Midway on the Lenten journey…

Halfway through the Lenten journey into the Pascal mysteries of the Passion of Jesus Christ we see before us the Church’s guideposts on the path ahead –

• Palm Sunday’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem,

• Holy Thursday’s preparations in the upper room,

• the washing of the disciple’s feet,

• the Passover Seder,

• the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane,

• the betrayal of Judas Iscariot and arrest by the temple authorities;

• Good Friday’s trials before Caiaphas, Herod, and Pontius Pilate,

• Peter’s denials & the crowing cock,

• the scourging and taunting by Roman soldiers,

• the crown of thorns,

• the conviction in favor of Barabbas and sentence of death by crucifixion,

• the carrying of the cross to Golgotha,

• the nails in Jesus’ hands and feet,

• the sign “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum” hung on the cross,

• the mocking derision of the scribes and elders,

• the casting of lots for Jesus’ robe

• the words of a thief crucified next to Jesus – ‘remember me’,

• the cry of desolation – “why have you abandoned me…?”,

• Jesus gives the care of his Mother to his disciple John who witnesses from the foot of the cross,

• Jesus’ death and burial in the tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea,

• the sealing of the tomb & posting of Roman guards;

• the silence of Holy Saturday;

• Easter Sunday’s early morning visit to the tomb by Salome, Martha and Mary Magdalene,

• the opened and empty tomb,

• the words “…he is not here, he has been raised…go tell his disciples” spoken by a young man in white,

• the encounter on the road to Emmaus and the revelation of the risen Christ at the breaking of the bread – “did not our hearts burn within us while he was talking to us on the road?”.

For those who have traveled this road in faith over the years it may seem that it is a path that presents new challenges in each attempt, revealing evermore intimately the crevices of hidden sin and deceptions, where weakness and carelessness combine to mislead and cause one to stumble.

Picking myself up once more, dusting off discouragement and self doubt I look into the eyes of one stooping to lend a hand as we walk together toward the next way station.