The Gospel of Luke recounts that as Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem, and the Crucifixion that awaits Him, He spends His time teaching in the towns along the way. (Luke 13: 22)

Jesus is asked constantly about the Kingdom of God. When and how will God fulfill His promise to King David of an everlasting dynasty — a Kingdom where God’s chosen people of Israel can dwell without threat of violence and where God will no longer withhold His merciful love? (2 Samuel – Ch. 7) Centuries have passed since the rule of David and it seems that God has forgotten His Promise.

But God has not forgotten. He has a new and even deeper Promise that perfectly fulfills the Covenant of Old, established through the Ten Commandments; and at the same time poignantly transcends these Laws by offering a New Covenant that is based wholly on relationship. This New Covenant can no longer be met through ritual alone. Rather, the New Covenant is struck heart to heart.

The New Covenant is one of Love. Yes, the Commandments of God still matter — they are the guideposts to relationship with God and with each other. But it is Love that enables the Commandments to transform our relationships into everlasting lives of love and joy and peace with God. Jesus describes this to the Pharisees, or the religious authorities, of that time:

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him [Jesus] a question to test Him. ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?’

“‘And Jesus said to Him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.'” Matthew 22: 34-40

With these words, Jesus confirms that while the Commandments enable us to know what God asks of us to create lives of goodness, it is Love that ultimately gives us the power to overcome sin.

Loving the way Jesus loves is a very active thing. As St. Paul describes, this kind of love requires that we are willing to sacrifice our own needs for those we love:

“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

The New Covenant is not visible nor attained by the external rituals of our lives. It is sealed within our hearts (Matthew 23: 25-26) and through our relationships with Jesus and with one another. (Matthew 22: 34-40)

The Crucifixion of Jesus is evidence that the world was not ready to accept this New Covenant. The world was expecting an earthly Kingdom of physical power and might — it was expecting the Kingdom of David times 100! The world was not expecting God to descend to earth in the body of a poor and humble teacher and carpenter from the small, insignificant town of Nazareth. (John 1: 46)

The political and religious leaders of the day — along with countless people — worried that Jesus and His followers were threatening the always delicate balance of physical life and power that exists on earth. (John 11: 47-50; Matthew 14: 1-12) We are still worrying about this today. The arguments about and against Jesus are more virulent than ever.

Why does God allow His Beloved Son to suffer the humiliation of the Cross? And is this man who promises a new Law and Covenant based on loving God and one another (Matthew 22: 34-40); and who freely offers sinners the gift of God’s endless mercy and grace (1 Corinthians 6: 9-11) truly the Messiah?

Because we cannot and/or choose not to see the truth of the Love that Jesus offers, we continue to crucify Him today within our hearts through self-absorbed and sinful acts.

But all is not lost. Through His death on the Cross, Jesus willingly takes upon Himself all the sins and punishments not only of our past lives, but of our present and future lives. His decision to remain on that Cross and fight for souls ushers into the world a Kingdom of Love more powerful than anything else.

Even in His hour of unimaginable suffering and darkness, Jesus’ Love for us prevails. From the Cross, Jesus asks the Father to forgive us:

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'” Luke 23: 34

Let the wonder of Jesus’ enduring Love fill your hearts and minds and souls.

Jesus loves you deeply. Always know that.

“Nails were not enough to hold God-and-man nailed and fastened on the Cross, had not Love held Him there.” St. Catherine of Siena

May the Cross serve as a reminder that you are cherished by Jesus.

“Remember that you are never alone. Christ is with you on your journey every day of your lives.” Pope St. John Paul II