THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY - Church of the Virgin ...

This is the real Power of a heart full of love, who toleratesthose who trespass against Him, loves them, prays for themand sacrifices Himself for their sake.Who of us can follow the same example and when insulted byanother inferior to his rank, would forgive, defend and alsopromote him!St. Peter, the Apostle, drew his sword to defend his Masterwhen they arrested Him and he cut off the slave's ear notunderstanding power in its Christian spiritual concept, so theLord asked him to put his sword back. It is good to have HolyZeal, but violence is not our way. Our way is love. With thislove the Lord healed the slave's ear and surrendered to thesinners for whose redemption He came...Sts. John and James the Apostles also did not understand thereal meaning of power and when the Lord Christ was rejectedby a City, the two apostles said, "Lord, do you want us tocommand fire to come down from Heaven and destroy them?"But He turned and rebuked them: "You do not know whatmanner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not cometo destroy men's lives but to save them.” (Luke. 9:54-56). Inthe same way, the Lord came willfully to the Cross, to give Hislife a ransom for many...My brethren, when we stand near the Cross, we do not weep asdid Mary Magdalene and the daughters of Jerusalem.. nor dowe pity the Lord nor blame Him, we stand near the Cross toglorify both the Cross and the Crucified, singing thebeautiful hymn:22