Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Jesus said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" In today’s Gospel reading (John 19:17-30), we hear the story of the crucifixion of Christ. The crucifixion brings us each face to face with the great suffering Christ had to endure for our sins. At the cross, we finally realize who Christ is. Pilate, a Roman leader, places title for Jesus which read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” It is through this great sacrifice that we are saved from our sins. In one unbelievable act, Christ bears the burden for everything we have done to wrong the world. He was abandoned at the cross by all the apostles except one. His mother and two other women endured the brutality of the punishment he took to save us from the fires of hell. Abandoned and left alone, he was beaten, spit upon, mocked and then sacrificed his own life to save each and every one of us from our sins. How times have we abandoned Christ and yet we turn around to find him still there taking care of us. Jesus exclaimed, “It is finished” to signified the end, yet it really signified the beginning of our hope for eternal life. Through the sacrifice of the cross, we become aware of the hope of the resurrection. Through our own resurrection, we will live with Christ forever. Through the power of cross, Satan is defeated and hope is restored. We now know that we can defeat sin and rise again in the splendor and glory of God in heaven.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, through the cross we have found the door which leads to eternal life.

Through the cross you have defeated sin and death.

May my life be worthy of the sacrifice which you made for me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon