Seven Ultimate Gifts
The Crib and the Cross are central. Every liturgical year, the Church invites us to revisit the Crib at Christmas and the Cross at Lent. Bethlehem and Calvary are not just geographical landmarks in the life of Jesus. They are the two poles of the ‘Christian Magnet’ that attract us to the life and gospel of Jesus.
A Journey of Discoveries: The Ultimate Gift
To understand better the lessons from the Cross, I thought it useful to look at The Ultimate Gift, a best seller by Jim Stovall. The plot revolves around the last will by Howard Stevens – an oil tycoon – and his wayward, selfish and reckless grandson Jason Stevens. To earn the grandfather’s inheritance, Jason is invited to perform twelve tasks that would eventually become a journey of discoveries. These twelve simple tasks known as ‘gifts’ were: work, money, friends, learning, problems, family, laughter, dreams, giving, gratitude, a day and finally the ultimate gift ‘love’ that resulted in a better and more focused Jason. Not too often do ‘tasks’ become ‘gifts.’ When our perspective of life changes, then, our performance on life also takes on a new course. Life becomes more meaningful and significant.
On Calvary, Jesus gave us ‘seven tasks’ for a life-time salvific project! This Lenten season, I feel it best to focus on the seven gifts FROM the cross—Jesus’ seven words of eternal wisdom on Calvary’s apparent deathbed.
Calvary’s Apparent Deathbed: Eternal Gifts
At Calvary, Love is best personified. “No greater love than one lay down his life for another.” The great commandment of love was not just a temple discourse by Jesus. Calvary was his lasting pulpit to speak eternal words of wisdom. Normally, during the Lenten season, we devoutly make the Way OF the CROSS.
I would like to suggest we change our perspective. This Lenten season, lets make the ‘Way FROM the CROSS’. St. Paul would strongly affirm, “With Christ, I hang upon the Cross.” It’s FROM the cross that our perspective changes drastically. The seven words FROM the Cross—when accepted as a ‘gift’ – will make our daily marketplace a different terrain to live and love our faith.
Here are the seven ultimate gifts we need to share with self and others:
- THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS: Even Google has many more entries on Forgiveness (7,84,00,000 results) than Unforgiveness (9,09,000 results). No person other than Jesus spoke so openly on Forgiveness. His parables, his table-conversations, his temple discourses on forgiveness reaches its peak on Calvary: “Father, forgive them, for they no know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). We can only discover the power of forgiveness when we gift Forgiveness to others, no matter what the cost! Forgiveness sets us free, it reduces the pain, it rebuilds the broken relationships, it empowers the forgiver!
While forgiveness is mostly other-directed, we need at times to gift is to self. Self-directed forgiveness is essential. We find it so difficult to forgive ourselves. We can’t accept our social status, our economic situations, our psychological well-being, our intellectual capacities and capabilities, our spiritual experiences. We surround ourselves with layers of unforgiveness. We become bitter, hurtful and cynical. The key to a better self is simply to forgive self. Forgiveness is the first gift you need to share with self and others.
- THE GIFT OF PARADISE: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43). The thief held on to what did not belong to him. Stealing was his profession, and here he was literally ‘dying’ for it. He stole paradise too. Rightly put, he was gifted paradise! Paradise simply means a garden, a place of timeless harmony, a place of pure happiness. Only Jesus could gift ‘paradise’ with such benevolence. We at times do the opposite. “I’ll make sure I create hell for you”, is an often-heard threat. The way FROM the Cross invites me to gift Paradise to the other even amid my own agony. For Jesus, Paradise was a gift too dear to be delayed for tomorrow. His gift was given ‘today.’ Can I, like Jesus, create opportunities in my home or in my institution to offer Paradise rather than create hell?
- THE GIFT OF RELATIONSHIPS: “Son, behold your mother. Mother, behold your son” (Jn 19:25-27). Our God is highly relational, and so are we humans. None of us can live alone. We were created for others. Our meaning comes from being with others. The deepest of all relationship is that of a mother-child. Today, both motherhood and childhood are two important stages of life that are threatened, and their very basic rights denied. The gift of relationships ensures more than just a safe abode. Home is where one can truly belong with no pretence or shame. Home is where one can grow and mature. With the ‘gift of beholding mother and son’, home becomes a sacred space for interconnectedness. Suffering unites mother and son, but it also sanctifies the relationship.
- THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL ABANDONMENT: “My God, my God, why has thou abandoned me?” (Mk 15:34, Mt 27:46). In life, there is no lonelier moment than to be abandoned! With no support systems we crumble under the pain of loneliness. His mother has already been gifted to the beloved disciple. “Where is the Father now? Why is God so silent? Where is God when bad things happen to good people? Wasn’t I the beloved son of the Father?” It takes ‘spiritual abandonment’ to believe that I am part of God’s love story. God’s silence at Calvary was no indication of his absence, but rather, it was like the silence experienced when two lovers are in deep embrace. On the cross, the Father was in a deep loving embrace with Jesus. In our darkest moments, God embraces us with silence. It’s not words, but silence that comforts us more. In faith, I trust my story will not end here in pain. God’s embrace, though silent, speaks louder than mere words.
- The Gift of Passion: “I Thirst” (Jn 19:28). Nelson Mandela once said, “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” Passionate people thirst till the end. No pain or challenge prevents them from their life’s mission. Jesus’ thirst here is not for physical water. His last breath was still mission-focused. Don Bosco would say, “I have promised God that until my last breath I shall have lived for my poor young people. For you I study, for you I work, for you I am ready to give up my life.” Commitment to our purpose in life takes us to our last breath. From the cross, Jesus teaches us that in life we keep ‘thirsting’ to fulfil our life’s purpose and passion.
- The Gift of Accomplishment: “It is Finished” (Jn 19:30). “Mission Unaccomplished” is the title of many lives. Along the journey we camp earlier than the destination point. Tired legs, visionless minds and passionless hearts surrender easily much before the finish line. Why journey all the road, when half-way is good enough? Calvary teaches us that no hill is too difficult to climb, no burden too hard to shoulder and no pain too hurting to endure.
- The Gift of Eternal Reunion: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). Daily, we commit our lives into many unknown hands. Riding on a bus or a train, our lives are in the hands of unknown drivers. Dining at a restaurant or quenching our thirst along a dusty road, we commit our lives to potential unhealthy foods. Calvary opens a sure pathway to the Father who desires the best for each one of us. Can I trust my life into His loving hands? When our life’s journey is complete, we must be heaven-bound. This is where our eternal home is. The promise of an ‘Eternal Reunion’ is a gift we cannot chose to neglect.
This Lenten season, to understand and appreciate the seven gifts better, get in touch with the giver – Jesus the Christ! May we tread our way FROM His Cross.
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