Thorns + Kisses

There he hangs—pale figure pinned against the wood.
God grant that I may love Him as a I really know I should.

I draw a little closer to share that love Divine
And almost hear Him whisper, "Ah, foolish child of Mine!

If I should now embrace you
My hands would stain you red.

And if I leaned to whisper,
the thorns would pierce your head."

And then I knew in silence that love demands a price,
'twas then I learned that suffering is but the kiss of Christ.

-Caryll Houselander, "Kiss of Christ"

Reflect

The Church greets the Lord in the Holy Eucharist as the one who is coming now, the one who has entered into her midst. At the same time, she greets him as the one who continues to come, the one who leads us toward his coming. As pilgrims, we go up to him; as a pilgrim he comes to us and takes us up with him in his "ascent" to the Cross and Resurrection, to the definitive Jerusalem that is already growing in the midst of this world in the communion that unites us with his body.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: Part Two Holy Week: from the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection

Listen

For musical inspiration for your restful Sunday, listen to our BIS Rests playlist.

BIS Rests: Thorns + Kisses #BISblog #BISrests //Click to tweet

Curated by Christy Isinger. You can find out more about her here.

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