The Cross of Christ: Our Only Hope & Salvation

GOOD FRIDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

[ John 18: 1 – 19: 42 ]

   Look to the Crucified Lord.

   “Look to the CROSS, our HOPE is there!” [Pope Francis | 5 Apr 2023]

When we are overwhelmed by trials, tribulations, temptations and turbulences, we can always look to the Crucified Lord because the Cross of Christ always stands firm while the world turns. In the Cross of Jesus, we anchor our life, we place our hope, we find certainty in the midst of changes, chaos and confusion – we know we will never be dismayed.

   Look up to the Crucified Lord.

When we are in the state of helplessness and hopelessness, and when we are in dire need of God’s love, mercy and healing, we can always look up to the Crucified Lord. Just as the Israelites looked up to the bronze serpent, set by Moses on a pole, and were healed; we who behold the Crucified Lord and gaze upon Him shall definitely live [cf. Jn 3: 14-15].

   ‘Look down to’ the Crucified Lord.

As we meditate on the Passion and Death of Jesus this Good Friday, and as we adore and behold the wood of the Cross on which hung the Salvation of the world, perhaps we can also ‘look down to’ the Crucified Lord. (Well, definitely not in the negative sense.)

   In one of the Spiritual Exercises, St Ignatius of Loyola invites us to enter into God’s viewpoint, and to look down from heaven at the world below… Perhaps this Good Friday is the time for us to meditate on the Passion and Death of Jesus through the eyes of God the Father – to see what the Father sees, and to feel how the Father feels…

   (1) As parents, we ourselves would want the best for our child(ren).

No parent, in the right mind, would want his or her child(ren) to suffer or die. Yet, defying all human logic, our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He did not spare His Only Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life [cf. Jn 3: 16]. For our salvation, the Father willed that His Beloved Son should humble Himself to share in our humanity – to be one like us, one of us, one among us, one with us, and one for us.

   How would God the Father feel seeing ‘His Son emptying Himself, taking the form of a servant, and being born in the likeness of men…’ [Ph 2: 7]?

   (2) In the past, God spoke to us in many and various ways through the prophets, but in these last days and in our time, He has chosen to speak to us through His Son [cf. Heb 1: 1-2].

To bridge the gap between God and man, our Heavenly Father gives us His Son as the ‘one Mediator’ [1 Tm 2: 5]. Once, Jesus told of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants [Mk 12: 1-12]: how the wicked tenants (all of us) ill-treated and killed the Owner’s servants (God’s prophets), and when God finally sent His Son, thinking that we would at least listen to His Son; but no, obstinate as always, we seized His Son, killed Him, and threw Him out… Yes, by our sins, we have crucified Jesus on the Cross. We are all, in one way or another, responsible for Jesus’ death on the Cross.

   How would God the Father feel seeing His Son being rejected, ridiculed, mocked, stripped bare, tortured, tormented and crucified by us sinners?

   (3) Time and again, we push the limits and challenge God’s patience.

Jesus, the Sinless One did not come to judge the sinful world, yet we the sinful ones have judged that “He deserves to die. Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” [cf. Mt 27: 16-26; Mk 15: 7-15; Lk 23: 18-25; Jn 18:40]. Upon Him, the Sinless One, are our sins and iniquities. When Jesus was suffering excruciating pain on the Cross, we looked on and rubbed salt into wound, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself…” [Lk 23: 35] and “Let us see whether Elijah is coming to save Him.” [Mt 27: 49] 'Even today, we continue to crucify Jesus still, when we delight in our vices and sins. We continue to crucify Jesus the Son of God anew in our hearts every single time when we plunge ourselves into sins, disorders and crimes, and hold Him up to contempt.’ [cf. CCC 598]

   How would God the Father feel seeing our iniquities upon iniquities? How should God the Father respond seeing how we have treated and continue to treat His Beloved Son? If God the Father desires so, He could have sent legions of angels and wiped us out from the face of the earth, permanently. But God, in His boundless mercy and infinite love, has not done so.

   Repent and be converted!

‘Looking down’ to the Crucified Lord and meditating on the Paschal Mystery through the eyes of God the Father, may we experience the deep love of God the Father for all of us through Jesus Christ our Crucified Lord. Starting this Good Friday, let us love Jesus more than anyone or anything else.

Let our fervent prayer be:

   “O Crucified Christ, have mercy on us sinners; I desire to love You above all.”

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.

   [Note: This Gospel reflection was adapted from previous reflection dated 1 Apr 2021.]