“When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” The father had entrusted Jesus two main tasks: to preach His gospel and to suffer for our redemption. “It is finished, I have suffered up to the last minute, nothing new awaits for me but dying” and bowing his head, he handed over the spirit” (John 19, 30).
This sixth Word makes me think about the great sacrifice Jesus Himself made. The words “it is finished” show the great Sacrifice Jesus made for us, so we as servants of the Lord are called to offer sacrifices to God. It is true that God does not ask sacrifices or burnt offerings, He only asks for repented and humiliated hearts. However, there are sacrifices, which glorify and praise God like praying, love and mercy acts. “Let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13, 15).
As I mentioned before, Christ made that sacrifice for us in order to make us free from death slavery, from sin and from the devil and be able to open the doors of His Kingdom.
It is the Lord’s will that we live free from sin, Jesus Christ died on the Cross to perform His Father will, but, how many times we are indifferent not only to the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us, but also to Our Father’s will? Not only do we refuse to do Our Father’s will doing exactly the opposite to His law and plans, but se serve the devil instead of serving God and we abandon ourselves to lust and greed. Jesus Christ knowing men’s weaknesses asked us to crucify flesh with its vices and concupiscence.
God in His endless love for us gave us intelligence, freedom and will, but unfortunately when we get carried away with flesh desires, we act like men out of our mind, we degrade dignity and man’s greatness to that of an irrational beast.
It is true that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, however man can count on his own will and freedom to struggle against everything that leads us to contradict Our Lord’s will. Jesus Christ accepted His Cross and died on it to obey His Father’s Will, so that we reached freedom and the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it is necessary that we accept our cross, hand in hand with God. We have to trust His infinite and redeeming grace that strengthens us to thrive and defeat sin and evil slavery.
