Next week is Holy Week and whatever sacrifices we performed during Lent will culminate, not in the cross, but in the resurrection. The "Joy of the Gospel" continues to provide the path that Jesus wants us to follow. The path of mercy and forgiveness, the path to love in all circumstances, the path to imitate Christ in the present moment and by responding to the needs of our sisters and brothers. How? by letting go of our need to control the moment, the need to not worry about what people think about us, the need to know that Jesus the Christ is present within us and in all those we meet. It doesn't matter what ethnic group we or they belong to. It doesn't matter how much money we have. It doesn't matter what our status in life is. What does matter is that we begin to know who we are.
We can learn this by dying to our ego. Is this easy? No it isn't. It isn't because it is part of us and to overcome this mystery part of us, we need to imitate Jesus in the real sense of the Word. For instance, before going to the cross Jesus detached Himself from His friends, He detached himself from having control by letting Himself be arrested. He detached Himself from the Priest who called for His crucifixion. He detached Himself from the power of Pilot who claimed to have power, a power Jesus told him His father is the one who gave him his position of power. He detached Himself from His mother Mary. He detached Himself from His clothes. He detached Himself from His human life and He put it entirely into His Fathers hands. Could I forgive as He did under those circumstances?
Jesus tells us that the Father and He are one. Can it be that we are all one in Christ? The cost of gaining Heaven is free. Can we detach from our egocentricities? Definitely not easy. However, to follow Jesus and to imitate Him. it is very possible. Through prayer and trusting in Jesus the Christ the result is eternal. Oh, by the way what we think is the end, is really the beginning.
Deacon Lemay
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