Peaceful Anticipation
One
As we approach Holy Week, the Church’s liturgy will be focusing more and more on Jesus’ understanding and response to His immanent Passion. He clearly knows the Jews are plotting His death, which is why He avoids walking openly in the Jewish towns and retires to where John the Baptist preached on the other side of the Jordan River which was pagan territory (cf. Jn 10: 40-42.) Despite His precautions, Jesus nevertheless continues His mission of teaching, preaching, and healing, never ceasing His work regardless of the danger. In peaceful anticipation Jesus sees his passion approaching, he knows what will befall him, and yet He continues His ministry, one day at a time one moment at a time trusting in the Fathers plan for him. He lives in the grace-filled present moment. He knows His passion is at hand, but he peacefully anticipates it. How does He do this? Because He has utterly placed Himself at the service of the Father and totally trusts His plan. “What shall I say, Father save me from this hour? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify thy name.” (Jn 12: 28.) By attending and living the liturgies of Holy Week, the Church invites us to enter into that same peaceful anticipation of Christ, who allows us to experience suffering and tribulations without worry so as to become more like Him. “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33.)
Two
We experience suffering and hardships not because Jesus has failed us, but because He has transformed these and so allows them. By leaving suffering and death in the world, He transforms us into Himself through them! Therefore, we must practice patience to share in Christ’s peace no matter the circumstance. Often, pain and adversity may come to us through various situations but that should make little difference to us when we realize that everything comes from our loving Father in Heaven, who uses these painful circumstances to help us to become more virtuous. To truly enjoy peace at all times, even when it appears that suffering is coming our way, we must accept all as coming from our Father’s hands. Providence does not permit any trial that will not be a source of good for us. As we spend time with God daily in prayer and receive Him frequently in the Holy Sacraments, as we entrust ourselves more and more to the help of Our Lady and St. Joseph, as we put ourselves to the task of living friendship with others to draw them into a relationship with the Lord, we will discover an overwhelming peace that never leaves us. We also discover amazing fruits and joys that unfold as we become more like Jesus. Then, suffering ceases to hold anything over us and we find with Jesus that indeed, He has overcome the world, and in Him, we, too, are more than conquerors! Jesus, forgive all my useless worrying that only proves that I don’t trust my Heavenly Father. Instead, teach me to surrender myself in all things, and You take care of everything.
Three
Worrying is difficult. It negatively affects our health and sleep. Yet, avoiding it is more difficult. There is a reason for this; we don’t control our thoughts. I have discerned pitfalls in my decision-making that disturb and disrupt my peace. First, I often have the wrong expectations. I think states of affairs should unfold this way or that and begin to expect as much. False expectations are premeditated resentments, however. The truth is, I don’t know how a given state of affairs should unfold because I am not God; I just think I am. Next, I think that I can accomplish what I expect. I think it lies within my realm of influence and is therefore achievable. Again, this step reveals a false truth, I believe that I can accomplish what often I cannot. I am not God. And three: the reason why I can't accomplish what I set out to do is because of you. I blame and finger point at others when my expectations and accomplishments aren’t being met. These pitfalls cause me to lose peace and become frustrated or worried. We can’t be his disciples unless we follow the same road as Jesus, however, and only He knows what that road really looks like. Lord Jesus, show me the false notions upon which I have come to rely so that, through your help, I can be rid of them, discover your power in my life, and peacefully anticipate any and all circumstances, knowing that all things work to the good for those who love you!
Four
“He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Mt 10:38.) Our Lord offers this horrible image to His disciples as a way of describing discipleship. For the conquered peoples of the Roman territory, the cross was the worst possible punishment, and the Romans would often line roads with the crucified as a sign to all of what happens when you disobey. This terror kept things in line. How odd, then, that Jesus used such an image as the cross to symbolize discipleship. Suffering is an indispensable condition in following the Lord. This is because this world is not our home. We are not supposed to try to make it so, either. But that is the temptation. We cling to our health, our looks, our wealth, our comfort, our possessions, our status and how we think things ought to be, believing all of these offer us something that only God can provide. Clinging to these fleeting things is exactly how we will lose our peace. Suffering is a reminder that this world is not enough, we are made for more. Only heaven is heaven!
Five
We too often compare our lot with others and conclude that ours is worse. But we should never compare. I offer the following story to underscore this point. A troubled and burdened man prayed and prayed that God would lift his burden. Day after day he prayed that his life would be easier and he begged for God's intervention. One day, Jesus came to the man and asked, "My child, what troubles you?" The man replied that his life was full of turmoil and that it had become too much to bear. He again asked for help stating that he just couldn't continue to go on. Jesus, feeling the man's anguish, decided help was in order. The man was so happy that his prayers were about to be answered that his burden already felt lighter. Jesus took the man to a room and stopped in front of the door. When he opened the door, what the man saw was amazing. The room was filled with crosses; little crosses, big crosses, giant crosses. The man, bewildered, looked at Jesus and asked how this would help him. Jesus explained that each cross represented a burden that people carry; small burdens, big burdens, giant burdens -- and every burden in-between. At this point, Jesus offered the man the opportunity to choose his burden. The man, so excited that he was finally able to have some control over his life, looked around the room for just the right cross. He saw a tiny little cross way back in the corner. It was the smallest cross in the room. After a bit of thought, he pointed to the cross and said, "That one, Lord. I want that one." Jesus asked, "Are you sure, my son?" The man quickly replied, "Oh, yes Lord. Most definitely, yes." Jesus turned to the man and replied, "My child, you have chosen your own cross. It is the burden you already carry." Lord, help me not to compare my crosses with others which causes me anguish, but to accept the beauty of the cross that is my own.