The Mystery of the Crucifixion
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.
There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.
Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.
The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’”
Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.”
This was to fulfill the scripture, “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did this.
But standing by the cross of Jesus were his Mother, and his Mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.”
A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.
When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
(John 19, 17-30)
« Ne fallait-il pas que le Christ endurât ces souffrances pour entrer dans sa Gloire ? » (Lc 24, 26)
Toute sa vie sur la terre, Jésus est tendu vers son Heure, l’Heure de sa mort d’amour et de la glorification du Père.
Au soir de la Cène, il dit à ses amis : « J’ai désiré d’un grand désir manger cette Pâque avec vous. » (Lc 22, 15)
Il laisse percevoir sa soif de monter vers le Père et de nous préparer une place dans la maison de notre Père :
« Père, ceux que Tu m’as donnés, je veux que là où je suis, eux aussi soient avec moi, afin qu’ils contemplent ma Gloire que Tu m’as donnée. » (Jn 17, 24)
Lorsque tout est achevé, Jésus meurt d’une soif d’amour infinie. Pour accomplir parfaitement l’Écriture, il dit :
« J’ai soif ! » (Jn 19, 28)
Pour que l’eau de la Vie, de la Vie de la gloire éternelle du Fils tourné vers le Père, coule et irrigue les cœurs des hommes pécheurs, Jésus se laisse transpercer au cœur par la lance :
« Il sortit aussitôt du sang et de l’eau. » (Jn 19, 34)
Nul ne peut voir Dieu sans mourir.
Devant mon impuissance à désirer de toutes mes forces le seul Bien, et à renoncer tout ce qui n’est pas lui, je mendie de la Vierge, en ce mystère, sa manière de m’approcher du Cœur percé de Jésus.
Là, je reçois ma renaissance et la délivrance.
Là, par la foi, je peux m’abreuver de l’amour dont le Fils aime le Père, un amour plus fort que la mort. (Ct 8, 6)
La soif du Dieu fort et vivant devient peu à peu l’élan de toute ma vie et de mon consentement à suivre Jésus :
« Quand pourrai-je aller voir la Face de Dieu ? » (Ps 41)
Notre Père, qui es aux Cieux…
Réjouis-toi Marie, Comblée-de-Grâce…