“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I love you.” This command of Our Lord is at the very heart of the Christian life. Jesus does not simply say, “Love one another” he says, “love one another as I love you.” As we gather at this solemn hour, the Church’s sacred rites reveal how Christ loves us. Together we look upon the Lord Crucified, where we discover the extent of the Lord’s love for us and the model for how we are to love one another.
When we reflect deeply on the meaning of the Cross, on the significance of this day, extraordinary things happen.
Before the Lord Crucified, how can we not see ourselves as we truly are, how very small, how unworthy we are that the Son of God should suffer the agony and death of the cross?
Before the cross, pride fades away as we become more aware of our sins, our foibles, and weaknesses. Our patron, St. Anthony said, “You cannot better appreciate your worth than by looking into the mirror of the Cross of Christ. There you will learn how you are to deflate your pride.”
Yet, the extraordinary continues, the Cross’ meaning runs deeper. As we look upon the Lord, we begin to understand the depth of Christ’s love for me. Many can look upon the cross and be scandalized, seeing only suffering and death. But for the disciple the Cross is also a great symbol of Christ’s love for us. “The greatest symbol of love is not the heart, but the cross.” From the cross the Lord says, “I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even when you run away from me, reject me, or betray me.”
Jesus loved despite the cruelty of his persecutors, despite being betrayed, abandoned and denied! His response was forgiveness and mercy! Here we find the model for fulfilling the Lord’s command of love.
We should ask ourselves frequently, “Who am I to disparage others? Who am I to hold a grudge or refuse to forgive? Who am I, a sinner, to judge or to look down at others…when the Lord forgave his executioners and tormenters?
As we approach to venerate the cross let us thank the Lord for his unconditional and precious love, a love that shows us how to love.
Let us pray: O Lord, your Cross reveals to us the mystery of our sin. You, Innocent One entered a history we spoiled by our pride that became defiant, hateful, and violent. But your Cross, O Lord Jesus, reveals above all, the mystery of your love, that is stronger than our sins, more tenacious than our rebellions, more powerful than our hollow abilities. O Jesus Crucified, You are our hope through the twisted paths, we take through time. O Jesus Crucified, have mercy on us sinners and help us to love one another as you have loved us.
