These are the words of the Introit in today's Mass. Yesterday in reading found Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, cursing the fig tree because He had found no fruit on it. Today, that same tree has withered, and this was commented on by the Apostles. The old fig tree represents the Jews and their religion, which had been favored. However, it has become stagnant. The religion that Jesus has been teaching is the True teaching, fulfilling the old, and will supercede that one at the moment when He expires on the Cross.
I'm going to end with another hymn; this one taken from the Greek Church, concerning the Passion:
The life-giving wound of thy side, O Jesus! like the fountain that sprang from Eden, waters the spiritual garden of thy Church. Thence, dividing itself into the four Gospels, as into so many master streams, it freshens the world, gladdens creation, and teaches all nations to bow down in Faith, and venerate thy kingdom.
Thou wast crucified for me, that thou mightest be to me as a fountain pouring out forgiveness upon me. Thou wast nailed to the Cross, that I, confessing the greatness of thy power in the depth of thy Passion, might sing to thee, O Christ, thou giver of life: glory be to thy Cross and Passion, O Saviour!
Thou, O Christ, didst, on thy Cross, tear the handwriting that was against us. Thou wast numbered among the dead, and there didst bind down the tyrant, and, by thy Resurrection, didst set us all free from the chains of death. It is thy Resurrection that has given us light, O God, thou lover of mankind! To thee do we sing: Remember us, also, O Saviour, in thy kingdom!
To thee, most merciful Lord, we bring thy Mother, that she may intercede for us, she that conceived thee and was a Virgin, she that gave thee Birth and was a spotless Virgin. May her prayers obtain from thee the unceasing pardon of sin to all that cry out to thee: Remember us, also, O Lord, in thy Kingdom.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: 'We can refuse His mercy, but cannot escape His justice.'
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