Was it not enough for the Son of God to hang on a tree? Does he still need to view rejection?

Was it not enough for the Son of God to hang on a Tree?  Does he still need to view rejection?

We may think that the Passion Jesus experienced before he was crucified would be enough to forgive us our sins; but the continued essence from those he saved continues throughout human history that makes us wonder why we feel rejected when our devotion increases to him.  

What was it that Jesus warned his disciples about when he told them, “Remember the word I spoke to you, “No slave is greater than his master.”  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  If they keep my word, they will also keep yours.  And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.  Whoever hates me also hates my Father.  If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sinned; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father.  But in order that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, “They hated me without cause.” (Jn 15: 20 - 25).

We’re not feeling the results of brow-beating or total rejection; however, the noticeable effects by  subtleness of attitudes towards any of us are surely a negative effect upon our faith in Christ.  Rather than use hidden approaches to our faith in Christ it would be more efficacious for them to speak their feelings outwardly.  But then that would expose their own discontent about the Passion of Christ 2,000 years ago that still hinders the truth that they cannot adhere to.

As Lent moves us towards the real truth that Jesus felt from the moment he Incardinated himself as a man, the blessing will be found once our adversaries are willing to hang beside the Son of Man on their own cross.  It may be too great of a sacrifice for them to even admit that the Son of God is there, especially on Calvary for them

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The ultimate realization for us who are experiencing the target of darkness is the reason we have been chosen to follow Christ to the cross and rise one day through our own resurrection.  This is the path he took upon himself and the very same road he asks us to emulate.  

Any sacrifices we offer to be like Christ can only come to fruition if our intentions are to be like Christ, the Paschal Lamb.  To arrive at that we must be willing to wear a crown that, like his, causes pain, but most of all humility.

As the moments of Jesus giving himself to his Father’s will gets closer, each of us must also accept the scourge of evil that waits for one denial of grace that would be the result of our faith slipping away from the Passion of Christ.  It is here that all the efforts of our Father in heaven to redeem us through his Son, sent his Son to reach and convince through his shedding blood that  is the only perfect sign that we are saved from eternal death.   That is the very premise of Easter and the Resurrection.

Ralph B. Hathaway