There are times in nature as in the Spiritual life that in order to produce more life, something has to die. In the first reading from the great prophet Jeremiah, the Lord tells him something extraordinary. God tells him that He will write His law on the very hearts of His people, and we shall be His friends. This is amazing to think about. God almighty wants you and me to be His friends. The creator of the entire universe, the one who holds all matter together, the one who unfurled the galaxies wants to know you and you to know Him. How cool is that?
St. Paul takes it further by telling us that when Jesus was in the flesh, He prayed for us and that it was for us that He came into the world. When I look at my own life, I can’t help but notice what an ungrateful joker I am. Often times I take for granted God’s love and mercy, and sometimes I don’t even think of it at all. It is at this time, that I need to lay my own will down and put my own flesh under control. I need to die to self to live in Christ. Then God will often gently remind me that He loves me and will show me how much by stretching his arms wide and being crucified for me. He knew that if He died for us, then He could draw all of us to Him, and we could never say “God, you don’t know what it’s like to be going through what I am going through”.
Indeed He does know what it is like. He was laughed at and spit upon. He was rejected by His own people. He was beaten beyond recognition for our transgressions and iniquities. He was crowned with thorns mashed into His scalp and pierced with nails in His hands and His feet. His back was bloody and striped, and why did He do this? Why did the God of all creation allow these things to happen? Why did He allow His very life blood to be poured out? The answer is in this week’s gospel passage.
“When I am lifted up…I will draw all men unto me”. He did this because He loves us. He loves you and He loves me, so much that He died so that we might have life. So this week take some time to think on all of this. Take a good, long, look at a crucifix and just sit there with it, and the next time you wonder if God is real or if He cares at all for you, look at the crucifix again. He loves you that much. What more could He do to show you His love, He is drawing you to Him through His love. Now ask yourself, how much do I love Him? Something to think about. May God richly bless you always!