It is finished!
“It is finished!”, said the Son of God at the crucifixion. Yesterday, I decided to watch the movie, Son of God in preparation for Good Friday services. I hoped it would help me better visualize the events we commemorate today. Throughout the movie, I tried to put myself in Jesus’ shoes – to feel what He might have been feeling. I thought of how we are all called to be like Jesus. When I think of being like Jesus, I think of mercy, compassion and love. The movie reminded me that we are also called to bear our crosses patiently. As I pondered my life and how I handle or react to certain situations, my first thought was “I can never be like Him” and immediately I heard “You CAN be, with His help.” Isn’t THAT the truth? Scripture tells us so. For nothing is impossible with God.
Then another thought as I watched the scene of the Last Supper. Jesus became incarnate in order to make known the beauty, power and Truth of God the Father. Throughout all of Scripture, we see that many people came to know the Father through Jesus and were nourished by His PRESENCE among them. By associating regularly with Jesus, His apostles gained wisdom, courage and understanding. The apostles grew in compassion and love. They desired to be holy like Jesus and He knew it.
He also knew that He could not leave them without giving them something that would continue to nourish them in his physical absence. THAT’S why He instituted the Eucharist. His Body and Blood is currently given as nourishment to help us on the journey just as Jesus, in His physical body, did for His disciples some 2000 years ago. While it’s true that Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit as guide, He knew that we humans “of little faith” would need something visible and tangible in order to believe He was still with us, present with us day by day.
Finally, I pondered His words “It is finished.” His earthly life is finished; our sins are finished; Mary’s anticipation of the suffering she would endure is finished; His own physical pain and suffering was finished; His mission was finished. Later, as I sat in church after Good Friday service, I looked up at Jesus on the cross with arms outstretched and I thought of what those arms symbolize. Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest; Your sins are forgiven; I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and your are mine; let the children come; I AM victorious!
I hope this day is a reminder of the unconditional love of Christ who gives us the nourishment we need to be more like Him. Never forget that nothing is impossible for Him! God bless you.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful interpretation of his arms on the cross.