Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be "pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins" (Is 53:5). Jesus was crushed because "the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all" (Is 53:6). One person's guilt can cause him or her to collapse (see Hos 14:2) or even be crushed. Imagine (if you can) all the weight of all the guilt of all sins of every person who has lived or will ever live. Imagine this weight pressing upon one person at one time. Then you can understand why "so marred was [Jesus'] look beyond that of man, and His appearance beyond that of mortals" (Is 52:14). Jesus suffered on the cross more than can ever be imagined.

Jesus died because of our sins. Consequently, each of us is partly responsible for Jesus' brutal death (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 598). Nevertheless, Jesus suffered dreadfully and died for each of us personally. Therefore, the least we can do is to:

• live lives of thanksgiving to our crucified Savior,
• love Him "with all [our] heart, with all [our] soul, with all [our] strength, and with all [our] mind" (Lk 10:27),
• tell as many people as possible about the One Who has loved us even to death on the cross (see Phil 2:8), and
• be eager to die a martyr's death in imitation of Jesus.

When a person comes to the realization that he partly caused Jesus' death and was perfectly loved by Jesus in His death, that person lives no longer for himself, "but for Him Who for their sakes died and was raised up" (2 Cor 5:15). Enter the new life of the crucified Jesus (Gal 2:19).

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 3, 2018

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.