Kiss the crucifix,' advises Pope, as he reflects on Christ's humiliation
In the Passion of Christ, we see "the divine response to the mystery of evil, of pain, of death," said Pope Francis. "Many times we feel horror at the evil and pain around us and we wonder, 'Why does God permit it?'"
"Jesus takes all this evil, all this suffering upon himself," the Pope continued. "This week it will be good for all of us to look at the crucifix, kissing the wounds of Jesus."
The Pope added that we expect God in his omnipotence to bring about a "divine triumphant victory." Instead, the Son of God is crucified. "Even if I was the only person in the world, he would have done it. He did it for me. Kiss the crucifix and say: for me, thank you, Jesus, for me."
"When all seems lost," Pope Francis continued, "it is then that God intervenes with the power of the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus is not the happy ending of a beautiful fairy tale, it is not the happy end of a film; but it is the intervention of God the Father."
In our own moments of "total humiliation," we should express confident hope in God. "This week we will do well to take the crucifix in hand and kiss it" repeatedly, the Pope concluded.
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