The question Fr. Mark poses to us: What was Jesus doing on the Cross?
Christ’s suffering was not simply some sort of penal punishment. Rather, the Crucifixion is the full intensity of Trinitarian Love poured out through Christ’s suffering for us.
Christ redeemed us by loving us with a reckless and suffering extravagance which is beyond our human understanding. We are redeemed through and by God’s persistent and abiding presence in our own suffering.
Behold the Cross. Behold the Love poured out for us and our salvation.