Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
We adore You, O Christ and we praise You, because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:19-24).
Jesus’ desire is infinite and unchanging. His love compels (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14; Phil. 2:6-7) Him to offer Himself for the redemption of the world. Though the suffering was very real—“My Father,
if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Mt. 26:39)—Jesus’ desire to pour Himself out completely is infinite—“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (Lk. 22:15). We, too, are invited to make every moment a redemptive moment: “what must our most appropriate and ultimate response be? It will be total availability to the work of redemption … in full accord with the needs of the redemptive moment” (Bishop Giaquinta, Our Life as Apostolic Oblates).Jesus infinitely desired to empty Himself completely because He sees the Father empty Himself completely (creation, sustaining creation, identity in the Trinity). Such an outpouring in love bears abundant fruit. Thus Jesus does what He sees the Father doing (cf. Jn. 5:19) as He offers Himself for love’s sake on the cross. We, too, are called to choose death for love, for redemption.
With Jesus, may we keep our attention fixed on the Father, so that we may say only what we hear the Father say and do only what we see the Father do. Let us ask for this grace as we journey toward the fullness of life in the infinite love of the Father with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Submitted by Jessi Kary, Apostolic Oblate, Nebraska
Holy Mother, impress into my heart the wounds of your Son.
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