Remain on His Cross
V. When we were dead through sin, God brought us to life again in Christ,
A. because he loved us with so great a love.
V. In him is the fountain of life;
A. We drink from the streams of his goodness.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord God, who has desired that the pierced Heart of your Son be a fountain of mercy and grace for us, we ask you to teach us to abide in him, for his Heart is the very core of the initial preaching of the Gospel. “It stands at the origin of our faith, as the wellspring that refreshes and enlivens our Christian beliefs.” (Dilexit nos, no. 32)
GOSPEL (Jn 19:34)
One soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
REFLECTION
To remain on the Cross is to remain in the experience of the merciful love of Jesus who gave himself, even to death, to show us his love: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). “The wounded side of Christ continues to pour forth that stream which is never exhausted, never passes away, but offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity.” (Dilexit nos, no. 219).
“As we meditate on Christ’s self-offering for the sake of all, we are naturally led to ask why we too should not be ready to give our lives for others: ‘We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us – and that we ought to lay down our lives for one another’ (1 Jn 3:16).” (Dilexit nos, no. 171)
FINAL PRAYER
Allow us, Father, the grace to remain at the foot of the Cross of Jesus as Mary, his mother, John the beloved disciple, and Mary Magdalene, the first witness of your resurrection did so that, contemplating your love from the intimacy of your Son’s Heart, we may become credible apostles of his resurrection among our brothers and sisters.
Pierced Heart of Christ
Embrace my heart
