Today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. We were not able to see the movie "The Passion of the Christ" when it came out in theaters due to family circumstances. Now that it's out on DVD, I've finally seen it. I have a greater awareness of just how much Jesus suffered for us. And how much Mary suffered. The enormity of the Passion is beyond words. Especially when you consider it was all so unnecessary.
Jesus didn't have to undergo what He did. A single drop of His Precious Blood would have sufficed. The love between Father and Son so great that the shedding of just one drop was enough to win our redemption.
But Jesus willingly gave His all for us. Not just one drop, but every drop He had to give. Infinite love between Father and Son, and infinite love of Father and Son for us that the full measure of His sacrifice was given, not one drop held back. No regrets.
Thinking on this, and on the feast of the Assumption last month, I've formed some opinions on the question of whether the Blessed Mother experienced actual death, or if she was assumed directly to Heaven without having experienced death.
In discussions, some have pointed out that Mary, being without sin from the moment of her conception, was not subject to the ravages of sin, including death. This is true, but it's a distinct possibility that Mary did in fact experience death.
Thinking on this, I think it's possible that given her unique position as the Mother of God, and her participation at Calvary, and Jesus' deep love for His mother, that Mary was given a choice... and it was her decision to follow her Son through death to Eternal Life.
Jesus did not have to die, He chose to die. Jesus was sinless, like us in all things except sin. He chose to lay down His life for us. Mary was surely aware of this. Would Mary take a shortcut around death, when her Son did not? Is the servant greater than the Master? Or did Mary embrace death, as her Son did, joining herself to the Cross one last time?
And I wonder... if she did choose to take up the cross one last time, willingly, what was the reaction in Heaven? Mary is not God, I don't mean to imply that she is. But if our meager sacrifices have value in God's eyes, what would be the value in Mary's final sacrifice? At her coronation, how much more rejoicing in Heaven there would be. In that one final act of sacrifice, how much more would Mary's soul magnify the Lord? And in return, how much more was Mary blessed?
This is all speculation, of course. We won't know for sure til we see Jesus face to face. Just some thoughts on the Cross, the crosses in our lives, and Mary's unwaivering acceptance of the Cross.
Jesus didn't have to undergo what He did. A single drop of His Precious Blood would have sufficed. The love between Father and Son so great that the shedding of just one drop was enough to win our redemption.
But Jesus willingly gave His all for us. Not just one drop, but every drop He had to give. Infinite love between Father and Son, and infinite love of Father and Son for us that the full measure of His sacrifice was given, not one drop held back. No regrets.
Thinking on this, and on the feast of the Assumption last month, I've formed some opinions on the question of whether the Blessed Mother experienced actual death, or if she was assumed directly to Heaven without having experienced death.
In discussions, some have pointed out that Mary, being without sin from the moment of her conception, was not subject to the ravages of sin, including death. This is true, but it's a distinct possibility that Mary did in fact experience death.
Thinking on this, I think it's possible that given her unique position as the Mother of God, and her participation at Calvary, and Jesus' deep love for His mother, that Mary was given a choice... and it was her decision to follow her Son through death to Eternal Life.
Jesus did not have to die, He chose to die. Jesus was sinless, like us in all things except sin. He chose to lay down His life for us. Mary was surely aware of this. Would Mary take a shortcut around death, when her Son did not? Is the servant greater than the Master? Or did Mary embrace death, as her Son did, joining herself to the Cross one last time?
And I wonder... if she did choose to take up the cross one last time, willingly, what was the reaction in Heaven? Mary is not God, I don't mean to imply that she is. But if our meager sacrifices have value in God's eyes, what would be the value in Mary's final sacrifice? At her coronation, how much more rejoicing in Heaven there would be. In that one final act of sacrifice, how much more would Mary's soul magnify the Lord? And in return, how much more was Mary blessed?
This is all speculation, of course. We won't know for sure til we see Jesus face to face. Just some thoughts on the Cross, the crosses in our lives, and Mary's unwaivering acceptance of the Cross.
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