Last night, we were told that Jesus loved his own in the world “to the end.” Today we see just what that means. Jesus loved us so much that he died for us. The story of the Passion is filled with betrayal, denial, and abandonment. Yet Jesus remains faithful. Our world is also filled with many examples of failure and abandonment, false images of love. If you want to know what love really looks like, look at the cross.
At first glance, the cross does not seem like a beautiful image. It appears to be the image of a man who has failed and has been conquered. We call this day Good Friday because we know that the cross is really the greatest sign of love the world has ever known. Jesus wants to be with us forever, and he wants it so badly that he’s willing to pay any price, even the debt of all our sins which demand death.
The last words of Jesus are rendered in English as, “It is finished.” The Latin is a little more striking, “Consummatum est – It is consummated.” We often associate the word consummation with marriage and the mutual giving of husband and wife to each other. That’s exactly what we are meant to see on the cross. This is Jesus, the bridegroom, laying down his life for his bride, the Church. Just as Eve was born from the side of her husband Adam, so the bride of Christ, the Church, is born from the side of Jesus as he is cast in the deep sleep of death on the cross and his side is pierced.
All of us fall short in following Jesus as faithfully as we should. We often run from suffering and abandon our commitments when things become difficult. Today we are inspired by those brave enough to be at the foot of the cross, St. John, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of Jesus. They were not afraid of the suffering. Let us repent today of the times we have run from suffering and been unfaithful. Let us welcome the love of Jesus once more. While today looks like at sad day, we know that the life of Jesus is not really ended on Calvary. His love for us does not die, rather, it is consummated.