Lent: Day 39

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Some who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

One of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and rocks were split. Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had died were raised; coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done. They said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

There were also women watching from afar, including Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of Joses, who followed Jesus and served him when he was in Galilee, along with many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

Reflection

 

The end of Jesus’ life was accompanied by signs and wonders, some of which are hard to understand. The Roman officer watching all of this came to believe Jesus was indeed the Son of God as he had claimed. What conclusions have you reached concerning Jesus? What about the death (or life) of Jesus have you found most compelling? 

Prayer: Keep the mystery and the majesty of the cross, Lord, ever before me.