Rich and abundant blessings to all of you as we journey through this Triduum.
We enter now into this sacred time in the Church’s calendar year, when we focus more intensely on the Paschal Mystery. For us as Passionists, and as disciples of St. Paul of the Cross, we not only celebrate this great mystery with the Church but also take time to reflect more deeply on the meaning of our Passionist charism in our lives. Given the chaos of our world at this moment in history, we all stand in a very unique place.
Going back to the apostolic times, Paul wrote these words to the faith community in Colossae:
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the Church.”
Col 1:24, NABRE
Paul is not suggesting that Christ’s redemptive work is incomplete or that something was lacking in his suffering. Nothing more needs to be added to redeem the world. Rather, Paul is speaking about participation.
What remains open is our sharing in that suffering, our entering into it, and our allowing it to take shape in our own lives for the sake of others. What Paul is describing is a mystery of communion. It speaks powerfully and counterculturally in a world which often glorifies individualism.
Christ suffers for the Church. Paul now suffers within Christ, for the Church. And that changes everything about how suffering is understood. This is not suffering as punishment, nor is it suffering which must be endured alone. This is suffering that becomes relational, transformational, even fruitful.
This is why Mary, as the Sorrowful Mother, was so important to St. Paul of the Cross. The compassion of Mary, as she stands faithfully before her Son, watching him die a slow and agonizing death, reveals the union of Passion and compassion.
It seems that the suffering in our world is at an all-time high.
For millions, it is a suffering which is imposed upon them. Globally, we see that Sudan, Somalia and Yemen are facing humanitarian crises marked by hunger and starvation.
The wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and now Iran, fill our daily news. Haiti has lost its ability to govern and is controlled by gangs. Poverty, instability and economic collapse are the norm for many in developing nations, especially in Africa.
And beyond the global view, we can name the sufferings in our own nation, our cities, our neighborhoods and our homes. For a large percentage of the world’s population, this is a bleak time.
The world is in great need of love, compassion and forgiveness.
As Passionists, we profess that we bring the wisdom of the Cross to a suffering world. Sometimes we do this through presence, preaching, prayer, praise and pastoral care. We profess that Jesus does not redeem the world by standing at a distance from suffering but by entering into it.
When someone freely chooses to accompany another in love, they step into a deeper mystery of transformation. Isn’t this what our world needs?
And the paradox of course is that those who step in are greatly transformed. That is part of mission-in-reverse. I can think of no greater way to bring forth the Easter reality. And in doing so, we testify to certainty of the resurrection.
I keep you deeply in prayer during these sacred three days of the Triduum. From the fellowship at the Lord’s table, through the agony in the garden, the arrest, the trial and the way of the cross to Calvary, to the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus, and culminating in the glory of the resurrection, this is the mystery of our life and the mystery of God’s transforming love.
Pray well. Ponder deeply.
And have a joyous Easter.
