After many decades I finally learned one of the great truths about the Cross and the Resurrection
When I was 12 years old I had a religious experience of sorts and ended up asking for a bible for Christmas.
Hearing the Passion being read yearly at the Anglican parish I was a part of and then reading it for myself in my new bible, I became, well, frustrated that Jesus did not show His divinity by giving in to those who were taunting him. Why did he not display His power by coming down from the cross and showing them what a mistake they had just made?
Fast forward 4 - 5 decades and I found God revealing Himself to me in a new way. I finally realized that He did something far more amazing than removing Himself from the cross in front of their eyes:
HE RESURRECTED HIS BODY after releasing those imprisoned in the Limbo of the Fathers. The first human to be resurrected! After that, as we know, he led the way for all the saved by ascending into heaven.
This, in the end, leads us to the supernatural virtue of Hope, the hope that we will soon spend all eternity "happy with God in heaven" as the old Catechism says.
Now I ponder how many times we set aside our crosses due to worldly advice. ("Hey, you've worked hard and are tired. Why go to Adoration? Get some rest!")
DOMINUS VOBISCUM
