Reflections
April 16, 2011, 10:35pm
MATTHEW 27:33-54
When [the soldiers of the governor] came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull), they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when He had tasted it, He refused to drink. After they had crucified Him, they divided His garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over Him there.
And they placed over His head the written charge against Him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left. … Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked Him and said, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. So He is the king of Israel! Let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The revolutionaries who were crucified with Him also kept abusing Him in the same way.
From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to Him to drink. But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. … The centurion and the men with Him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
Reflection
They crucified Him... The Chief priests mocked Him... The revolutionaries kept abusing Him... Jesus cried out in a loud voice. How can Jesus endure such pain and cruelty without breaking down? How can he survive the punishment and ridicule? What kind of a man is He to bear the beatings and the inhuman treatment?
The only answer I can suggest is that He has been so emotionally hurt that no pain inflicted on His body will matter any longer. His heart has been so pierced that He can take any blows given to His body. He has been betrayed, abandoned, and denied by His friends. These must have hurt Him so much that His body has become unmindful of the physical pain inflicted on Him.
Of all things, they say, be most careful of love.
Make one real sacrifice today for your loved ones.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2011,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.,); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
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