This morning as I was praying the Rosary and meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries, I was thinking of what a reminder the Crucifix is – not just a cross – but the Crucifix. As we look upon our Lord, brutally crucified like the worst of all criminals, on that tree, we are looking at what sin does in our lives, in our families, in our world. Sin brutally kills any and all goodness.
As I pondered the mysteries it is clear the subtle path that the evil one uses to replace goodness in the world.
In the first Sorrowful Mystery we meditate on the Agony in the Garden. Jesus is alone, not a one of his friends can stay awake with Him. Jesus prays and His sweat is drops of blood! Sin makes us abandon Goodness. And His accuser comes and betrays Him. Sin makes us accuse Goodness of crimes against our social make up. Sin needs to and does, push out all Goodness.
The second mystery – the Scourging at the Pillar – sin wants to beat and tear apart Goodness in our lives. It wants Goodness to be shredded and disgusting to our sentiment. Sin wants us to turn our back and walk away or to swing the whip that tears the skin off of All Goodness.
And then we crown Goodness with thorns and mock and spit on Him. Our sins taunt Goodness to show Him how we want to live.
After all this, Goodness still picks up His Cross. The Cross of Love and what does our sin do? It taunts Him even more. It laughs at Him when He falls. It turns it’s head and doesn’t want to see.
And as Goodness is nailed to the Cross, as Love takes His place on His throne of mercy, I realize it’s my sin. It’s me that nailed Him to that Cross. It is me who taunted and spit on Him. It is me who turns my back on Him. It is me who still hammers the nails.
And still He does this for me. He opens His arms wide and invites me into His Love, to experience His mercy. He died for me. He died because of my sins. And He loves me still.
Just a Fat Sassy Grandma 