Jesus tells the Jews in the gospel that "the works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me."
The works of the Father seen in Christ are what?
Something that we do as Christians during the season of lent are to meditate on the way of the cross. We make a point to take a little time out of our busy schedule to spend time walking the way of the cross.
As we ponder that reality we truly begin to understand the works of Christ. As we see him fall and rise and fall again, as we see him encounter strangers and family and friends we begin to understand what the works of Christ reveal.
On the way of the cross, each station is one step closer to revealing the truth of the Father. In the incarnation we celebrate the reality that God has a human face. In the way of the cross we begin to understand that God has a human heart.
Each station reveals the depth of compassion that radiates from God through Christ to us. Compassion is the willingness to suffer with in order to raise up. Jesus suffers with our humanity in order to strengthen our weakness and raise us upward in grace. The human heart of Christ reveals the compassionate heart of the Father. This is the great work that Jesus accomplishes. This is the true testimony that sets our hearts aflame with love.
Thus, the way of the cross becomes a way of life, an invitation to new life; just as the Father suffers with us our weakness we too are strengthen to suffer the weaknesses of others, becoming instruments of Grace, revealing the face of God once again to a world that seeks His face.
To Mercy Pity Peace and Love.
All pray in their distress:
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.
For Mercy Pity Peace and Love
Is God our Father dear:
And Mercy Pity Peace and Love,
Is Man his child and care.
For Mercy has a human heart
Pity, a human face:
And love, the human form divine,
and, Peace the human dress.
That every man of every clime,
That prays in his distress,
Prays to the human form divine
Love Mercy Pity Peace.
And all must love the human form
In heathen, turk or jew.
Where Mercy, Love, and pity dwell
There God is dwelling too.
William Blake
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