Wounded by Love

Lent is to be approached with joy. (See Thomas Hopko's first chapter of Lenten Spring for a great explanation of this.)

And how can we not have joy as we anticipate our Lord’s Resurrection and try with our feeble little efforts to prepare our hearts?

But this week especially, the Church, seems to be filled with joy. The third Sunday of Great Lent, The Adoration of the Precious and Life Giving Cross always fills my soul with wonder. The Cross is beautifully adorned, usually with roses and basil, and processed around the Church. We sing, “Before Thy cross we bow down in worship O Sovereign Master, and Thy holy resurrection we glorify.” We make prostrations and our soul is lifted up in rejoicing as it beholds our Saviors’ arms outstretched upon the Life-Giving Cross. I always feel during this service that we are doing what we were created for – worship. Not that we aren't doing that every time we are in church.



And this year, due to the Feast of the Annunciation falling during the same week as the Adoration of the Cross the joy that the Church gives to us seems almost too much for the season of Lent. The Virgin Mary says “Be it done to me according to Thy will” and our Savior becomes incarnate. Wonder of wonders incomprehensible even to the angels! The hymns last night at church were beautiful! And it was good to be reminded that her “Yes” was given though in her understanding this meant she would be stoned to death according to the Jewish law for being unmarried and with child.

But as Lent continues these two celebrations also give us somber reminders. First, the cross reminds us that we have to deny ourselves and take up our own cross and secondly the Annunciation reminds us that like the Theotokos we need to prepare for Christ’s coming so that we may have the strength to somehow do as she did and say yes to our Lord though His ways seem strange and will cost us our lives.

But these somber reminders are mystically made possible through the Sacraments and our hearts being wounded by Love. Thanks be to God.

*Roses were a gift from my husband this past Saturday thus I am being attacked by love from all sides!
**Book in picture in entitled "Wounded by Love" and is the life of Father Porphyrios. Though I am still slowly working my way through the spiritual advice section of this book (the bibliography section was gobbled up quickly), I highly recommend this book.