Words of Love from the Cross

Following is the prepared text from Bishop Olmsted’s homily on Palm Sunday.

April 10, 2022

When Jesus suffered death on the Cross, the dreams and hopes of Jesus’ Apostles were shattered. His followers went away, beating their breasts in sorrow and despair. However, a faithful few saw something happening that the others failed to see, namely the love of God conquering hatred and despair. These faithful few were – Mary, His mother, – Mary Magdalene, – Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry His Cross, and – one of the criminals who was crucified beside Him. All these found God’s love in a place they least expected, at a time that seemed disastrous, in a way others thought impossible. During the Passion, three statements reveal Jesus’ love at work in suffering.

First, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” Jesus prayed for those who were putting Him to death; He even provided them an excuse. Our Savior reminds us that God finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they be converted and live. As He taught in the parables (Lk 15:7): “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who have no need to repent.”

The second statement that reveals Jesus’ love in the face of suffering happened when the criminal crucified alongside Him said, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” At once, Jesus replied, “I assure you, this day you will be with me in paradise.” At the most painful time in this criminal’s life, at a moment of intense agony and shame, he discovered that His Savior was right beside Him, suffering with Him — even though He was innocent, suffering out of love for His heavenly Father and out of love for every person. Here a dying criminal found the promise of everlasting life. That is the mystery of love we find at the Cross.

Third, the final words that express Jesus’ love from the Cross are these, “Father…into your hands I commend my spirit.” This was not the first time Jesus had spoken these words. All His life He had prayed them. This is the first prayer that Jesus learned from His mother, the prayer that He said every night, the words that, still today, Jewish parents teach their children to pray before falling asleep: Psalm 31, verse five.

Even as Jesus was dying on the Cross, He prayed with the love and trust of a child: “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” He also says, “Unless you change and become like children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” Jesus’ death on the Cross is His greatest act of love. “Greater love than this no one has, to lay down his love for his friends.” These things Jesus said from the Cross reveal His power to transform suffering into peace, to absolve sin through forgiveness. Whenever we sin and stand in need of God’s mercy, let us recall Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them…”

Every night, before we fall asleep, let us say, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

At the time of our death, may we hear Jesus say to us, “This day you will be with me in paradise.”