“Then [Pilate] handed him over to them to be crucified” (John 19:16).
There are at least a thousand lessons to be learned at Calvary, and then there are the mysteries beyond these lessons, which bring us to the shores of an endless sea. But in keeping with our theme, the work of Christ as Savior and Redeemer, the forgiveness of sins by Christ on the cross seems to be the lesson that we should concentrate on for these meditations.…
We must look at the incredible and mysterious event of the death of a God, the only God who ever died, and realize that it happened for us that we might live forever. We are forgiven — we need only accept and acknowledge the forgiveness and the need to repent, to change as much as we can.
We have two more things to do. As Jesus Christ made clear in his life and works: we also must forgive, and we must love and help others in return for what God has done for us.
— Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR
(The King, Crucified and Risen)
Isaiah 52:13—53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12–13, 15–16, 17, 25
Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9
John 18:1—19:42