Holy Week is a symbolic and sacred time when Christians embark on the most solemn observance of the liturgical calendar. It reminds believers that through the earthly life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the gate between God and humanity, between heaven and earth, is opened for all. The three days of the Easter Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday are one liturgy and celebrate the very heart of what it means to be Christian.
Good Friday is a particularly poignant day for me. It is solemn and silent. It is all about the Cross. It is part of all our lives. The Liturgy of the Passion of Christ is powerful and full of meaning for the believer. I sometimes ponder on the Scripture verse ‘Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me‘ (Matthew 10:38). Sometimes the crosses we experience in life can be a heavy burden to carry but Jesus carries the cross with us during all of those struggles.
At a human level, loss, disappointment, struggles, and even failures are difficult to contend with. However the true Christian believer, whose faith does not waver, can gain tremendous solace, strength, consolation and peace through embracing the Cross of Christ. The Cross is not something to be feared, it is not the end. We shouldn’t forget that through the resurrection of Christ the Cross brings great hope.
When we are resurrection focused people it helps us to live with an attitude of hope, sharing in the joy of the victory of the Risen Christ who conquered death. He is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and the true reason for our human existence. God breathed life into us. The words spoken by God to the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament are full of meaning for all who practice their faith “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you…” (Jeremiah 1:5)
In my pocket I carry a small Crucifix and when I take it out in my prayer time I am reminded of what truly matters. Even though I may experience times of struggle there is a particular grace given by God, for every kind of situation, enough for each day. Believers are seekers and God comes to help us when we are weak. It is about letting go and letting God, for “Everything is possible for one who has faith” (Mark 9:24).
I undertook the Emmanuel School of Mission programme in Rome in 2011-12 along with 19 other young people from 12 countries. We spent a significant part of our week ministering to other young people at the Centro San Lorenzo, just outside St. Peter’s Square – the home of the original World Youth Day Cross. In 1984 Saint John Paul II entrusted this large wooden cross, 3.8 metres high, to the youth to “carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity.” I had that opportunity to carry that cross along the streets of Rome with 3 of my classmates.
I also was able to take part in a powerful re-enactment of the Via Crucis at St. Peter’s Square on Good Friday. With the other students we re-enacted the scene of each of the Stations of the Cross before freezing in place, remaining motionless as prayers and reflections were read. That really helped me to enter into the Passion of Christ and to realise how much Jesus offers of himself to save each one of us individually. It truly renewed me in my faith, trusting in the power of the Cross to save.
