The Power of the Cross, Friday of the first week of Lent, the cross of Christ teaches us reconciliation.

Ask, is there anyone I do not love?

In what way can I allow the love of Christ to control me?

Seek.

Allow the image of the cross of Christ the price Jesus paid to redeem all creation

to dominate your thoughts when you find yourself growing angry at someone.

Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be reconciled to those who have hurt you.

Knock.

Meditate on 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 14 through 15.

The love of Christ overwhelms us when we reflect that if one man has died for all,

then all men should be dead.

And the reason he died for all was that

living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for them.

What controls you? What motivates you from the moment of your rising to the point when you take your rest at night? Dwelling on Paul's words,

ask the Lord to fill you with his love

so that it may be the controlling force in your life.

Transform your life.

Jesus told his disciples to be reconciled before coming to the altar with their sacrifice.

If we carry anger or sin, we need to be reconciled to Christ before coming to receive him in the Eucharist.

This may mean making contact with people whom we have heard and asking their forgiveness.

We should also go to confession regularly, so that Holy Communion is a true sign of communion with God and all his creatures.