On a personal scale, small by comparison perhaps, hopefully we can all relate to that as we recall those moments when we have put everything we have into doing something and finally it’s accomplished, like: when a baby is placed into our arms moments after its birth, or we wave a grown child farewell as they step out on their own knowing we have done our best to equip them for life; times when we tidy our desk for the last time before we retire – ready to pass the role and responsibility to someone else we have helped train; moments like that last stitch in a large needle-point, final edit to a document, or listening to the last note in a piece we have just played or sung, having given it our all and been swept up in the music. In those moments when something is complete, when it is finished and we feel complete so can rest, we glimpse how Jesus could finally rest in peace and give up his spirit to God who could do infinitely more with it in future.
Take this, take us. Who could have imagined the countless places where God’s love would be known, or people who would draw inspiration and strength from knowing they are accepted for who they are, yet forgiven when necessary and called to forgive others so they are free to live and love, free to start again, to enjoy a child’s innocence, curiosity and wonder, free to sing in our hearts Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. When Jesus said It is finished he had bought for us the joy of feeling It’s just begun – or at least entertaining that thought, although we may need a day or so to digest the enormity of God’s gift in loving us so much that God gave us his Son so that if we believe in him and what he accomplished on the cross we can begin again and again, moment to moment and therefore enjoy eternal life starting right now.
It’s not a race, nor on ration. Limitless love is limitless, embracing everyone and everything, forging new relationships, like the one Jesus forged between his mother and the disciple he loved, starting a new family – the Church family that found its beginnings in the relationships that grew out of his death, then was reborn in a new form as they received his Spirit. Part of this rebirthing process is to let go of what is holding us back. Shortly we will be entering into a profound period of prayer in which we will have the opportunity to confess whatever is on our mind, or to examine ways that throughout history, humans have hurt one another, so in one sense collectively we have contributed to the need for Christ to show us where that leads. At the same time we are invited to leave this at the foot of the cross, knowing love conquers all, because love forgives all so can never be destroyed.
I learned that lesson very young – around four or five, when my burning ambition was to be a mountain climber. You have to start somewhere and what better place than the shelves in the pantry? My mother’s prize possession was a crystal bowl she had inherited and kept out of harm’s reach, as she thought, on the top but one shelf. Equipped with our washing line which I had cut down and wrapped around myself like in the photos I had seen, I had negotiated the dry goods and china shelves, and just had one more to scale before I reached the summit. That’s when I slipped, making a desperate grab for the bowl as I fell back bringing down the lot and landing under an avalanche of sugar, flour, china and glass. Bleeding from a deep gash in my hand, all I can remember was crying I’m sorry while my mum wrapped my hand tightly in a towel and rushed me to the doctor’s surgery which was on the next block. By the time we got home, my father had already swept up most of the mess, so I never saw the devastation I’d caused. But I knew I had done wrong and was so, so sorry. Maybe that is why nobody ever mentioned it again, except from my mum saying I was far more precious even than the bowl but I still bear the scar, my distinguishing mark on certain identification documents.
Love one another – that’s what he said – Love God with everything in us and love others, our neighbours, as ourselves. And he showed us the way, even protecting his friends when he was arrested by offering himself up, and going peacefully so they could be let go rather than put up a fight. Jesus knew what was coming, and certainly endured terrible suffering and pain in the hours and events that followed, yet according to John, he still stayed in control every step of the way, letting love conquer fear, at least that is what John concluded, saying: there is no fear in love, perfect love casts out fear. It does not spare us pain, but casts out fear – fear of the unknown beyond life as we know it now, because through Christ we have come to see and can therefore believe in an all-loving God. Despite what some witnesses heard, the good news according to John is that far from being abandoned, God was on the cross with Christ, in Christ and as Christ who just before he completed what he came to do, said I am thirsty… That brings us back full circle to the start of the Passion when he asks Peter Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me? He was ready to drain the cup of suffering and offer us the cup of love, the cup of life to drink from. It is done.