“It is finished.”

I couldn’t help but think of that phrase as I reflected upon the stunning conclusion of the 2016 Presidential Election.

“It is finished.”

The erudite will recognize the utterance attributed to Jesus the Christ as He hung upon a cross, as recorded in the Gospel according to the Apostle John, chapter 19, verse 30.

“It is finished.”

The word used to name the device used to execute Jesus the Christ, is the Greek word transliterated as stauros, which is often translated as “cross” in English. It identifies a cross-beam attached to a vertical post or stake, upon and to which a human is attached with spikes, or large nails. The process itself is known as crucifixion.

“It is finished.”

In addition to having been a victim of a state-sponsored public execution, Jesus the Christ was publicly flogged by the Romans at the behest of the Jewish religious leaders of the day before having been nailed to the cross. Used as a government-sponsored execution method, crucifixion is a method or technique deliberately designed to inflict maximum pain throughout the process.

“It is finished.”

Moreover, perhaps, that expression seems to have some bearing in the 2016 General Election.

“It is finished.”

However, it may very well be diametrically opposed to what has happened, because in a very real way, it’s just the beginning. And just as things seemed to be ending with Jesus the Christ’s death, it actually marked the beginning of a new chapter in religious history. And in a very real way, things are just beginning in a new chapter of American history.

“It is finished.”

The 2016 General Election is over.

As we say at the conclusion of Mass, “Thanks be to God!”