In human terms, we would never see the image of death on a cross as a glorious moment. Yet this is the moment of the Lord Jesus’ greatest glory, as he glorifies the Father with his very last breath. Every minute of every day of the Lord Jesus’ life was spent as an answer to the will of the Father and now as he comes to that moment of choice where he needs to choose his own self
preservation or to surrender to the will of the Father he once again chooses to glorify the Father with the last drops of his lifeblood.

The Lord Jesus’ mission was to reveal in human form, the infinite love, and mercy of God, in all circumstances, for the whole of humanity. This love and mercy is most evident when Jesus responds with love and mercy to being betrayed, rejected, humiliated, scourged, and crucified. The message is that nothing can separate us from his love and mercy. He makes clear the inner nature of God. The evil of the whole human race is transformed in the heart of the Lord Jesus crucified. Touched by this love and mercy we see in the first reading St Paul calling himself “a prisoner in the spirit”. The Lord Jesus’ love has so transformed this former persecutor of the Christian faith that he willingly faces all kinds of persecution just to be able to complete the mission that had been entrusted to him, which is to testify to the good news of the gospel. As I ponder these two readings my mind is drawn to the many Martyrs who willingly and joyfully walked to their deaths for the chance to witness to the love of God and the good news of the gospel. This Martyrdom takes place even today in many parts of the world where to be a Christian is to be ready to sacrifice everything, even one’s life for the Lord Jesus. We may not ourselves be in these dire situations where life and death hang in the balance, but we are called to suffer joyfully the afflictions that come our way.

We are asked to draw strength from the encounter we had with the Lord and walk with him daily in an intimate relationship, holding onto the promises that God has given us; becoming beacons of hope, in an increasingly hopeless world.

Prayer: Abba Father, we pray for a fresh in filling of the Holy Spirit, that we will be strengthened, touched and made whole in your Power. Amen