OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS
CHRIST:
While Yet on the Wooden Altar of the Cross,
And Still Alive
Often
I have read or heard Christians say that they know what Our Lord would say or
do. Some also seem to think they
know the “why” of what Jesus did.
I think I know what I would do if I went though the Passion. I am not sure I could make it through
the overnight trials, let alone the lashing or the burden of carrying the cross
or being crucified. I fear I would
cry out in my weakness, for I am a sinner.
Christ,
though, being Perfect God and Perfect Man, continued to minister to the believers
and non-believers. Here are a few
key examples:
1) FORGIVE AND FORGIVE: Our Lord has been mocked, whipped, and nailed to the cross. So what does he do? Jesus asks His Father to forgive those
who do these deeds, for he knows they don’t understand the full meaning of
their actions. I am sure I would
not have had the strength to do such a kindness.
Then,
not much later, He accepts and forgives one of the thieves crucified with Him
that day. I am in awe of this
Perfect God and Perfect Man.
From the 23rd chapter of the
Holy Gospel According to St. Luke, Beginning at the 32nd Verse: And there were
also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they
were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and
the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the
people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He
saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the
soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying,
If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was
written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING
OF THE JEWS.
And one of the malefactors which
were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But
the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou
art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due
reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto
Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto
him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a
darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
2.) TEACH AND GIVE HOPE: Our Lord then fulfills yet another prophecy from the Old
Testament: “casting lots.” He then
teaches. “Oh no, Jesus is crying
out in despair. That is what I
would do.” Some have trouble
remembering we are not the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. We are not Perfect God and Perfect
Man. We must stop making up a god
in our image. Christ quotes from
the 22nd Psalm to remind those that had ears to hear that they were
not to fret, but we were to glorify Him and know that He has heard them.
From the 15th Chapter of the
Holy Gospel According to St. Mark, Beginning at the 34th Verse: And at the
ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (22nd
Psalm) And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth
Elias.
From
the 22nd Psalm of King David, Beginning at the 18th
Verse:
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou
far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul
from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's
mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare thy
name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Ye
that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear
him,
all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction
of
the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto
him, he
heard.
3.) INSURE THE CARE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
MARY, HIS MOTHER: Our Lord and Savior did love his
mother. He insured that Mary would
be cared for by the Apostle John for the rest of her life. John would also be protected and given
the time to write and compile and listen.
He was one of only a few believers in the first generation of Christians
that was not martyred. In his
ever-constant faith, John was indeed loved by the Lord Jesus.
From the 19th Chapter of the
Holy Gospel According to St. John, Beginning at the 25th Verse: Now there
stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife
of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus therefore saw his
mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved (John the Apostle and Evangelist), he saith unto his mother, Woman,
behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that
hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now
accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there
was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and
put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received
the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
RKH+
In Christ's love, Fr. Robert Pax
