Like many Catholic Christians, most have a crucifix hanging in their homes to remind them of that great sacrifice that Jesus the Christ, God’s only begotten son, made for us on Calvary.
My mom always used to teach us to “offer it up” in dealing with our struggles and sacrifices. Life is far from perfect and I always pondered the deeper meaning of this phrase. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us an important lesson. The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men” [1 Timothy 2:5]. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, “the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery” is offered to all men (618)
In other words, we are all part of that mystical body of Christ sharing in His redemptive suffering. Paul’s letter to the Galatians further reminds us that “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…who loved me and gave himself up for me” (2:20).
Furthermore, Saint Pope John Paul II reminds us of this term, “offer it up” when he reminds us of the following: “In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ” (Salvifici Doloris, 19)
A good prayer to recite during Lent when praying before the crucifix is the following prayer:
Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus,
I cast myself upon my knees in Your sight,
and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech You
that You would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment,
while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself
and mentally contemplate
Your five most precious Wounds;
having before my eyes the words which David in prophecy
spoke concerning Yourself,
O good Jesus:
“They have pierced my hands and feet;
they have numbered all my bones.”
Today, let us offer it up to our Lord as we await with joyful anticipation the resurrection day.
StreetEvangelist 