As you reflect on the cross, imagine the sights and sounds of being there that day.
And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:33-39)
Spend a few moments in silence. Contemplate the desolation of Jesus on the cross and the cost of our forgiveness.
Children
Close your eyes and put your hands over them. Jesus went through the
darkness of the cross so we could have his light. Open your eyes! Jesus is the light of the world and wants us
to be his light. How can you shine his light to others?