Heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance. Reflection: The St. Junípero Serra that California needs right now
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (Jn 19:32-34)
The Gospel accounts of Jesus' last moments are very sparing in words. All Evangelists except Saint John concludes the account of Golgotha's events with the description of Christ's death and his placing in the grave. St. John, with his penetrating loving look, sees a seemingly insignificant detail, which, however, testifies to the great hope and fulfillment of the Old Testament announcement of the prophet Zacharias: They will look at the one whom they pierced.
(cf. Zech. 12:10). The beloved Disciple tells the truth about the event he experienced. He describes the puncture of Jesus' Side: “but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.”
(Jn 19: 34). This is the secret of love, this is the revelation of the love of the Divine Heart of the Savior. Even after his death, Jesus never ceases to give love. He lets his side open with a spear, he lets us see His Heart - the Source of love.
Jesus died at 3pm. At this hour we worship God's Mercy. In the image of Merciful Jesus we see two rays symbolizing water and blood flowing from Jesus’ pierced Heart. Is it not eloquent that blood and water flowed straight from the open side and the Heart pierced with a spear? This blood and water are symbols of the subsequent gifts of God's loving Heart: blood - symbolizes the Eucharist, a living reminder of the salvific sacrifice of the cross; water - is a symbol of the sacrament of baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is received by the believers in Jesus. In addition, the blood expresses the real sacrifice of the Immaculate Lamb for the salvation of the world, and the water - the spiritual fertility of this sacrifice.
The Piercing of the side of the Savior becomes the last revelation of love. It is so important for Saint John that he confirms it with a special assurance of the truth of this event: he who saw it testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth that you may also believe. For it happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled: His bone would not be broken. (cf. Jn 19:35-37) Again the Scriptures say elsewhere: They will look upon him whom they have pierced (cf. Zech 12:10). Let's try to see together with Saint John in the Side of Crucified a sign of love which, through
a total gift of itself, again creates man according to God.
On Jesus, therefore, the prophecy is fulfilled. Jesus came to fulfill the Scriptures and to fulfill them to the end (cf. Mk 14, 49). Today, Jesus teaches us sacrifice but also mercy. He wants us to be merciful towards those we meet. He also wants us to pray for the conversion and salvation of sinners. Let's answer Jesus' desire. Let us thank Him today for the sign of His pierced Heart and for His mercy.
LIVE THE WORD!
Look at your trust in Jesus. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for all sinners.
Reflection
The St. Junípero Serra that California needs right now
“In recent days, rioters have pulled down and desecrated statues of St. Junipero Serra in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, after local authorities in Los Angeles approved the removal of another of his statues outside Ventura City Hall.
Last week, the Los Angeles Times reported that Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, along with representatives from the Barbareño/Venureño Band of Mission Indians and Father Tom Elewaut, a Catholic priest based at the San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura, had issued a joint statement agreeing to take down the statue of Serra outside Ventura City Hall and have it “moved to a more appropriate non-public location.”
In Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, activists pulled down another statue of St. Junipero Serra. A video of the incident shows those in attendance cheering as the statue is toppled. One person can be seen hitting the statue with their fists and another person hitting it with a skateboard once it has fallen to the ground.
On Saturday, 100 people reportedly helped to topple a statue of the missionary saint with ropes on Olvera Street in Los Angeles. In a video of the incident, one participant can be heard saying “this is for our ancestors” as the statue came crashing down. The bishops of California have issued a carefully worded statement on June 22 expressing their disapproval of the tearing down of several statues of St. Junipero Serra, who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015.
The bishops failed to condemn the tearing down of the statue of a Catholic saint who made heroic sacrifices to advance the welfare of the indigenous people of California. They only asked that for this process of tearing down statues is “to be truly effective as a remedy for racism, it must discern carefully the entire contribution that the historical figure in question made to American life, especially in advancing the rights of marginalized peoples.”
In other words, as long as this criterion is met, tearing down a statue, and thus destroying public or private property, could be justified, according to the bishops of California. The bishops’ statement referred to another statement from June 20, made by San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.
He asked, “What is happening to our society?”
You can read at: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/california-bishops-fail-to-condemn-tearing-down-of-saints-statue-in-weak-statement
For me, Brothers and Sisters, this is sacrilege. Sacrilege (Latin sacrilegium, robbing a temple, from sacer, sacred, and legere, to purloin.) Sacrilege is insulting a place, object or person dedicated to God; profanation of the church, desecration of the altar, destruction of the relics, theft of objects of worship, use of sacred objects or places for non-religious purposes, rape of people who lead consecrated life. If sacrilege is committed, the Catholic Church instructs the community of the faithful to expiate and re-consecrate the holy thing (e.g. reconstruction of the temple); sacrilege as a grave sin is punishable according to the provisions of the Code of Canon Law (including excommunication); the perpetrator is obliged to repair the damage (i.e. restitution); in criminal law, acts of sacrilege may be punishable as offenses against religious rights.
That is why our bishops should call us to these places. We must kneel there and ask God for forgiveness of the sin of sacrilege. Any messages from frightened people will not help. Only prayer has the power and strength to change us and our brothers
Until Tomorrow
fr. george