Episode 2832: Green Wood and Dry: A Reflection on Christ’s Words to the Weeping Women

Green Wood and Dry: A Reflection on Christ’s Words to the Weeping Women
Opening Prayer:
"Heavenly Father, as we meditate on the words of Your Son, help us to understand their depth and meaning for our lives. May we learn to carry our crosses with faith, and may Your grace sustain us in trials. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
Welcome to today’s episode of our podcast. We’re diving into one of the most poignant moments during Christ’s journey to Calvary His encounter with the weeping women of Jerusalem. In Luke 23:31, He says, “For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” What did Jesus mean, and how does this apply to us in these times of spiritual and cultural crisis?
This line is incredibly rich with meaning. On the surface, Jesus is warning the women about the impending judgment on Jerusalem, which would occur a few decades later in 70 AD when the city was destroyed by the Romans. But as with many of His words, there’s a deeper spiritual lesson here.
The Green Wood and the Dry Wood
Let’s break this down. The "green wood" symbolizes Christ Himself alive, full of grace, and innocent. Despite His perfection, He is unjustly condemned and crucified. The "dry wood," on the other hand, represents sinful humanity those who reject God and are spiritually lifeless. If such violence and injustice could be inflicted on Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, what hope is there for the world when it becomes spiritually desolate?
The warning is not just for the women of Jerusalem; it’s for all of us. When societies turn away from God, when they become spiritually dry, the consequences are catastrophic. This reminds me of the words of St. John Chrysostom, who taught that moral decay begins in the soul but ultimately destroys civilizations.
Relevance to the Church Today
When we hear Christ’s words about green wood and dry wood, they seem especially relevant to the state of the Church today. Many traditional Catholics feel as though we are living in a time of “dry wood.” The vibrant life of faith, which once animated the Church and her mission, has, in many places, been replaced by a spirit of complacency, secularism, and compromise with the world.
The Dry Wood of Modernity
Secularism has infiltrated even traditionally Catholic cultures, replacing a God-centered worldview with one focused on human autonomy. Moral relativism, which denies the existence of absolute truth, has left many souls spiritually barren, unable to recognize sin or their need for God’s grace. Modernist tendencies within the Church such as the overemphasis on “accompaniment” without a call to repentance have left the faithful confused and disheartened. The “wood” is dry because many have forsaken the rich spiritual heritage of the Church in favor of worldly ideologies.
Comparing Green and Dry Wood
Think of the Church during its most vibrant periods, such as the Age of Martyrs or the height of Christendom in the Middle Ages. These were times of persecution or profound faithfulness when the “wood was green,” full of life and the grace of God. Even in those times of vitality, the Church faced attacks from within and without. If those eras of strength were met with such resistance, what will happen in a time of spiritual dryness, when faith is weak, and souls are indifferent to the truth?
The Hope of Fulton Sheen
Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a prophetic voice of the 20th century, recognized the dire state of the Church long before many others. He famously said:
“Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops like bishops, and your religious act like religious.”
Sheen emphasized that the renewal of the Church will not come through political power or societal influence but through holiness specifically, saints willing to suffer. Saints like St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and St. Padre Pio showed that true renewal comes from heroic virtue and fidelity to Christ, not through human schemes or compromise.
The Way Forward: Keeping the Wood Green
Despite the challenges, there is hope. The “wood” of the Church can become green again, but it requires a return to the spiritual sources of life:
1. The Sacraments
Frequent reception of the sacraments especially the Eucharist and Confession infuses souls with God’s grace. The Eucharist is the Bread of Life that sustains us, and Confession is the sacrament of renewal, where we are reconciled with God and made spiritually alive again.
2. Prayer
Personal and communal prayer is the lifeblood of the Church. Devotions like the Rosary, the Divine Office, and Eucharistic adoration draw us closer to God and equip us for spiritual combat.
3. Fidelity to Church Teachings
In an age of confusion, adhering to the unchanging truths of the Church is essential. Studying the Catechism, Church councils, and the writings of the saints strengthens our understanding of the faith and helps us to resist the tide of relativism.
4. A Call to Suffer
Christ warned that following Him would involve suffering. St. Paul writes in Romans 8:17:
“If we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified with Him.”
We must be willing to carry our crosses, knowing that suffering is not the end but the path to glory.
A Challenge for Today’s Catholics
The call to return to these spiritual sources is a challenge to every Catholic, but particularly to traditional Catholics who feel the weight of these times. Just as the saints of old embraced their roles as reformers, missionaries, and martyrs, we too are called to stand firm in the truth.
Let us heed the words of Christ and recognize the urgency of our times. If the world crucified the Lord when the wood was green, what will it do in this age of spiritual dryness? The answer lies in our willingness to rekindle the fire of faith, no matter the cost.
The call to return to the spiritual sources of grace is not merely an invitation but a command for every Catholic, especially traditional Catholics who sense the weight of our current age. It is a challenge to stand firm in a time when the Church faces internal confusion and external hostility, to embody the faith with courage and conviction, just as the saints did in times of crisis.
Standing Firm in the Truth
In an age of relativism, where even fundamental truths are questioned or ignored, Catholics are called to proclaim and live out the unchanging truths of the faith. This requires a deep understanding of Church teachings and a willingness to defend them, even when doing so invites criticism or persecution. Standing firm means being a beacon of light in a world that often prefers darkness, knowing that truth, while sometimes unwelcome, is always liberating.
Drawing Inspiration from the Saints
Throughout history, saints have risen during times of great challenge to reform, renew, and reinvigorate the Church.
• St. Athanasius stood against the Arian heresy, holding fast to the truth of Christ’s divinity despite exile and opposition.
• St. Catherine of Siena called for the reform of the clergy and the return of the papacy to Rome, courageously speaking truth to power.
• St. Maximilian Kolbe gave his life in a concentration camp, demonstrating Christlike love in the most harrowing circumstances.
These saints show us that God raises up heroes of the faith in every age, and He is calling us to be such heroes in our time.
Recognizing the Urgency of Our Times
The spiritual dryness of our age the “dry wood” Christ referred to demands action. It is no longer enough to be passive Catholics, attending Mass out of obligation or practicing faith privately without engaging the world. The Church needs active participants who see the urgency of evangelizing a culture steeped in secularism and confusion.
Consider this: if Christ’s enemies crucified Him when the “wood was green,” in an age of faith and expectation, what might they do now, when the Church seems weakened and fragmented? The answer is sobering, but it underscores the importance of preparing our souls and strengthening our communities for the trials ahead.
Rekindling the Fire of Faith
To meet this challenge, Catholics must embrace practices that will not only sustain but rekindle the fire of faith:
1. Deepening Personal Holiness
Begin with yourself. Frequent the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist. Spend time in prayer and meditation, seeking God’s will for your life. Cultivate virtues like humility, patience, and charity, making your life a reflection of Christ’s love.
2. Strengthening the Family as the Domestic Church
Families are the building blocks of society and the Church. Prioritize prayer in the home, such as the daily Rosary and reading Scripture together. Teach your children the truths of the faith, ensuring they are well-prepared to navigate a world increasingly hostile to Catholic values.
3. Engaging in Evangelization
The mission of every Catholic is to spread the Gospel. This can take many forms teaching, writing, social media outreach, or simply sharing your faith with those around you. Speak the truth in love, always pointing others to Christ.
4. Supporting the Church’s Mission
Traditional Catholics, in particular, have a role to play in preserving the treasures of the Church’s liturgy, teachings, and heritage. Support traditional parishes, participate in Eucharistic adoration, and advocate for the beauty and reverence of the Traditional Latin Mass.
5. Being Prepared to Suffer
Christ warned us that following Him would involve carrying a cross. This may mean enduring ridicule, losing friendships, or facing professional setbacks because of your faith. Like the saints before us, we must embrace these trials with the confidence that suffering for Christ is a privilege that leads to eternal glory.
A Call to Action
The Church is in need of renewal, and that renewal begins with each of us. We cannot wait for others to lead the charge; we are the faithful remnant called to rise in defense of Christ and His Church.
Let us answer this challenge with the same zeal and courage as the saints. If the world crucified our Lord when the wood was green, we must be ready to stand for Him now, in this time of dry wood, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for every trial we face. The fire of faith is ours to rekindle, no matter the cost, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
So, how do we respond to Christ’s warning?
First, let’s commit to a deeper prayer life. The Rosary is a powerful tool for keeping our souls vibrant.
Second, let’s immerse ourselves in the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist.
Finally, let’s educate ourselves and others about the truths of the faith, so we can keep the wood green in our families and communities.
And don’t be afraid to embrace suffering as a means of purification. St. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:17 that we are heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Closing Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, You spoke to the weeping women with words of warning and love. Help us to heed Your call, to keep our souls alive with Your grace, and to bear witness to Your truth in a world that so desperately needs You. Amen."
Thank you for joining us today. Let’s keep striving to be green wood, nourished by the love of Christ, even as we face the dry winds of the world. Until next time, may God bless you and Our Lady guide you always.