The following is based on a meditation I did yesterday during the three hours Our Lord was on the Cross. It is speculative. It is what I felt when placing myself in His place. I did not initially plan to write about it, but was inspired to share it….
He cannot move. He is helpless. Impaled to a cross. An unimaginable cruelty. He can hardly think through the pain and the cacophony of wails and derision all around Him. But He tries nevertheless to focus. He must speak. He keeps losing His concentration but He musters every bit of strength to get it back. What did He say? Seven thoughts. If humanity can ignore these words, then humanity is truly lost. He was raised up above the earth to speak these words. We must listen.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
He has just been raised up on the Cross. He thinks not of Himself, but of those who have done this to Him. With incredible understanding and compassion, in His wisdom, he asks the Father to forgive them. Those who would cooperate in evil today, may think they do good, but due to their blindness and naivete, they cannot see the descent into tyranny.
“Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.”
Here is an actual conversation with another crucified with Him. In the midst of His torment, He still hears what another speaks to Him. And He responds, lovingly. It is a beautiful moment in the midst of such horror. Christ speaks of the glory of Heaven and His triumph. We know suffering in this life is as nothing compared to the wonder of the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Woman, behold thy son...Behold thy mother.”
Again, Our Lord thinks of others, not Himself. He understands, even on the Cross, he still has a job to do. He must see that His mother is taken care of. He gives her to His beloved Saint John. He also has given her to humanity in these words. What a great gift and privilege! Let us never take her for granted. In all our trials, we know we have Our Lady to flee to. She will always comfort her children.
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
This disturbing cry is the one time, we might say, when Christ is so bereft, He speaks of Himself. It is a great mystery that probably no one can ever understand. It seems as if the Father somehow withdrew Himself. Terrible is the time when mankind sees Him withdraw from Holy Church herself! It is not a warning that can go unheeded.
“I thirst.”
It may seem Our Lord is once again speaking of Himself. But some interpret this as His thirst for souls. This shows His great love for His children who have abandoned Him. How God’s children thirst for His sacraments!
“It is consummated.”
He knows now He is about to die. Somehow He still has the strength to speak. He knows the work given to Him has been accomplished. He has done what He came into the world to do. He must have had great joy at that moment in this knowledge. Our own work will go on until the day we die as well. Let us use each day to rise to the challenges presented, each day like one bead of the Rosary.
“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
I do not feel I can comment on this in any way except to say that when we are at the end of our rope, these words will give us great peace. Our Lord walks before us always and shows us the way to peace, joy and salvation!