(Hos.11:1,3-4,8-9; Is.12:2-6; Eph.3:8-12,14-19; Jn.19:31-37) "With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation." "Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!" From His pierced heart flow forth the waters of salvation; in Jesus' blood we find our life. Oh how wonderful to have a God whose "heart is overwhelmed," whose "pity is stirred," who bleeds and dies for us upon the cross to reveal the limitless nature of His love. Here is "God's manifold wisdom" made known, here in "the unfathomable riches of Christ" freely given to all, that all might "grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge." Such unsurpassable grace can but leave us breathless in praising His name! "When Israel was a child I loved him," says the Lord through the prophet Hosea. His love "like one who raises an infant to His cheeks" does not leave His blessed child; it only grows with time. Even though "they did not know that [He] was their healer," yet He did not turn away – He multiplied His love for us in the sacrificial offering of His Son. Now having been redeemed of our sin in the cleansing shower of His blood, we can only claim to be "confident and unafraid." For with Isaiah we fully proclaim: "My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my savior." What the prophet knew in shadow we see now in the fullness of the light that is the Son, and so "in Christ and through faith in Him we can speak freely to God, drawing near Him with confidence" and "attain[ing] to the fullness of God Himself" and to His love. My dear brothers and sisters, let our prayer for one another be joined on this "solemn feast day" with Paul's desire for the Ephesians: "May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, and may charity be the root and foundation of your life." Then like this blessed Apostle who went from being "the least of all believers," persecuting the Church of Christ, to being shown "the mysterious design which for all ages was hidden in God" – and indeed "enlighten[ing] all men" of the Father's love revealed in Christ Jesus – we too will be raised from our lowly state in this world of sin to our place with the Son at the right hand of God. The fountain of salvation is open now; come to the water and drink fully of His love, of His blood. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Cleansing" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, Jesus was pierced for our sins; His blood pours upon us for our salvation. YHWH, you are our healer. Your Son is the fountain of our salvation; in His blood we are cleansed of our sins. May we make our home in His Sacred Heart. We praise you, LORD, for your love, for the care you have shown to your little ones. To us you have sent your only Son to die on the Cross that we might live. Though it is our lance that has pierced His Sacred Heart, yet His unfathomable love pours upon us and bestows on us the great riches of your glory. For this gift what can we do but praise your holy Name? O LORD, may your Christ dwell in our hearts through faith in Him; may charity be the root and foundation of our lives, that by the love of your Son we may draw near to you yourself, dear God. No longer is your mysterious design hidden from men's eyes – O let your great wisdom be known and all souls glorify your ineffable NAME through Jesus who speaks to us ever of your mercy!