This day is far different then other days of the week for today Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross and breathed His last breath as He died upon the cross. Most interestingly today also falls the Annunciation when Mary gave her “yes” to the angel Gabriel thus causing Christ to dwell among us. And thus this year the day he took on our human flesh is the same day that He came to expire upon the cross. On other days of the week we would joyously gather within this church and Mass would be offered, but that does not take place here for us tonight.
Today we we come to humble ourself before God and His great love for us. We will humble ourself before the cross which is the instrument of our salvation and we will humble ourself before Christ who is present within the Eucharist as we come forward to receive Him.
It can become easy to take these two realities for granted, but we cannot begin to encounter them as one who is filled with pride as if we are owed something. The Eucharist and the cross should bring us to our knees in humble adoration because what we encounter is Christ and our salvation. The thought of receiving Christ and being redeemed should make us feel humbled. These are two gifts which none of us are worthy to receive and yet Christ has extended these gifts unto us.
Let us be humbled by the cross for by it we impart upon a path of penance. Penance to rid ourself of our attachment to sin and made in atonement for our sins and for those of the whole world. Saint Teresa of Avila: "You have entered religion not to indulge the flesh but to die for Jesus Christ.” In our coming forward to embrace the cross in humility may we begin to die for Christ in order that He alone may be the one whom we serve.
What a gift that the Eucharist is for through the Eucharist we receive Jesus Christ. Whom do we serve? Christ or the flesh? Let us purge ourself of our disordered passions through our embracing of the cross in order that the answer to this question may be Christ alone.
St. Leonard of Port Maurice: “If you obey the Commandments of God, if you detest the corruption of this world, if you embrace the Cross of Jesus Christ in a spirit of penance, you will be that one alone who is saved.”
Christ came and saved us upon the cross, but now we must ask if we accept what was offered. If we accept the cross we must reject the ways of the world which rip us away from Him and His Church on this earth. Mortal sin puts our relationship with Him to death. Through mortal sin we reject the cross and we are left dead to the graces of the Most Holy Eucharist.
