Lent is a time in the Church's liturgical year when we have a more intentional focus on Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
In particular, one aspect of Jesus' sacrifice is often highlighted by a variety of saints and popes.
St. John records that Jesus said, "I thirst," during his last moments of agony:
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.
While many interpret this as a basic human response for water, the Church often sees in these words a deeper spiritual desire.
Thirsting for love
Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the spiritual aspect of these words in a Message for Lent in 2007:
On the Cross, it is God himself who begs the love of his creature: He is thirsty for the love of every one of us.
Jesus loved us so much, he gave his life for us. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was the ultimate sign of love he has for humanity.
Yet, that love was not meant to be stationary, but a gift that is received and then given back to Jesus.
Jesus desires that we love him in return.
Pope Benedict XVI continues his reflection on this return of love:
The response the Lord ardently desires of us is above all that we welcome his love and allow ourselves to be drawn to him. Accepting his love, however, is not enough. We need to respond to such love and devote ourselves to communicating it to others. Christ "draws me to himself" in order to unite himself to me, so that I learn to love the brothers with his own love.
Sometimes the most difficult step in this sequence is the "accepting" of Jesus' love for us.
Often we can think that we are "unlovable" and that God surely does not love us. However, that is lie from the pits of Hell, as God clearly showed how much he loves us.
Jesus did not die on the cross only for his friends in the 1st century, but died for all and for you in particular.
His love is not limited by time and space and extends from the beginning to the end of time (and beyond).
The challenge for us during Lent is to open our hearts to God and to let him in. When we do that, we will be more able and ready to return that love.
