“Mary, Mary, It is finished…”
As we heard last evening all of the disciples, except the beloved disciple, his mother and some other women, betrayed Him. All of us betray Jesus like those disciples so long ago. Our encouragement of this day is that Jesus does not count betrayal as the last word; His last words, “It is finished” to indicate that He had accomplished all that was necessary to heal our divisions—to bring reconciliation among us, and between humanity and His Father. Jesus surrendered to death and turned the bitterness of the cross into sweet wood that is the promise of life.
Like St. Paul, we need not fear death. “O Death, where is your victory, where is your sting?”
We use the word “dead” more than we think, especially since death is not a welcome topic. For example, we see “dead end” signs when we driving, we have a place for “dead files” at the office, we hear journalist rushing to meet “deadlines”. In all of these cases, the word “dead” means just that; no more, finished, done, over.
No doubt, when the soldiers came to Jesus’ Cross and saw that he was already “dead” they too thought, “no more, finished, done, over.” No point in breaking his legs to speed the onset of death. They just did a hastily and meaningless (So they thought) thrust of a spear. If they had only known that they were fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced…”
But love conquers, and this dying was of love.
The Cross is not only the instrument of death of Jesus but also the sweet wood of exaltation, salvation, assurance and reconciliation. “It is (not) finished.”
In John’s account of the “Passion” three women were standing by the “Cross of Jesus”, all of whom were named Mary. They stand near the cross. Those who love Jesus are drawn to be near him. And my brothers and sisters, Jesus loves each of us and wants nothing less than to draw each of us to himself!
It was meant to be a sign to the world, and it was: Love never fails.
We bring our sorrows; we bring our pains; we bring our joys; we bring our hope; we lay it all at the foot of the cross. And we know this: In this sign, you and I will conquer.
And, as we leave here this evening we should want nothing less than to be drawn nearer to this cross of Jesus, emptying ourselves at his feet so that tomorrow evening we can bask in the Alleluia of “His resurrection!”