Exaltation and Church Class!

Today went by way too fast; I almost couldn't keep up.  By the time I knew it, work was over and I headed to my first spiritual direction meeting with Father at St. Mary's.  For an hour we talked about the current state of my life, my family, my work, and of course my spiritual life.  It felt good to get some things out and to discuss some of my problems and anxieties.  I plan on meeting with Father once a month to seek out guidance and talk about life in general.  Again, I am so fortunate and blessed to have a priest as my spiritual director!

Today is a very important feast day: the Exaltation of the Cross.  We focus on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross, and we don't just see the Cross as an instrument of death, but an instrument of salvation in the plan of God.  What a beautiful paradox of suffering and death which lead to joy and eternal life!  I'd like to share some of the antiphons from Morning and Evening Prayer from the Christian Prayer book:

Morning Prayer, 2nd Antiphon: "The Lord hung upon the cross to wash away our sins in his own blood.  How splendid is that blessed cross."

Morning Prayer, 3rd Antiphon: "How radiant is that precious cross which brought us our salvation.  In the cross we are victorious, through the cross we shall reign, by the cross all evil is destroyed, alleluia."

Evening Prayer, 1st Antiphon: "What a great work of charity!  Death itself died when life was slain on the tree."

Evening Prayer, Canticle of Mary Antiphon: "O cross, you are the glorious sign of our victory.  Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus."

What powerful phrases these are!  There is so much to contemplate in just the antiphons alone.  The idea of Christ's sacrifice is so contrary to our humanness, that "death itself died when life was slain" on the Cross baffles the mind!

Tomorrow, I'm attending my first class, Introduction to the Church, at the Diocesan Institute at the Cardinal Keeler Center in Harrisburg.  I never thought I'd be so excited to go to a class!  I think the reason why is that it's about the Catholic faith, and I've never had any formal classes like this growing up or in college; I went to a public elementary school and high school and a PA state university.  With the classes I'm taking, I plan on getting a basic catechist certificate, and then work toward another certificate with a concentration in RCIA and adult formation.  I look forward to being able to teach, if it is God's will!