Jesus’ Call from the Cross

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the Cross and how painful it must have been for Jesus.  Not just physically, and not just because of the seeming separation He felt from His Father which made Him cry out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  But because of us.

I can’t imagine the pain of being on the Cross, knowing and suffering for each and every sin we would commit.  I can’t imagine the pain of being on that Cross, knowing how many of us would never come to accept Him as Savior.  I can’t imagine the pain of offering absolutely everything He could possibly offer for us, and still knowing it wouldn’t be enough to secure every person’s fiat.

Looking at a crucifix I never ceased to be amazed at how much He loves me and how little I love Him in return.  He has given everything for me, but somehow too often it still doesn’t feel like enough to me.  Love has perfectly poured out Himself in total self-gift and yet how often I am unable or unwilling to receive that love!

He not only gave His Body and Blood on the Cross, He continues to offer them to me each day in the Mass.  He not only merited all the grace the world could ever need on the Cross, He continues to offer it abundantly to me each second of every day.

Sometimes I can almost hear Him cry out, “What else can I do?  What else can I give that I have not already given?  What else will it take?!”  I can almost hear this plea every time I sin, every time I become more attached to the things of this world rather than the next, every time I settle for pale imitations of His love instead of the real thing.

The Cross is a constant reminder that He loves us and has given us, and continues to give us, everything we need to respond in kind.  Let us hear His call and give ourselves to Him more wholeheartedly, embrace His will more fully, and love more deeply.

1 Comment

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  By Mary, February 14, 2012 @ 12:10 am

  Thanks for you comments, they are refreshing to read. I came across your page by looking for something about the annunication for our church bulletin.

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