Truth & Mercy Series - Septembe 13th 2026

Truth and Mercy series ( Exaltation of the Cross)

In the last series of the Truth and Mercy, I touched on the fact that the Holy Mass is a continuation of Calvary. What happened in Calvary? On that faithful day, the Lord of the universe truly “laid down His life for His friends.” (John 15:13), those friends are you and I. It is funny but beautiful to know that our parish office is located on 1315 W. Pleasant Street. But I can tell you and you too know that it is not pleasant to be nailed to the Cross, a shameful death that the Romans never apply to their own citizens. This is particularly difficult when the One being killed was innocent, He was not guilty of anything except for LOVE. He died LOVING. 

He had two most important things at the back of his mind: To free us from the clutches of SIN and restore us to the Father’s LOVE. That is why the Cross becomes the achilles heels for the devil, he hates it. His plan to “arrange” a kangaroo judgement did not end well or as he predicted. God utilized everything for the good of His beloved ones. WE. To fulfill the words of scripture, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). Jesus embraced this suffering knowingly and totally lovingly. He embraced the Cross because He knew it was the Father’s will. He embraced the Cross because He knew it would fulfill the desires of DIVINE Providence. He did not complain or murmur. It was the will of God and that was it. 

How do I embrace the will of God in my daily life? How do I submit like Jesus to acknowledge the divine plan of God in my life or I insist it has to be my way or the high way? I marvel at the way the Blessed Virgin Mary acted at the foot of the Cross. She was totally silent before the Divine plan. It was the peak of Her FIAT or YES to the Father’s will for Her Son. It was the point of no return of Her words at the Annunciation. “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, Be it done unto me according to thy words.” She shows us the true example of suffering. At the Passion of the Lord, Mary shows us true COMPASSION (Suffering-with). She could have complained this is not right, or He has done nothing to deserve this. But not only did She know it is the Will of God, She also loves us so much that this death will open again for us the Door of Paradise. That gate that was shut at the disobedience of Adam and Eve will now be opened for us through His Death and Consummation of His suffering for us. This consummation is happening through the FIAT/YES of Jesus, and with the full cooperation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hence, She is called Co-redemptrix.

Please join us for the celebration of both the Solemnity of the Exultation of the Cross on September 14 and the Holy Mass for Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15. Both Masses have been reassigned for 6pm in the evening to afford more people the possibility of participating. Those are so crucial to loving the Holy Mass, since we would not have the sacrifice of the Mass without both saying  YES to loving you and I no matter what. At every Holy Mass, we come to commemorate this ACT of LOVE and MERCY. This is the only way we would not forget and we can truly PASS IT ON to others beyond our generation.

In union of prayers,

Fr. Nicholas Akindele, JCL