Daily Inspiration

“The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” —John 16:29:33

Many falsely believe that while hanging on the cross, the Father abandoned the Son. They hear the words Jesus spoke from upon the cross, the opening to Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned (forsaken) me?” and believe that the Most Holy Trinity was somehow divisible into separate parts. Yet Christ Himself repeatedly told us that He and the Father are one, and the Church has promulgated this teaching throughout the centuries.

Jesus became man so that He could take upon Himself the sins of the entire world and hang them upon the cross. He calls out to the Father, ‘My God, My God’, then He turns His gaze to me and you, and asks each of us, ‘Why have you abandoned me?’ For God never leaves the sinner; it is the sinner who abandons God. Yet there is always hope, for the sinner can return to the foot of the cross, to be with the Son, at any moment he chooses.