Retreat Day 10 AM: The Cross that Heals

Retreat Day 10 AM: The Cross that Heals March 24, 2010

Photo: Gregory A. Shemitz

“When the dire venom of beasts came upon them,
and they were dying from the bite of the crooked serpents,
your anger endured not to the end.
But as a warning, for a short time they were terrorized,
though they had a sign of salvation, to remind them of the precept of your law.
For he who turned toward it was saved,
not by what he saw,
but by you, the savior of all.
And by this also you convinced our foes
that you are he who delivers from all evil.”

– Widsom 16:5-8

These are difficult days, but do not be afraid.

“God heard the groaning of a world made helpless by sin and death. Just as the Israelite in the desert were healed by the sign of the serpents who were poisoning them, so also the human race is healed by the sign of the death which was destroying us until the Lord Jesus was lifted up on the cross to free those condemned to die.” (Source)

God hears your groaning; do not be afraid.

“Are you assailed by the temptation of the serpent? Then gaze at the mystical serpent lifted up on Calvery; see there our Lord victorious and triumphant in his bodily death and the cross will provide a healing remedy.”
— St. Augustine

“There is a balm in Gilead; ” Do not be afraid.

“Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

— John 12:31-32

There is nothing to be afraid of.

Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”

–Psalm 102: 19-21


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