Why are we so obsessed with knowing everything? If we hear a little bit of gossip, we clamor to find out more. The advertising world knows this. That is why they release dribbles of information to pique our interest and keep us wanting more. It is also what drives many people to constantly question when Jesus Christ will return to earth. People present themselves as "prophets" to proclaim that they know when the world will end. They tell us that Jesus is coming on a certain date. But the scriptures are very clear on this matter. Jesus himself tells us in Acts of the Apostles 1:6-8, So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth." Now Jesus tells us to have faith and believe without seeing. He told us everything we needed to know to live a good life, filled with His grace given freely. It is nothing we need to earn but it is something we should protect. We should strive to live like Jesus did when he was on earth. That is what we should be focused on. That is the difficult path we are asked to walk. How do we transform this world? By living everyday like Jesus did. We must love each other. We must treat each other with kindness. We must not kill, lie or cheat. It sounds simple but putting it into practice is difficult. There is an interesting book out now called The One. The main premise that the author proposes is to find the one thing you will be good at and focus all of your energies on that one thing. Shouldn't that be living a Christ-like life? It will take all of your effort but the reward is certainly worth it.
I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...