Lent - Day 45 (22/4/2011)

The Road that Leads to Heaven

John 18-19

"Through the Cross both happiness
And life are given,
For there is no other road
That leads to Heaven.

On the Cross there hangs the Lord
Of Heaven and earth
And amid the stress of war
Peace comes to birth.
All the evils of our life
Far off are driven;
For there is no other road
That leads to Heaven.

A precious palm-tree is the Cross,
So says the Bride,
Which her Beloved One has scal'd,
His arms stretch'd wide;
And its fruit a savour sweet
To God has given;
And there is no other road
That leads to Heaven.

The Cross is like an olive-tree,
Fair to the sight,
Whereof the holy oil provides
Healing and light.
Wherefore, my soul, embrace
the Cross,
happy and shriven,
For there is no other road
That leads to Heaven.

'Tis a tree all wondrous green,
Tree of desire;
In its shade the Bride sits down
With love afire,
Rejoicing in her Lover dear,
The King of Heaven,
For there is no other road
That leads to Heaven.

When a soul unto its God
Submits indeed
And from every worldly thing
Is wholly freed,
To it as a tree of life
The Cross is given,
And a path delectable
That leads to Heaven.

Since the Lord embrac'd the
Cross,
And for us died,
Honour has surrounded it:
'Tis glorified.
Lide and happiness it brings
When we have striven:
'Tis the surest road to take
That leads to Heaven.

(A meditation on the Cross by St Teresa of Avila - 16th Century Spanish mystic)

Prayer
Lord, help me courageously take the surest road that leads to Heaven.

From Contemplation to Action
What is the Cross that is before me now, that I shrink from?
How can I take up this Cross?
What are my fears?
How can I overcome them?
What are the risks?
How can I embrace all the risks that are involved - when I take up this Cross?