... When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit....
And
God held in his hand a small globe.
Look,
he said.
The
son looked.
Far
off, as through water, he saw a scorched land of fierce color.
The
light burned there.. crusted buildings cast their shadows
a
bright serpent, a river uncoiled itself.. radiant with slime.
On
a bare hill a bare tree saddened the sky.
Many
people held out their thin arms to it,
as
though waiting for a vanished April to return to its crossed boughs.
The
son watched them.
Let
me go there, he said.
That
is the poem “The Coming” by R.S. Thomas … it speaks of Jesus’ willingness to
come to this world in order to save the people of God… and it expresses a love
that goes beyond our ability to understand…
It
also sets the stage of where we are today…
You
see.. it takes a great deal of courage to truly remember the events that took
place on that hill outside Jerusalem
But
today.. I would like for you to set all that visual imagery aside.. and focus
on the sounds… there would be the voices of all those around… the guards…
people moving around.. some weeping… there would be the groans of those crucified
alongside Jesus.. all that.. but I want you to block all that out… The only
thing I want you to hear is the heavy labored breathing of Jesus as he hangs
upon his cross… … finally he speaks… “it is finished.”… and then… there is
silence.
Now…
keeping that mind.. although it is painful… we must remember that it was.. the
sins of the world.. our sins.. that put Jesus on the cross in the first place…
we are the ones responsible for his crucifixion…
So..
I want you to imagine… that when Jesus breathes his last.. and that great
silence falls.. you suddenly hear a voice.. and even though there are many
gathered around you… you know that voice is speaking to you .. and it is the
voice of God…
In
that moment.. and in that silence.. knowing that you are responsible for the
death of Jesus… what would you imagine the voice of God saying.. to you?
I
think that it would be easy to hear anger in that voice… “Look what you have
done!”… “What have you got to say for yourself?”… “I’m so disappointed in you.”..
I believe
that it would be easier to hear sadness… the horrible screams of a parent who
has lost a child… “My son.. my son.”
And
finally… I can imagine words of rejection… “get out of my sight”… “I never want
to see you again.”
I
can imagine these responses.. because they are very human responses… they are
the words that come from our mouths in times of great anger and sadness… but…
the voice of God that speaks in the silence of your heart after the death of
his one and only son never even thinks..
much less says.. anything of this nature
Instead…
I believe God the Father would speak words of comfort… “Everything is going to
be OK now.”… “This had to happen.. just as I planned.”… “don’t be afraid.”…
“remember what my son said… In three days this temple will be raised.”
There
would also be words of love and acceptance… “this act of obedience by my son
has bridged the gap between you and I.” … “my love for you extends beyond
eternity.”… “we will be together forever… I will be your God and you will be my
child”
In
truth.. Scripture records no such words from God at that moment when silence
fell… but no words needed to be spoken.. for the cross and the lifeless body of
Jesus said it all
Here
in just a few minutes… As we approach the veneration of the cross.. allow
yourself to hear the voice of God speaking to you… understand that it is not
brought before you as a means of beating you into submission or of making you
feel guilty… it is brought in.. it is venerated and adored.. because it is
God’s way of speaking and showing his love for you… it is the means by which
joy came into the world…. For as the closing words of the reproaches declare…
“We venerate Thy Cross, O Lord: and praise and glorify Thy holy Resurrection:
for by virtue of the Cross joy has come to the whole world.”
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