Actually I wrote these lyrics to a musical piece that I composed shortly before Christmas. If you recall at our Christmas Eve Mass I related how closely the "Crib and the Cross" actually were. I told you then that – as Bishop Fulton Sheen tells us – Jesus was the only person born into the world to die, and this, from the very first moment of his life!
The lyric, then, reads:
Look and see what was done to my most beloved Friend! Look and see why my sins have done to him; Good Jesus, gentle Jesus, Friend of Mine: receive my prayer of thanks and praise: "Deo gratias! Deo gratias!" Alleluia! "Praise and thanks to God forever!" Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Indeed:
Look and see what was done to our most beloved Friend! Look and see what our sins have done to him; Good Jesus, gentle Jesus, Friend of Ours: receive our prayer of thanks and praise: "Deo gratias! Deo gratias!" Alleluia! "Praise and thanks to God forever!" Alleluia! Alleluia!
On Good Friday we saw how Jesus proved his love for us by being willing to lay down his life for us: while we were still enemies; in doing this he restored the Divine Friendship between us and himself, his Father and the Holy Spirit; the Divine Friendship that was seriously wounded by the sin of our first parents; the Divine Friendship that only he could do something about, being both man and God at the same time. God was so much offended when we, human beings, chose not to be his Friends any longer; only one who was also God could mend what needed mending.
There is no greater love, Jesus tells us, than to lay down one's life for one's friends. And so it was our Lord, our God; but also our Brother and our Friend who was crucified on that stormy Friday afternoon! He endured it o so willingly and lovingly so that we could be free from our sins, and live with him forever in heaven.
Today we celebrate his reward: the fact that, in his humanity, Jesus was raised from the dead by his Father, by the working of the Holy Spirit – because of his obedience to his Father's will. And Jesus now lives nevermore to die again. He is the first-fruit of all those who would likewise never see death – if they believe in him and live like they believe it, here and now! This means very plainly that if we are incorporated into his very life by baptism, and are confirmed, strengthened and equipped by the same Holy Spirit that he was, and share the spiritual Eucharistic Food he provided at the Last Supper, and we try to live each day like he taught us in the Sermon the Mount – then we too can expect to share his life of resurrection: a newness of human life that we can't even imagine how wonderful it really is. He promised this to us! And he always keeps his promises!
Yes, look and see what was done to Jesus on the Cross; but just as importantly look and see where Jesus resides very much alive right now – in the tabernacle; in the Scriptures; in the Eucharist as we share it each week, and in each other
as we love and serve each other. Jesus becomes more really present the more we really love others like he did. If you want to truly experience the presence of the Risen Christ, then go out of your way, strengthened by the Eucharist you eat and drink, and become that Eucharist for others by your caring and loving concern and concrete help!
This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!
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