Engagement Holy Week Walk with Christ

Friends of Faith:

I have had others agree with me that Holy Week is their favorite spiritual and sacramental week of the liturgical year.

I don’t remember very many times, over the years, that I haven’t been able to attend liturgies every day from Thursday thru Sunday – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) and Easter Sunday. It was then, and has over the years become extremely important for me to have a full experience of not just history, but to be a part of Christ’s saving journey for us during Holy Week.

Certainly I didn’t go to church every day when I was younger because I was “holy,” nor do I now. I went then because I was lucky enough to be part of a family who found Christ not just in his Resurrection, but also in his passion and death.

And I go now because I understand that without his passion and death we would not have a Resurrection. Christ’s passion and death, his suffering, allow us the grace of forgiveness, so that through His death we can have the gift of eternal life—Resurrection. I would feel denied and empty if I was unable to engage in the liturgies of His death and Resurrection, not just during Holy Week, but every day of my life.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,^*and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” … He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!”Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.” Mt 26: 36-45

One of my earliest memories of Holy Week is spending Holy Thursday night with my dad from 11 p.m. to midnight in church. Dad explained to me that our hour of prayer in front of the exposed tabernacle (Eucharistic adoration) was to commemorate the time the disciples spent at watch with Jesus as he prayed, and I remember thinking that I could not and would not be like them – I was going to stay awake (a difficult task for someone age 5 or 6 in a quiet church that late at night).

I know now that I fall asleep as the disciples did each time I sin. I fall asleep each time I don’t fully trust in my faith. And I fall asleep each time I justify a choice that is not God’s will for me.

But I realize that each time I walk this Holy Week with Christ, and that each time I am given the opportunity to celebrate Mass (the Last Supper) I am given another gift, another grace by which to bear my own sufferings, and another opportunity to feel His awe and presence in my life.

The glory of his Resurrection is just that much greater when I have am able to take part in the entire experience celebrated this week. I become a part of the crowd exalting His entrance into Jerusalem by waving of palms on Palm Sunday. I am a witness to the initiation of the Eucharist and priesthood, through the blessing of bread and wine and the washing of the feet of His disciples at His Last Supper on Holy Thursday.

I feel empty of His presence by the lack of Mass on Good Friday (while there is a liturgy service, no Eucharist is celebrated anywhere in the world on the day we commemorate Jesus’ death.) And great sorrow in the reading of Holy Scripture which tells of the pain and suffering Jesus Christ experienced – knowing that it is my sin for which He was nailed to and hung on the cross.

And I have witnessed with joy the rebirth given to those who symbolically become new lights in faith as they fully join the church through the blessing of the new water in baptism and in the first communions, and confirmations celebrated at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.

Lord God, make me one with you. Help every human to have the opportunities I have been given, to be a Christian who walks with You, who is present in both Your death and Resurrection and who participates fully in the Sacraments You have initiated for us in faith. Thank You for the gift of salvation. May I be a faithful disciple whose awe for you keeps me awake, engaged and present in the journey. Amen.

Every ritual, every veneration and blessing allows me to walk one step closer with Jesus: to walk, fall, deny, and to be forgiven, as one of His faithful disciples; to feel the sorrow and pain of His mother, Mary; even to bear the judgments, hatred and the misunderstandings of the crowd.

If you have not been blessed to experience these days with a community within a church I would invite your participation in the liturgy of a Holy Week,

Engage. Make Christ’s journey more, take the opportunity and make it your priority to become one with Him on the journey He walked for us. Without you, His journey for us means nothing.

Have a Blessed Holy Week and a Joyous Easter,

In Christ,

Charlotte

The Way

Friends of Faith:

We are quickly approaching Easter. Next week is Palm Sunday and Holy Week when we as Christians will walk the Way of the Cross with Christ.

Holy week is a journey of THE life given for us, of Christ’s sufferings so that we might be washed clean and so that we might be allowed to reenter the heavenly garden which was taken away from us when we were divided by the first sin of disobedience in the Garden of Eden.  

Our lives as servants, to love one another, (the definition of marriage) are meant to show us the WAY of the Cross; to teach us and remind us of the WAY to truth and life.  “Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jn 14:6

The way of the cross is an invitation to follow Jesus.  “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”.  Mt 16:24

Christ was condemned to death for what others believed of Him. Do we judge and condemn our spouse, or our neighbor, without full knowledge of the truth and reasons behind their actions? Do I presume ill will on the part of others, or do I try to see what they do from their point of view? Might there be another reason for someone’s actions—actions that might have a deeper unseen outcome, come from a lack of understanding, or that God is using to bring me closer to him?

Christ carries OUR cross. He takes on OUR burdens. Am I willing to suffer, to help others? The “only” promise Christ had was God’s promise of eternal life for us, he died not for himself, but for us. Will I die for my spouse, for my friend, so that I may be given eternal life, so that they may be given eternal life. Is this enough promise for me or do I expect more, do I expect earthly happiness and earthly wealth and belongings?

Christ fell under the weight of the cross three times. He allowed Simon of Cyrene to help him carry the cross. This is our reminder that we too will fall under the weight of our sins. But I must keep getting back up by asking God for forgiveness. Once is not enough, that is why I am given the gift of the sacrament of reconciliation, so that I can be washed free of my sins each time I fail and fall down. And I should be ready and willing to accept the help of faithful trusted friends, counselors, good Samaritans, etc, just as Christ accepted the help of Simon.

Christ met His Mother in the fourth station. Think of how Mary, His mother, suffered with him. It is probably easier for us to understand this by thinking of how we suffer when our children suffer. But can we imagine how our parents suffer when we sin? Can I imagine how much my sins hurt others? Can we imagine how God, our Father, hurts when we desecrate the sacrament of marriage and the gift of life, the gift of our body which He created in his own image?

Veronica silently wiped the face of Jesus. Are we willing to help others in their time of need? Are we willing to accept others help as Christ accepted Veronica’s? Do I silently offer care, love and presence or do I try to offer “too much advice?”

Christ was stripped of his clothes and made naked. Who are we stripping of dignity by our careless actions? Do we remember that God sees us “naked?” Could we stand without shame in front of him? As Christ is nailed to the cross he prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Lk 23:34

Do I realize what I have done? It takes great humility to admit my wrongs and then to ask for forgiveness for what I have done. Christ walked this WAY so that we COULD ASK for forgiveness. But I must open my heart and eyes to my failings and His love.

Will I be humble enough to admit that I am human, or have I made myself my own God? Do I think I am so good I can do it myself, that I don’t need to ask for HIS forgiveness, or that I needn’t admit my failings to Him and to those I have hurt? When Jesus forgave or healed he would admonish them by telling them to “sin no more.” “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin anymore.” Jn 8: 1-11 Do I make a conscious effort to “go and sin no more” after I am forgiven by Christ in reconciliation, by my spouse, or by my neighbor?

Heavenly Father, You GAVE us YOUR son to teach us THE WAY. Help me to follow in His footsteps. Help me to be more like Christ, more like Simon, more like Mary and more like Veronica. Help me to seek true faith in you, help me to seek to serve, help me to seek to understand, and help me to seek to love as You have taught. Give me the courage to accept my cross and to follow you. Thank You for Your Passion to show me the WAY. Amen

His WAY is THE WAY. Make it your WAY,
Blessings,
Charlotte

 

Love is Power

Women of Faith:
When I was growing up I remember dreading this week of the year—it meant more church, more sacrifice, less food and somber meditation.

I don’t quite remember when my attitude towards Holy Week changed. Maybe it took some of my own suffering or maybe I had to experience the power of unconditional love from someone outside of my own family.

But sometime in my late teens and early adult years my attitude changed. I began to look forward to this week of “dying to self,” of appreciating the gift we have been given to experience Christ’s walk in and thru the passion celebration, of experiencing the Power of Love.

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me, for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel* will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. Mk 8:34-37

On Thursday I will participate in the Last Supper—I will be present as we celebrate the very first Eucharistic Mass—when Christ gave us himself as the eternal food so that we would be sustained by Him, in Him and thru Him; fed by His flesh and blood each time we participate at his table in the (universal) Mass which he established to replace the Passover meal and celebration.

Am I willing to lose my life for Him? Will I stoop to the depths of Christ and wash the feet of those who serve me?

“He said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." Jn 13: 14-15

On Friday, Jesus’ death on the cross is the culmination of an attitude of one who does not cry out and who does not flinch against evil. He bears patiently the beatings and the violence of the same world we live in today.

Evil is what happens when people are consumed by fear and hatred. Evil is never content until it has destroyed the pleading and accusing eyes of an innocent victim.

Will I be “Simon” who helped Jesus carry his cross for 650 yards or will I be the bystander yelling insults and mocking Jesus? Who am I crucifying this week by my lack of forgiveness, by my words or by my silent treatment to them?

Or am I strong like Jesus? Do I turn the other cheek and endure the insults and false accusations of others with love and forgiveness?

"The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame." Is 50:4-7

Will I experience a mother’s desire to take away all the pains and sufferings of those I love? Mary’s sorrows as Jesus suffered pain, torture and ultimate death on the cross shows us how to bear our burdens and sufferings.

And here I watch the ultimate power in ultimate love. Because love is not a feeling—love is the action of serving, of giving up everything to serve another without any desire to be repaid, or to receive reward.

Will I become a participant? Or will I only remain as a bystander?

This is what Holy Week is all about: A call to action. A call to conquer evil with love, a call to bear patiently when we are wronged, a call to forgive 70 x 7, a call to serve kindly, a call to courage and perseverance when things don’t go our way and a call to have hope in the power of love.

It is about a Son’s love for his Father; a Mother’s love for her child; and the bridegroom’s love for his bride.

It is not about feeling loved, but how we act out our love.

It is not about saying I’m sorry, but how we forgive those that have wronged us.

It is not about saying we are saved; it is about accepting the responsibility that comes with that relationship with Christ, by how we act (Mt 25: 31-40) because we have accepted the love so freely given to us by Jesus’ death on the cross.

Lord Jesus, the evil which we have allowed into your world must bring you deep sorrow. Help me to follow Your path to power by acting in love. May the sorrows of Your passion and death serve to remind me of the hope and joys that followed in your resurrection. Help each of us to serve with courage and to spread your joy to others. Amen.

May my sadness as I walk with Christ this week become my motivation and the pain of desire to do what I can to serve others in and through love.

And may your hope and desire for heaven be strengthened by the Power of His Love this week,
Charlotte