The Way Of The Cross . . . Live It Everyday!
What benefits did we secure by Christ’s sacrifice at the cross? Do we think about the grace we received, and how we apply it to our daily life? We are halfway through the Lenten Season; this holy time of year is more than six weeks of sacrifice and extra prayer. These 40 days of observing Christ’s preparation for His Passion and Resurrection should be more than preparing for Easter. The meaning for this season is a daily reminder of how much God loves us.
The Paschal Mystery is one of the central concepts of Christian faith. Our salvation history is recorded in the passion, death and Resurrection of Christ. But it is more than a concept, it is part of our everyday life; it is the hidden strength in all that we do, and all that we are. “Paschalis Mysterii” is a document issued by Pope Paul VI on May 9, 1969. In this text he approved a reorganization of the liturgical year and calendar of the Roman Rite. This change allowed the faithful to communicate in the mystery of Christ within the cycle of the Church year. It is beautiful to participate in this mystery of faith during Mass, the liturgy of the Church. We also experience the process of dying and rising in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Sin separates us from God, but because of His love and grace we always have hope.
Jesus taught us that new life can come from death, and we can find meaning in times of misery. His death on the Cross is more than symbolic; as Christian believers, we reverence it with honor and purpose. We cling to it in our own pain and suffering, as we share in the heavy burden of carrying the Cross.
Pilgrimages have been made to Jerusalem for centuries to retrace the footsteps and meditate on The Passion of Christ. The tradition of prayerfully observing the images of His trek to Calvary began with St. Francis of Assisi. This practice extended throughout the Roman Catholic Church in medieval times for those who could not travel to the Holy Land. An English pilgrim, William Wey, first used the word “stations” or halting places, in a chronicle after visiting the Holy Land in the mid-15th century. He described pilgrims following the footsteps of Jesus to the cross. If we are truly committed to the teachings of Jesus, we follow His footsteps to the cross every day. The Stations of the Cross are prayed during Lent to commemorate the Passion, but we can pray this devotion anytime of the year.
We all know someone who is suffering, either physically or spiritually. I read a verse from an unknown author; it seemed to capture a very real description of the grieving process. “Grief never ends…But it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith…it is the price of love.” Imagine the grief of the Blessed Mother as she followed Jesus to Mount Calvary. The Via Dolorosa (The Sorrowful Way) is the traditional route in the old city of Jerusalem where Jesus traveled to His Crucifixion. Mary experienced the price of love as she watched salvation unfold in the death of her son.
We live in a world where persecution of Christian people is still very real. Good versus evil is discussed in the news every day. Scripture tells us: “You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing.” –Habakkuk 1:13 “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5:8
God must grieve when we are weak in this battle, but He loves us anyway. Please keep soldiering beyond the Lenten Season. Christ is counting on you! Amen!
