Had He Not Come

He didn't have to die. Angels could have come to His aid. He really could have freed Himself, if He really wanted to.

But no. That was not the will of His Father.

That, perhaps, is the most painful realization of all: being truly God, Jesus could have gotten Himself out of the torture He was subjected to by His Roman captors. But He did it anyway, choosing willingly to undergo some of the greatest pain of this world for our sake. That's how much He loves us.

I'll keep this short today. In all honesty, Easter joy is already starting to settle in my bones. Papa Benedetto used this quote last night in the Way of the Cross in Rome that says what I wish I could, only with much more eloquence:

"You would still be in a state of wretchedness, had He not shown you mercy. You would not have returned to life, had He not shared your death. You would have passed away had He not come to your aid. You would be lost, had He not come."
--St. Augustine