Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 21, 2021 •
Father Miller will offer a reflection on the Seven Last Words of Christ throughout Lent.
What is "finished"? If it's not just His life, what is finished? ...
"My food is to do the will of the One Who sent me and to finish his work."
Jesus is telling us that at this moment, on the Cross, right before His death, He has now accomplished the work of His Father - to save us from our sins. It's the work of salvation, salvation is accomplished.
That alone is profound, that at this moment we recognize from the words of our Savior, the completion of the act of redemption.
But if you look at the words just in their English translation, you're going to miss something even more profound about this statement.
In Latin, Jesus actually said on the cross: "Consummatum est." ... We use this word "consummate" for the love between a husband and a wife. It's nuptial language.
When a couple comes here before the Lord and exchanges their vows, that's when they enter into the Sacrament of matrimony. However, until that matrimonial commitment is consummated, the marriage is actually not valid. Until the love that they expressed in words is then completed in action, it's not valid.
Here is Jesus Who has lived His life, especially in His public ministry, preaching His words of love and Truth. In a sense, expressing His vows to His Bride the Church. He's saying "This is how I love you", but He's also telling His bride how she should love Him too - He speaks her vows too. So there's this exchange of vows, but the marriage is not consummated yet. Not until the Cross.
On the Cross Jesus finally gives Himself; body, blood, soul, and divinity, to His bride. He has held nothing back. He has offered her everything. And once everything has been offered, He cries out, "Consummatum est."
It's a mystery of nuptial love between god and His holy people.
Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15; Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33
Homily begins at 15:43