Go to Mom!
On Holy Thursday, we celebrated the Last Supper. The Last Supper being the first Mass. The Mass being the sacrifice of Jesus’ Body and Blood. When Jesus tells His disciples, “This is my Body”, He is beginning the sacrifice of His Body. The Lamb of God is the Bread of Life. And Jesus willing enters into His sacrifice. We must walk with Jesus during His Passion. Are we willing to enter into our sacrifice?
Today is Good Friday, with the torturous death of Our Lord. He first agonizes in the garden knowing what is coming. Do we agonize with Jesus and offer Him comfort to continue His sacrifice? ‘I am sorry Jesus for my sins. But I need You to continue Your sacrifice for my eternal life.’ Surely, Jesus loves us so much that we do not need to convince Him, but can we at least offer Him some comfort? ‘I offer my sufferings today in love of You!’
And Jesus carries His cross, which is really our crosses. Our many sins are the burden on His shoulder that are too heavy to keep from falling. But He gets back up each time. If it was not for His love, He would have died on the journey after His gruesome scourging. He knows that He must go on. He gives every ounce of effort and every drop of His Blood towards Calvary, where He can show us how much He is willing to give us. EVERYTHING!
How do we respond to Jesus’ complete gift of Himself to us? Yes, us as a group, but so much more intimate than that. He died with you individually in mind. As God, He has no limits and can love each of us more intimately than anyone else on earth could ever love us, even if they had devoted their entire life to only you. And so, He thirsts for your love. Will you give it? Is it a complete gift, or do you hold back?
Jesus, You loved us so much so as to give Yourself completely to us in the most gruesome manner. I am sorry for my sins. Please take me and all that I am. I respond to Your complete gift with my complete gift. Thank you for the gift of eternal life that Easter brings. Amen.