The
cross is a symbol of suffering and shame. Those who die on the cross are common
criminals. It is very painful to suffer, and most painful when you are
innocent. It is awful thinking about God choosing this infamous gibbet to save
humanity. However, his ways are not our ways; he chooses what is weak in the
eyes of men to shame the strong. Every spectator at Mount Calvary expected
Jesus to speak in a harsh tone and cast a spell on his executioners. In the
midst of agony, he rather turned the cross into a pulpit to preach his last
sermon. From his last words on the cross, we have the following lessons to
learn.
1. “Father, forgive
them for they don’t know what they do” (Lk 23:24): Your suffering may be a
channel of fulfillment of God’s plan for a better tomorrow. Learn to forgive
those who caused your suffering. Refuse to be a victim forever by carrying
grudges around.
2. “Today you will
be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43): He is asking those who think they are completely
lost already not to lose hope for there is always hope for a repentant sinner
even at the point of death. And to all of us he asks to reach out and find the
lost and those who are still ignorant of the good news; to show them the door
to God’s grace and paradise.
3. “Woman behold thy
son…son behold thy mother” (Jn 19:26-27): He gives Mary the special role of helping
God’s children to heaven and gives John the privilege of maternal benefits of
Mary. John represents all Christians. Ask
for Mary’s assistance in time of suffering and allow her to do what she knows
how best to do as on the wedding feast of Cana in Galilee.
4. “My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46): There are days when you feel
depressed, abandoned, frustrated, overwhelmed with suffering and worn out; there
are days when you feel the dark night of the soul. At this point no friend can
answer the “why”. Please channel all difficult questions to God. Him alone can
give a consoling answer, and him alone can put things right for you again. Remember,
there are three ways God can react to your prayer: He says yes and gives you
what you want, he says no and gives you something better, he says wait and
gives you the best.
5. “I’m thirsty” (Jn
19:28): At this point, Jesus acknowledged and voiced out his immediate need. He
was thirsting for our holiness and our salvation but they gave him vinegar. They
were thinking that his was a material thirst. There is a longing in every human
being that only God can fill. Most of us are making the mistake of trying to
satisfy this thirst with material things. In God and from God alone can this
longing be quenched. Like the deer that longs for running stream, so should our
souls long for God (Ps 42); and as a dry land longs for water, so should our
souls long for God (Ps 62).
6.
“It is finished”
(Jn 19: 30): The ransom has been paid, the captives are set free, the chains
are broken, and the gate is open! Do you believe this?
7. “Into your hands
I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46): This is
not a cry of a vanquished. It is total resignation to the will of God. So long
as we live, hardship, death, suffering, tears and fears shall come but we shall
overcome. The best attitude is to commit everything to God in prayer and allow
him to do the rest. So form the habit of saying always: Father into your hands I
comment my sickness, troubles, money worries; Father into your hands I commend
my nagging wife, difficult husband and wayward children; Father into your hands
I commend my job, my studies, my vocation, and my destiny.
Finally, there is power in the cross. Don’t forget
to sign yourself with the sign of the cross—in the morning, in the evening, in
the school, at the market place, in the bus, always and everywhere. IN THE NAME
OF THE FATHER + SON + HOLY SPIRIT…
