Meditation 75
The two Emeralds
The
two emeralds which are now added on the bridal garments as adornment
before the festivity of the spiritual matrimony will be celebrated are
these two wings of love already exposed on the screen of the entrance (Med. 24). The bride has not only become a
living Tetramorph, but living Tetramorph with wings. She carries now
wings as the white nation of everlasting joy, Gods holy angels. This is
the fulfillment of all the other commandments, “Christo Total” of
Blessed Francisco Palau discussed above (Med.
50), “God and the neighbor”, love of God and love of other human
beings, yes, all created beings. Thus the bride can fulfill her role as
God intended in the beginning as she has been healed of the running soars of the original sin
in order to cultivate and take care of the garden (see Gn 2. 16) with
her eternal intercession and praise,
The two emeralds are token of how the King of Life answers the entreaties of His beloved and becoming bride when He gives her confirmation of His love, “What is the matter, Queen Esther? Tell me what you want; even if it is half my kingdom, I grant you” (Est 5. 3, 4). The question was instructive and intentional when the soul began to discern these lofty words at the lamp stand in its supplications. Now He gives his becoming bride participation in half of His Kingdom. The two emeralds are emblems of honor – symbols of dignity and total trust – just as soldiers carry strips on their shoulder straps as a token of perseverance on the battle field and for loyal service.
The becoming bride has verified her loyalty and thus her Bridegroom raises her to still further dignity in the live of grace in order to make her an exemplary for other souls to follow who by nature carry the image of God within in order too confirm that He will also give them capacity for glory, if they follow her example. When the soul is enraptured into the Shekinah glory in the Holy of holies in the prayer of union in the flight of the spirit by the illumination of the jacinth she becomes a Living ark in the Royal Priesthood of the New Covenant, just as the Blessed Virgin was as a God given exemplar for the soul to follow in the live of grace. And as a true Living ark she is now able to stand firm and defend the Church against the furious attacks of Satan and his demonic legions,
This she does because she has been crucified with Christ in the prayer of union in the night of faith and has become a true high priest in the Royal Priesthood of the New Covenant and spiritual warrior as well as healer and intercedes as her Royal pattern and Savior in heaven on behalf of all creation. This she does because in her assimilation to Him she has been given to see the tortures of Hell and the eternal fire and just as her Living God she doesn't want in her burning love that any soul will ever dwell in this dreary place, and thus she cries daily from the bottom of her heart,
Each day she sees thus a long row of souls standing in line in front of the gates of the Celestial City, souls who have been relished out of the fetters of the enemy of our salvation and his demonic legions, souls that have suffered enormously in Purgatory and Hell. She knows as St. Catherine of Siena that it is only the Holy Blood of Jesus that is the fountain and source of all mercy. In this Night of redemption this blessed soul learns that it is only possible to heal the scab and running sores of God's Living Body on earth with the fire of God's love, to throw herself into this ocean of immeasurable love to become herself a fire, a spark powerful enough to set the whole Body ablaze with Christ's love, to be consummated by this love as in a burning furnace. It is thus how this blessed soul becomes God's co-worker in Christ like humility,
Teresa of Avila responded in the same way as Catherine when she faced the scab and running sores of the Church, this wounded bride of Christ. As she heard the rumors of the disintegration of this Body of Christ on earth and how senseless men cut its limbs off she responded by throwing herself into this furnace and melting pot of divine love, sought a refuge in the inner world of Light, Love, Beauty and Truth, as she gave account of in the Way of Perfection,
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit such a soul pours her life out for the Church as she has become a vessel of honor. She would sacrifice herself thousand times if she had but these lives. She has been given a participation in God's mercy which is infinite and the wounds of whole of the world are her own and become gates to this fountain of mercy within, a mercy making this same soul one with the weakest of the members in order to enlarge her mercy still more to become a living martyrdom. She cries with Silouan the Athonite,
This such a blessed soul does because God the Holy Spirit has decorated her still further by the two emeralds shining in the live of grace on the shoulders straps of the high priests vestments as a true spiritual warrior: the token of praise and intercession.
You will then take two emeralds
(smaragdou) and engrave them with the names of the sons of Israel, six
of their names on one stone, the remaining names on the other, in the
order of their birth. By the stone carvers art – seal engraving – you
will engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You
will have them mounted in gold settings and will put the two stones on
the shoulder straps of the ephod, to commemorate the sons of Israel. In
this way Aaron will bear their names on his two shoulders, before
Yahweh, as a reminder. (Ex 28. 9-13).
The two emeralds are token of how the King of Life answers the entreaties of His beloved and becoming bride when He gives her confirmation of His love, “What is the matter, Queen Esther? Tell me what you want; even if it is half my kingdom, I grant you” (Est 5. 3, 4). The question was instructive and intentional when the soul began to discern these lofty words at the lamp stand in its supplications. Now He gives his becoming bride participation in half of His Kingdom. The two emeralds are emblems of honor – symbols of dignity and total trust – just as soldiers carry strips on their shoulder straps as a token of perseverance on the battle field and for loyal service.
The becoming bride has verified her loyalty and thus her Bridegroom raises her to still further dignity in the live of grace in order to make her an exemplary for other souls to follow who by nature carry the image of God within in order too confirm that He will also give them capacity for glory, if they follow her example. When the soul is enraptured into the Shekinah glory in the Holy of holies in the prayer of union in the flight of the spirit by the illumination of the jacinth she becomes a Living ark in the Royal Priesthood of the New Covenant, just as the Blessed Virgin was as a God given exemplar for the soul to follow in the live of grace. And as a true Living ark she is now able to stand firm and defend the Church against the furious attacks of Satan and his demonic legions,
A time for killing, a time for
healing; a time for knocking down, a time for building (Qo 3. 3).
This she does because she has been crucified with Christ in the prayer of union in the night of faith and has become a true high priest in the Royal Priesthood of the New Covenant and spiritual warrior as well as healer and intercedes as her Royal pattern and Savior in heaven on behalf of all creation. This she does because in her assimilation to Him she has been given to see the tortures of Hell and the eternal fire and just as her Living God she doesn't want in her burning love that any soul will ever dwell in this dreary place, and thus she cries daily from the bottom of her heart,
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
and High Priest of all blessings,
be merciful to us the sinners
and may your Sacred Heart become our refuge.
Outpour your pure blood this day
over the wounds of Your Militant Church on earth
and Your Suffering Church in Hell.
In Your grace give that Your Sacred Heart
will draw more and more souls
to the Christification on earth
and out of Fire of Purgatory and Hell.
Give that through ours intercession
and the intercession of the
Victorious Church in heaven,
that more and more souls will be lead
to the Throne of Grace in Your Celestial City
in Your lovable mercy. Amen.
and High Priest of all blessings,
be merciful to us the sinners
and may your Sacred Heart become our refuge.
Outpour your pure blood this day
over the wounds of Your Militant Church on earth
and Your Suffering Church in Hell.
In Your grace give that Your Sacred Heart
will draw more and more souls
to the Christification on earth
and out of Fire of Purgatory and Hell.
Give that through ours intercession
and the intercession of the
Victorious Church in heaven,
that more and more souls will be lead
to the Throne of Grace in Your Celestial City
in Your lovable mercy. Amen.
Each day she sees thus a long row of souls standing in line in front of the gates of the Celestial City, souls who have been relished out of the fetters of the enemy of our salvation and his demonic legions, souls that have suffered enormously in Purgatory and Hell. She knows as St. Catherine of Siena that it is only the Holy Blood of Jesus that is the fountain and source of all mercy. In this Night of redemption this blessed soul learns that it is only possible to heal the scab and running sores of God's Living Body on earth with the fire of God's love, to throw herself into this ocean of immeasurable love to become herself a fire, a spark powerful enough to set the whole Body ablaze with Christ's love, to be consummated by this love as in a burning furnace. It is thus how this blessed soul becomes God's co-worker in Christ like humility,
Here is my my flesh; here is my
blood . . . Let my bones be split apart for those
for whom I am praying . . . [1]
for whom I am praying . . . [1]
Teresa of Avila responded in the same way as Catherine when she faced the scab and running sores of the Church, this wounded bride of Christ. As she heard the rumors of the disintegration of this Body of Christ on earth and how senseless men cut its limbs off she responded by throwing herself into this furnace and melting pot of divine love, sought a refuge in the inner world of Light, Love, Beauty and Truth, as she gave account of in the Way of Perfection,
O my Redeemer, my heart cannot
bear these thoughts without becoming terrible grieved. What is the
matter with Christians now days? Must it always be those who owe You
the most who afflicts You? Those for whom You performed the greatest
works, those You have chosen for Your friends with whom You walk and
commune by means of Your sacraments? Aren't they satisfied with the
torments You have suffered for them? [2]
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit such a soul pours her life out for the Church as she has become a vessel of honor. She would sacrifice herself thousand times if she had but these lives. She has been given a participation in God's mercy which is infinite and the wounds of whole of the world are her own and become gates to this fountain of mercy within, a mercy making this same soul one with the weakest of the members in order to enlarge her mercy still more to become a living martyrdom. She cries with Silouan the Athonite,
Let us love our fellows, and the
Lord will love us. Think not, O my soul, that the Lord loveth thee if
thou dost not look askance upon any man. Rather is it then that thou
art beloved of devils, in that thou hast become their servant: but be
not slow to repent, and ask the Lord for strength to love your brother,
and thou wilt then see that there is peace in your soul. [3]
This such a blessed soul does because God the Holy Spirit has decorated her still further by the two emeralds shining in the live of grace on the shoulders straps of the high priests vestments as a true spiritual warrior: the token of praise and intercession.
[1]. Catherine of Siena's Way, p. 200.
[2]. Way of Perfection, 1. 3.
[3]. Wisdom from Mount Athos, p. 116.
[2]. Way of Perfection, 1. 3.
[3]. Wisdom from Mount Athos, p. 116.