Here we are, at the halfway point of the Triduum and, also, at the hour of His death upon the Cross. Last night, we heard from Saint Paul about Jesus instituting the Eucharist, our Holy Food. Then from John we heard about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples and saying, “Do you realize what I have done for you?… I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” 

A model of service, and the Eucharist… His instructions to us and His command to “Do this in remembrance of me” before he is turned over to the chief priests and guards. Leading us to today. Leading us to His ultimate sacrifice. Leading to His torture, humiliation, rejection and crucifixion. 

As He walked with that cross on His wounded, raw shoulders, His obedience to His Father’s will carried Him through the pain and exhaustion. His mission on earth was coming to its culmination. On Golgotha, as the nails were being driven into His hands, really where our hands should be, He says, “I do this for you.” He does this for the world, and He does this for each of us individually. 

It is our sins, it is our weakness, it is our shame nailed painfully to that Cross. Nailed and offered to the Father so that we can achieve forgiveness, so that we can achieve salvation at the end of our lives. That’s His mission. And we say it all the time, right? “He came to save us.” But you know what? Sometimes we take it for granted. 

Well, today is the day not to take it for granted. Today, and especially this hour, is the time to look on in awe, to recognize just what He has done for each of us individually. He took those sins and bought our redemption.

That’s why we venerate this cross. This cross, a symbol of suffering, this symbol of our salvation… this gift. We don’t deserve this gift, but that’s what true love is. We don’t deserve it, but He did it anyway. That’s how much He loves us.