Commentary on the Gospel of
At the Foot of the Cross
A disconcerting phenomenon I have observed in many modern churches around the world is that the body of Christ on the Cross has little blood! We have sanitized his body, left just a few little stains of blood here and there, and made him look pleasing to our eyes. However, in reality, his was a bloody death. The scriptures tell us that there was nothing attractive or majestic about him (cf. Is 53:2). His blood would have drenched Mother Mary standing at the foot of the Cross. It is in being drenched in his blood that Mary found consolation and meaning for her suffering. We must also stand beneath the Crucifix, with Mary at our side, with Christ’s sanctifying blood pouring on us. We will then find meaning and grace in the moments of worst suffering in our lives as well. Our sorrows would be holy sorrows, as of Mother Mary.
