A Note for Holy Week
“But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.”
-From the Gospel of St. Luke xxiii
For a moment, I would like to step away from the intersection of economics and religion, the locus of St. Maximos' Hut, to that of Heaven and earth.
In Holy Week (whether this week or next!), we are squarely faced with questions, the first being, “Why are we here?” The answer is that we are here at the foot of the Cross to find out who Jesus really is. It is easy to have vague ideas about Him. It is far more difficult to face up to His reality, particularly as we turn to our Lord as he hangs on the Cross.
Our modern world does not put a premium on having the will to genuinely think on life. But, the Cross is a challenge to think, “What does it all mean?” It calls us to think, re-think and think again.
In life, people generally show their true colors in moments of great trial. The boaster reveals himself as a coward, and the quiet person as a hero. We can gauge character by observing it in the great crises of life. And Holy Week culminates in the great crisis of all humanity.
If we lift our eyes to the Cross we can find the true Christ. We shall be able to decide whether the man from Galilee is unattractive, a very scorn of men, of no form or comeliness that any should desire Him, or whether He reveals all that we admire and love in full perfection. We shall be able to decide whether He is the one whom we must make our king.
The Cross itself is a symbol, as well as a fact-two shafts intersecting; the current of our natural desires (inclination) runs one way, but it is interrupted by a current of spiritual motions (sacrifice) running across it. Which is to win?
We shall have to ask ourselves this Holy Week if we are big enough to follow where He leads, and how we can make ourselves worthy of Him who died so that we might live. At the foot of the Cross, as life ebbs from our Lord’s Body, we look up at Him, so amazing, so lonely, and we have to face whether our lives can ever go on in the same way as they have.
Isn’t this the kind of man we would be proud to follow? Could we ever be ashamed of fighting under the banner of so brave and gentle a King? In a month’s time, will we have forgotten all about the Cross? Will we have slipped back into the old ways that keep us from Him and which prevent us from rising up and truly following Him, or will we be trying humbly and patiently to follow in His steps?
We face so many great questions in Holy Week, questions of death or Eternal Life. If His majesty appeals at all, we must take up the Cross and follow. He will help at every turn, by His own example itself, and through the Church, the Sacraments and the Word-all are there to help along the way-His way. For a comfortable Christianity is contradiction in terms. The consolations of the Faith are meant for those who suffer and are willing to bear suffering. As long as we do all for Him, and under the will of God, we shall win-we will gain the incorruptible crown.
There is no greater adventure in all creation.
-From the Gospel of St. Luke xxiii
For a moment, I would like to step away from the intersection of economics and religion, the locus of St. Maximos' Hut, to that of Heaven and earth.
In Holy Week (whether this week or next!), we are squarely faced with questions, the first being, “Why are we here?” The answer is that we are here at the foot of the Cross to find out who Jesus really is. It is easy to have vague ideas about Him. It is far more difficult to face up to His reality, particularly as we turn to our Lord as he hangs on the Cross.
Our modern world does not put a premium on having the will to genuinely think on life. But, the Cross is a challenge to think, “What does it all mean?” It calls us to think, re-think and think again.
In life, people generally show their true colors in moments of great trial. The boaster reveals himself as a coward, and the quiet person as a hero. We can gauge character by observing it in the great crises of life. And Holy Week culminates in the great crisis of all humanity.
If we lift our eyes to the Cross we can find the true Christ. We shall be able to decide whether the man from Galilee is unattractive, a very scorn of men, of no form or comeliness that any should desire Him, or whether He reveals all that we admire and love in full perfection. We shall be able to decide whether He is the one whom we must make our king.
The Cross itself is a symbol, as well as a fact-two shafts intersecting; the current of our natural desires (inclination) runs one way, but it is interrupted by a current of spiritual motions (sacrifice) running across it. Which is to win?
We shall have to ask ourselves this Holy Week if we are big enough to follow where He leads, and how we can make ourselves worthy of Him who died so that we might live. At the foot of the Cross, as life ebbs from our Lord’s Body, we look up at Him, so amazing, so lonely, and we have to face whether our lives can ever go on in the same way as they have.
Isn’t this the kind of man we would be proud to follow? Could we ever be ashamed of fighting under the banner of so brave and gentle a King? In a month’s time, will we have forgotten all about the Cross? Will we have slipped back into the old ways that keep us from Him and which prevent us from rising up and truly following Him, or will we be trying humbly and patiently to follow in His steps?
We face so many great questions in Holy Week, questions of death or Eternal Life. If His majesty appeals at all, we must take up the Cross and follow. He will help at every turn, by His own example itself, and through the Church, the Sacraments and the Word-all are there to help along the way-His way. For a comfortable Christianity is contradiction in terms. The consolations of the Faith are meant for those who suffer and are willing to bear suffering. As long as we do all for Him, and under the will of God, we shall win-we will gain the incorruptible crown.
There is no greater adventure in all creation.
Posted by Fr. Charles Nalls on
Monday April 10, 2006 at 10:10pm