“A World Without the Cross Would be a World Without Hope”
The Cross is not just a private symbol of devotion, it is not just a badge of membership of a certain group within society, and in its deepest meaning it has nothing to do with the imposition of a creed or a philosophy by force. It speaks of hope, it speaks of love, it speaks of the victory of non-violence over oppression, it speaks of God raising up the lowly, empowering the weak, conquering division, and overcoming hatred with love. A world without the Cross would be a world without hope, a world in which torture and brutality would go unchecked, the weak would be exploited and greed would have the final word. Man’s inhumanity to man would be manifested in ever more horrific ways, and there would be no end to the vicious cycle of violence. Only the Cross puts an end to it.
While no earthly power can save us from the consequences of our sins, and no earthly power can defeat injustice at its source, nevertheless the saving intervention of our loving God has transformed the reality of sin and death into its opposite. That is what we celebrate when we glory in the Cross of our Redeemer. Rightly does Saint Andrew of Crete describe the Cross as “more noble, more precious than anything on earth […] for in it and through it and for it all the riches of our salvation were stored away and restored to us” (Oratio X; PG 97, 1018-1019).
Pope Benedict XVI, June 5, 2010.
Rare Undersea Earthquake Rattles Israel
By Mark Dunphy - Sun Aug 07, 2:23 pm
A relatively rare, moderate earthquake struck near the coast of Israel and the Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to the Geophysical Institute of Israel (GII).
The 4.2 magnitude undersea tremor occurred at 10:52:25 AM local time and was recorded at a depth of 30km. The epicentre was located 71 km (44 miles) NW of Tel Aviv-Yafo, 80 km (49 miles) WSW of Haifa, 103 km (64 miles) WNW of Nablus, West Bank, and 125 km (77 miles) NW of Jerusalem.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), meanwhile, said Sunday’s earthquake measured 4.1 magnitude and was measured at a shallow depth of 10km.
There have been around 25 quakes recorded in the region in the last 6 months, the majority of which have ranged between 2-4 on the Richter Scale. A 6.1 magnitude quake struck in the eastern Mediterranean, southwest of Cyprus, on April 1st last and was felt in coastal regions of Israel.
A number of fault lines divide the Middle-east. Israel is also located in a very unstable geological zone, the Great Rift. It is one of the longest rifts in the world. Stretching 6,000 km, it starts in northern Syria and ends in eastern Africa in central Mozambique. The Dead Sea Rift” (sometimes referred to as the Jordan Rift Valley) is located in modern-day Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.
In May of this year Dr. Ron Avni, a geology professor at Ben Gurion University said that Israel must better prepare itself for a possible strong earthquake in the future. He suggested that legislation should implement the national planning guidelines for seismic strengthening of buildings across the country. •
Dead Sea Rift Valley, Israel and Jordan.
Image NASA
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Blessings to you friends, in these unprecedented and trying times...Keep your eyes and heart on our coming Lord Jesus Christ!!! -Rev.Debbie ♥
