
Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus.
Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum:
Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.

- Gregorian Chant

English translation from Thesaurus Precum Latinarum: 

 Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ's love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear and let us love the living God,
And let us love Him with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
And may we also with the saints,
Gloriously see Thy face, O Christ.
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

- Gregorian Chant, words written ca. 5th Century, possibly earlier