Deacon Tom Anthony

“REFLECTING ON THE CROSS

 

My Brothers in Christ,

 

As we enter the Fifth Week of Lent it is good to reflect on our journey so far. We are approaching Holy Week and should be preparing ourselves for Our Lord's Passion where we will be joined with Our Savior through all of his suffering and glorification. During this season we are encouraged to make our own sacrifices for Jesus, including fasting, giving to the poor, and surrendering up worldly indulgences. This enables us to focus more on the Crucified Christ. During this season there is also an expectation of failure: no one is perfect through this journey. But failure is part of Lent. When we fail, we can be overcome with guilt because we have failed Our Lord but it shouldn't be that way. Realizing our own humanness in our relationship with Jesus only strengthens it. When we succeed or when we fall short, it all becomes entirely about Jesus and that is the reason why we experience Lent. It is through failure that we are able to make the adjustments necessary to continue our journey of faith and improve ourselves. The first step in repentance is admitting the shortcomings. The only way that this can be accomplished is through an acknowledgment that they are there in the first place. When this is done, we can then go forward transformed by the experience.

The other day, a group of inmates at the prison were having a discussion. I was blessed to be a participant. The subject turned to sin and the terrible guilt that many of them felt about how they had conducted themselves in their life. No one is perfect and we all need help. We all turned to the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ for inspiration. During his crucifixion, Jesus fell three times and needed help carrying his cross. He was sending a message to all of us with these acts. We all need help sometimes. We are not alone in our troubles and the circumstances that we encounter. We need to work together as a community and as a family to overcome our obstacles and transform ourselves with Jesus. No one is truly alone and we cannot conduct ourselves that way. If we do, we will definitely fall down and fail. Christianity emphasizes family and relationships. It is through these relationships that we thrive and grow both spiritually and mentally. It is our support system that is being directed by Jesus Christ.

Jesus had his own support system through his disciples and their families that provided the network needed for his ministry. This continued with the Apostles and all those that came afterward. The communities were develops to lend support and to strengthen faith in difficult times. They also served as an epicenter for celebration and elation. Christianity is a life experience and does not end when crisis passes. That is only the beginning. It is through suffering that we come to understand our relationship with Jesus. After the suffering the dawn will break and there will be complete and utter joy. A new life. A transformed life through Jesus.

 

Deacon Tom