The Cross, Source of Salvation and Gift of Eternal Life

We are now in the midst of Lent, and the texts proposed by the liturgy are pointing us towards the passion of Jesus, towards the cross.

The mystery of the cross, the mystery of Christian life, which consists of a love that saves! God’s plan is to love and save all of humanity! “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16

1. The mystery of the cross

Do we realize its full significance? Three words to describe the meaning of the cross: love, salvation, life.

– Love. “It is by grace that you have been saved” Ephesians 2:4. Jesus’ crucifixion is the ultimate expression of God the Father’s love for the world. It is the key without which His love cannot be received or understood. As Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for the sake of his friends.” John 15:13

– Salvation. The cross expresses the gift of Jesus’ life for the salvation of each one of us. In His death he bore the weight of all the world’s sins and reconciled the world with God. 

– Life. Finally, Christ’s death on the cross opens up eternal life to those who believe in Him. “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), Jesus said to the “good thief”. Paul says it marvellously well in the 2nd reading: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

2. We are saved by grace, love, and mercy.

God did not come to judge the world. 

We are so full of false images of God that they prevent us from truly understanding who God is:

– A distant God. We can’t see Him, feel Him or speak to Him.

– A chastising god.

– A god who has foreseen everything, planned everything, knows everything.

– A god of obligations, who tells me to do things!

– A god who always asks a lot of me…

These are all false images of God! 

The true image of God is that God is love. God loves you freely, unconditionally, and forever!

3. We are saved by faith, by the gift of God

– It is not we who are saved, salvation is the gift of God.

“When the disciples (…) said, ‘Who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘It is impossible for men, but for God all things are possible’.” Matthew 19:25-26

– Don’t choose the wrong saviour!

Only God can save me. “Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in men, who makes mortal mankind his strength. (…) But blessed is the man whose trust is in the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5and7

– Two keys to happiness!

1º realize, especially with my heart, that I am truly loved by God.

2º understand the dynamic of the cross as a dynamic of love, of giving. The joy of giving, as Jesus gave His life for us!

SFS

– Repeat: “The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me!” or “I believe that God loves me!”

– Look for concrete opportunities to give life: caring, serving, giving away our possessions, etc.