Twelfth Station

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Mt 27: 45-47, 50

From noon onward, there was darkness over the whole land
until mid afternoon.

Then toward mid afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud tone,
”Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”, that is,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”.
This made some of the bystanders who heard it remark, “He is invoking Elijah!”. Once again Jesus cried out in a loud voice, and then gave up his spirit.

“Consummatum est”. It is completed – it has come to a full end. The mystery of God’s love towards us is accomplished. The price is paid, and we are redeemed. The Eternal Father determined not to pardon us without a price, in order to show us especial favour. He condescended to make us valuable to Him. What we buy we put a value on. He might have saved us without a price – by the mere fiat of His will. But to show His love for us He took a price, which, if there was to be a price set upon us at all, if there was any ransom at all to be taken for the guilt of our sins, could be nothing short of the death of His Son in our nature.

O my God and Father, Thou hast valued us so much as to pay the highest of all possible prices for our sinful souls;
and shall we not love and choose Thee above all things
as the one necessary and one only good?

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