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To The End
The most unthinkable and unimaginable thing happens – God dies on the Cross. That the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, would take on human flesh, suffer, be nailed to a cross, and to die a criminal’s death is just unbelievable. It does not make sense, but it’s not supposed to. Love does not always make sense.
“When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.”
John 19:30
The most unthinkable and unimaginable thing happens – God dies on the Cross. That the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, would take on human flesh, suffer, be nailed to a cross, and to die a criminal’s death is just unbelievable. It does not make sense, but it’s not supposed to. Love does not always make sense.
When we look upon the Cross in movies such as The Passion of the Christ we see a bloody, gruesome execution scene. However, if we look at it through the lens of faith, we see not an execution scene, but the greatest love story ever told. Even as He was dying, Jesus made sure His Mother was taken care of by entrusting her to John, and John to her. From His pierced side flowed blood and water, giving birth to the Church (baptism and the Eucharist). He gave us His all and loved us to the end, “bowing his head” and “handed over the spirit.”
Thank You, Lord for dying for me. May I never forget Your love.
This is the Good Friday Reflection from “Return to Me.”
Click here for the daily video reflections for Holy Week and other Lenten resources.
Obedient to Death
The Church begins Holy Week with Palm Sunday where were commemorate the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The people welcomed Him waving palm branches and even paving the road with their cloaks, a winner’s welcome. They cried out “Hosanna,” trusting that Jesus is the One who will restore the Davidic Kingdom. The hearts of these people were filled with hope and joy. Yet a few days later, those hopeful hearts will harden into hateful hearts, exchanging their “Hosanna!” for “Crucify him!” Click here for more Lenten Resources.
“Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:7-8
The Church begins Holy Week with Palm Sunday where were commemorate the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The people welcomed Him waving palm branches and even paving the road with their cloaks, a winner’s welcome. They cried out “Hosanna,” trusting that Jesus is the One who will restore the Davidic Kingdom. The hearts of these people were filled with hope and joy. Yet a few days later, those hopeful hearts will harden into hateful hearts, exchanging their “Hosanna!” for “Crucify him!”
Jesus did not enter into Jerusalem to be the Messiah the people desired; He came to be the Messiah the Father willed. Jesus came to do one thing and one thing only: the Father’s will. To show the love and mercy of God and to draw all things and peoples to Himself is what Jesus came to do. How ironic it is that the more Jesus tried to preach the Father’s love and mercy did the chief priests plot to kill Him all the more and the people shout “Crucify him” all the louder. Yet, this did not stop Jesus. Nothing could stand in the way of Jesus’s obedience to His Father, even if the way led to death.
In condescending unto earth, Jesus left the glory of heaven to become one of us, like us in all things but sin, so that we might come to know the Father’s love. He left the place of glory and entered into a world that wanted Him dead. While He came to give life, He was met with death. But, death was no match for Him. How can the Lord of Life be held down by the Prince of Darkness, for his Master is the Lord. Jesus emptied Himself and subjected Himself to the laws of the world so that He can save us from the world. In His obedience unto death Jesus brought unto us eternal life. Will we chant “Hosanna!” or “Crucify him!” today? What do our actions say?
May we empty ourselves this Holy Week of our selfish passions and desires and allow the love and mercy of God to fill our hearts, so that like Jesus, we too, might become obedient to the Father’s will, even if it means dying to ourselves so that the needs of others might come first.
Blessed Holy Week to you.
What Troubles You?
As Jesus entered into Jerusalem for the final time before His Passion, the Greeks were beginning to grow curious about Jesus. They tell Philip they want to see Jesus, so he goes and tells Andrew, who in turns tells Jesus. Perhaps we expect Jesus to become overwhelmed with joy and excitement that others might be moved by His works to come to knowledge of God, but the reaction of Jesus was very different.
“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say?
‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.”John 12:27
As Jesus entered into Jerusalem for the final time before His Passion, the Greeks were beginning to grow curious about Jesus. They tell Philip they want to see Jesus, so he goes and tells Andrew, who in turns tells Jesus. Perhaps we expect Jesus to become overwhelmed with joy and excitement that others might be moved by His works to come to knowledge of God, but the reaction of Jesus was very different.
He goes on to say that the “hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” and gives the imagery of the grain that must die so that fruit might be borne. When one hears of being “glorified” perhaps the image of a throne comes to mind or some dramatic scene where the person is held in high esteem and celebrated like a king. But Jesus’s glorification was far from that. It was not a lofty throne or even a few people bowing down to Him. Jesus’s glorification was His Passion and the Cross. Jesus reminded His disciples that to truly live means to lay down one’s life and that those who follow Him must have their eyes and hearts set on things not of this world, but that which comes from the Father.
Then, Jesus utters words filled with emotion, “I am troubled now,” giving us a glimpse of the human nature of Jesus. What must have been weighing on Jesus’s heart, the burdens of the world, the weight of humanity’s sins. But even in the moment of a troubled heart, Jesus surrendered to the will of the Father, abandoning Himself so that others might come to experience the love of God. Jesus did not allow fear to cloud His judgement. He knew fully what His mission was and what the will of His Father was for Him. When one is in right relationship with God, trials and tribulations do not have power over them. They acknowledge their own fears and weaknesses, yes, but they also acknowledge the power of God, trusting that no trouble can match the power that comes from the Father. So, as Christians, we must remember that troubles will come, but we must neither let them overtake us nor pretend they do not exist because both are from the enemy.
What are the things that trouble you? Look at them with the Lord today and pray, “I am troubled, Lord. What should I say or do but to I surrender them all to You, for you have come to make all things new.”
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