Monday, March 28, 2011

The Seven Last Words of Jesus - Part IV

Fourth Word

Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?
(My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?)

At first glance, these words seem so totally out of place coming from the lips of Jesus.  Yet, upon further reflection, one begins to realize, that it was in His humanity that Christ suffered this abandonment.  His divine union with the Father never ceased.  It remained firm, constant.  We proclaim this mystery at every Mass:  May we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity

On the cross, Christ embraced his own sufferings.  St. Robert Bellarmine opined that Christ gave witness to his feelings of abandonment "so that all might understand the great price of our Redemption."   The price Christ paid for our redemption was indeed costly.  It shows the depth of his great love for each of us. 

I can remember someone once saying, "How much does Jesus love us?  He stretched out his arms on the cross, and died for you and me." 

May we be aware of this great love Jesus has for us -- and pass this love on to those we encounter each day.

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