Luke 23: 44-49
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’ 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Simply asking for the grace to be with Jesus at his cross makes me very sad. Taking in all that Jesus has done for me over-whelms me to tears. There have been times that the passion has not affected me so much. It is as if I just accept the situation and make the best of it. Almost as if Jesus accepted his fate, so that was ok with me. But it isn’t. The pain is there. I visualize myself at the cross of Jesus, kneeling, alone in the darkness. But there were others there, scattered in the distance around. I know I should enter into his pain, but it is too much for me. Right now I only enter into the pain of loneliness.
How often am I hurt, feeling abandoned and alone? It helps me to know that there are others here with me, scattered at a distance. Do I keep a safe distance from Jesus to protect my-self from any persecution I might endure? I want to follow Jesus, but only as far as it is accepted and convenient. I’m persecuted when I’m not “allowed” to pray, speak of Christ at Christmas, or in certain places or simply share my faith with others.