Joy in Christ’s Loving Gaze

For they are where my joy rests, 

For in the world you can never appease men, 

But my joy is in appeasing Christ. 

“He who pleased God was loved;

He who lived among sinners was transported – snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; ” Wisdom 4, 10-11

I hang on to the Cross, as the Tree of Life. Seeing as Christ, held on to the cross, as he was rejected by men and scorned. Yet, His joy was found in appeasing the Father. Going against the world, I have found when I compromise to appease men, it is the self love of leaving the foot of the Cross and running like Peter and the others. Yet, when my heart races and fear consumes me when I am humiliated or in disagreement with men, I find myself close to the Cross like St.John. The fear is nailed to the cross of my self love, for in God I find the joy of my soul ; the strength to be loved by God alone and love others not for my sake to be loved but for God’s. 

Holy Spirit grant me Prudence, 

Holy Spirit grant me Counsel, 

Holy Spirit grant me Fortitude, 

and all the gifts my soul needs to battle against the false love of the world, but say Lord Jesus, may thy will be done. 

Pax vobis, 

Umbra Dei.