THE DREAM:

         I had a dream the other day.  I dreamt that I was suddenly standing before Our Lord Jesus and as He looked with loving eyes at me,

   He said: “I see you have brought your cross but where are your nails?”  Nails? I said curiously.  Jesus said: “Yes, nails!  For you see all those who were ever crucified were made to carry their nails around their waist or neck in a pouch. So where are yours?”  As I looked down and reached into my pouch and slowly raised my head with a blank and guilty look Jesus said:  “Please turn around” and as I did I suddenly saw all those whom I have nailed with my thoughts, actions and words.  It broke my heart and as I turned back around with tear filled eyes

JESUS SPOKE    “Remember when I spoke of the man who came to the altar with his sacrifice and suddenly realized those he had offended.  Then left his offering and went out to make amends with those he nailed. (Mt:5:22)  Remember in Ps. 50 and 51 what it is I seek and what I desire …your love, trust, praise and a humble and contrite heart.  Do this and become my Joseph of Arimathea who removed the nails from my cross. Go, now and do likewise and remove the nails of those whom you have nailed and forgive those who have nailed you too.  As it is written in II Chronicles 7 especially verse 14… “then if my people will humble themselves and pray and search me and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.” 

WHAT NOW     Then suddenly Jesus was gone.  I just blinked my swollen eyes as the tears ran down my cheek and He just wasn’t there. I stood there thinking of all I had nailed and all the scars of those hurts that I still held on to by all those whom I had refused to forgive again and again. It is how arguments turn into wars.  It isn’t easy that 7×70.  But you know: To err is human and to forgive is Divine.  It means I guess I need God more than ever in prayer and in His Word made flesh found in the scriptures, in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist as well as in each and every person. Because if God did not speak my name I would not exist.

TOOL BOX     I suppose that makes us all God’s word made flesh and He then, dwells within all of us and if this is true then the Crucifix makes all the sense in the world.  For as long as there are people being nailed by selfishness & sin there never will be an empty cross.  Besides if I am to share Jesus’ view of the world it will have to be from the cross where I can perceive what God’s love, mercy and forgiveness means to all those I have hated, despised, ignored, given up on and not loved as I should.  So, after knowing all of this may I confess if I have offended (nailed) you in any way I am sorry. Please forgive me. And only by God’s grace will I have the power to stay forgiven.

There were 3 nails:

1 for gratitude vs greed

1 for humility vs. pride

1 for love vs hate and indifference