The words of last evening's gospel passage are still ringing in our ears: Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end (Jn 13:1). The surprising words Jesus spoke during the Last Supper with his disciples: This is my body that is for you and This cup is the new covenant in my blood (1 Cor 11:23-25) were fulfilled in the drama that unfolded on Good Friday.
Sometimes, it can be difficult for us to endure our own sufferings, and it is even more difficult for us to witness the sufferings of someone else who is dear to us - because we are forced to stand by, powerless to bring them any measure of relief. What was it like for Jesus to willingly endure such excruciating pain: the abandonment of his closest friends who fell asleep in the garden while he prayed, the betrayal of one who he had known so well, the unforgiving words spoken by his accusers, the repeated calls for his crucifixion, the pain of the soldiers' whip across his back, the thorns driven into his flesh, the weight of the wood he carried, the blinding pain of the nails and the slow but unforgiving suffocation that followed ... all the while loving us to the end? When we contemplate the lengths to which Jesus willingly suffered, our own complaints seem so very small and insignificant.
Pray today for the courage to love. Sometimes we are compelled to love in situations we would not necessarily have chosen, but like Simon of Cyrene, we discover that as we do our meagre parts to help others carry their crosses, there are blessings given to us as well; even the most simple of tasks, like wiping the face of a person who is broken and suffering can also be the source of surprising rewards; our mere presence at the bedside of those who are weakened, aged and suffering can bring comfort and strength to those who are enduring their own crosses. All these acts that seem so simple are examples of the ways Jesus calls us to love as he loves us.
Have a great day.
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