By Beth LeDuc
Apr 7, 2009
Holy week is a time to remember the great suffering Christ endured for us. The scourging, the crowning, the mocking, the whipping, the nailing: Jesus endured all these things before bowing his head to die.
During these next few days our focus will be on this great and sorrowful suffering. However, the thought of an approaching Easter should not escape our hearts. Our faith depends not only on this Lenten suffering, but also on the joyful resurrection. We have sacrificed our snacks, naps, or chocolate, not only in order to identify with Christ’s suffering, but also to experience the joy we may feel when encountering these things again on Easter.
It is Easter that gives our pains, both chosen and inflicted, meaning. Often times we forget about this hope Christ has won for us. When bogged down with research papers, daily assignments, or semester projects, it is easy to dwell on the pains of life. When we see our peers making harmful choices, or encounter a lack of charity in our culture, and when we ourselves cannot overcome a temptation, it is difficult to hope for a happy ending. But, if we deny there is one, or forget to hope for one, we are living a life without Easter. We are denying the gift which was purchased at such an incredible price: Hope.
A friend of mine often says: "Christ has risen. Nothing else matters." By that he means that despite fears of failure, Christ has already succeeded. In the midst of terrible temptation, Christ has already conquered sin. During terrible pain and suffering, Christ has brought hope. We have no reason for eternal sorrow, only eternal joy. Despair is impossible when we acknowledge that hope has already been won.