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The Way of the Cross II

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Surrounded by enemies, Christ hung on the cross. As he looked out at the people, he could see his executioners, bystanders and the faces of friends and family. Jesus entrusted his mother and the apostle John into the care of each other. When we come to the foot of the cross in all our confusion and sorrow, we come to realize what Christ expects of us. He expects us to love and care for each other. How typical of Christ this was to look out for the needs of others and create new, loving and binding relationships. Christ is the example in the greatest degree of compassion, love and protection. In pain, we lose perspective, but in coming to the foot of the cross, we can regain right perspective again. Sometimes in loneliness, we feel forsaken and forgotten even by God. But Jesus comforts the afflicted soul. Let us ask Christ to receive us into his family. Let us place ourselves entirely in his hands. Let us ask him to supply the grace to know him, love him and imitate him. Mary’s soul was pierced through with sorrow. She would soon learn that it was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross, but rather it was the great love he bore for sinners. In this sense, it was our sins that held him there. When God seems far away, we need to picture the dying Christ and see in him a pure and perfect love. Jesus loved until his last breath. It was not the Pharisees who killed Christ. It was not the Romans who took his life. Satan did not defeat Jesus. The events of Calvary were not an accident. It was not that Christ’s plans had gone terribly wrong. Jesus willingly lay down his life to rescue those who would turn to him in faith and repentance.