Victory of Jesus

  Jesus took all of our sins onto himself when he was crucified.  Even though we had not been born yet, even though we had not sinned yet, he died for us (1 Peter 2:24).  He forgave all of our sins at that time.  St. Paul assures us, "He forgave us all our sins" (Colossians 2:13).  Further, by his death he cancelled the penalty due to those sins which was our eternal death.
  Jesus took on himself our sins, our hatred, our cruelty to one another. He also took on what others have done to us - the injustices, the theft, the cursing.  He accepts the garbage of the abuser and the hurt of the one who was abused.
  These assurances from Peter and Paul are past tense.  Already done.  But we have to appropriate them in our lives.  We have to admit our sins to God and accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers. Then we need to let go of the sin, the guilt, the shame, the hurt.  We can trust God with it and not hang on to it.  "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).  If we hang on to these things, we deny that Jesus was capable then and still is capable now of saving us.  He won the victory.

  For Reflection:  Have I truly admitted my sins and accepted forgiveness for them?  Am I hanging on to the guilt, the shame or the hurt?

  Let us pray.  Jesus, I realize now that I've been hanging on to the guilt and the hurt.  You are more than capable of carrying these, so I give them to you.  I don't want them any more.  I want to take a victory lap with you.

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