“What does ‘abandon’ mean?” my daughter whispered to me during Palm Sunday Mass.
A more popular translation of Psalm 22, which Jesus quotes on the cross, is “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” which he says in Aramaic, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (Mark 15:13).
“Maybe even Jesus felt alone and scared to die,” I whispered back.
“Why?” she asked.
This is the question I hope not to forget as Holy Week begins and we head into Easter weekend.
Why?
Why would Jesus die?
Why would Jesus dies for us?
“Because he loves you” was my quiet response to her and I hope that I can fully comprehend the magnitude of that truth this week.
Jesus died on the cross for us. It was not easy.
He felt alone and abandoned so that we would not have to feel alone and abandoned.
Through Christ we find eternal communion with God and others.
We never have to feel abandoned and alone.
