What Makes a Terrible Friday, Good?

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION XI: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

The time has come. Shouts of pain echo as hammers strike nails. Roman soldiers were experts in torture and efficient in execution. Nails tear through sacred flesh and the blood that won our salvation flows out. As the Cross is lifted high for all to see, His body buckles under the weight and the stress. As He speaks words of love, compassion and forgiveness, we see that He is not just a criminal, teacher or prophet. He is God, and He is dying on a Cross for you.


STATION XII: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS:

The skies have grown dark Rain falls. The earth quakes. Creation reacts to the loss of its Creator. Evil laughs as the transfigured One now hangs lifeless and disfigured. The angels remain silent. The Lord let Himself be destroyed. No more words. No more miracles. Christ does nothing to save Himself yet offers everything to save us. It is finished.

REFLECTION:

Christ could have saved himself, but he chose to save us. He didn't choose the easy path. When Jesus allowed himself to endure the pain of the cross, he was telling us something.He was showing us that there is no pain we can feel, that he hasn't already felt. He is showing us how far he is willing to go to save us. He would rather die, than risk not spending eternity without  us. As the hammer hits the nails, we hear the sound of true love. 

As Jesus breathed his last breath, everyone against him thought it was over. They were wrong. Sin, not God, was being destroyed. His sacrifice makes you worthy of heaven. God wants us to be with him eternally-- He gives us this invitation but it is up to us to respond. Christ laid down his life for us- even though we cannot do that, there is much we can do. Live your life in a way that you lay down your life for others, so that others may see Christ in you. 

~If you would like to love God,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you hope for eternal happiness,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you wonder how much

 God loves you,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you wonder how much

 God wants you in heaven,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you wonder how God

 tries to prevent you

 from the yawning jaws of hell,

 look at the Crucifix!

~If you wonder how much

 God will help you to save your immortal soul,

look at the Crucifix!

 ~If you wonder how much

 you should forgive others,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you wonder how much

 your faith demands of you,

in humility, poverty, charity, meekness

 and every virtue,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you want to know

 what unselfishness and generosity are,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you wonder how far

 your own unselfishness

should go to bring others to Christ,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you want to understand

 the need 

for self-denial and mortification,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you wish to live well,

look at the Crucifix!

~If you wish to die well,

look at the Crucifix!

The Crucifix - the Book of Life!

~Saint Thomas Aquinas

Stripped

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION X: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

The walk has ended but the mockery  has not. Jesus is now stripped of his last earthly possession – his Clothing. Exposed for all to see, His wounds are clearly visible now - as are the fruits of our sins: the cruelty of man and the presence of evil. The shame of Adam's nakedness bore witness to his sin but the
shame of Christ's nakedness bears witness to our sin. Onlookers stare and soldiers gamble as Jesus awaits the final insult.

REFLECTION:

I can't imagine how humiliating it would have felt to feel Jesus' pain during this mockery.  The evil of the soldiers looked powerful to others, but He knew who held the true power. I think it is necessary for us to encounter "soldiers" as well. Sometimes people spread rumors, or talk behind our backs because we are different. I think that being a young Catholic Christian in this time is like being a target for others to watch and shame with every human mistake we make. When we profess our faith, go to Mass, wear a mantilla, pray at the abortion clinic, or like my husband, give out miraculous medals at the fair, we set ourselves apart from "the world." We notice our friends list beginning to fade-- less invites from those who used to call us friends, more space between us and those we used to hang around. People don't like holiness because from the outside it seems so powerless. People like to be in charge and aren't ready to give up this world, for Him. It might mean avoiding things that others don't seem as "a big deal" or it might mean standing up for your beliefs, even if the rest of the world thinks "you're crazy." Even though we have the ability to fight back in the assault-- we don't. Our silence is much more powerful-- our prayer and forgiveness of them is much more powerful. Power isn't with the soldiers that ridiculed Him, but in the grace that he knows will come of being crucified. Power is within those that set themselves apart.

St. Josemaria Escriva tell us that,"A heart which loves the things of the earth beyond measure is like one fastened by a chain — or by a “ fine thread” — which stops it flying to God." Jesus had to expose everything, while being mocked, insulted, and ridiculed. If Jesus, the Son of God had to endure such belittlement, why wouldn't we? Living as a Christian, setting yourself apart to be holy, will  break the chain we have between our worldly desires and God. Changing doesn't just change our lives, but the lives of the people we encounter. 

A Cross Without a Cross

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION IX: JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME:

The Spirit of Christ is willing but the flesh is showing weakness. It's as if the Lord's soul is now dragging His body along the Way of the Cross. Exhaustion builds. His lungs are failing. The temple that He would raise in three days - the temple of His body – has now fallen a third time, His knees are bloodied from the previous falls. His legs are almost lifeless. The weight of the Cross grows heavier and another step seems impossible. He rises from the ground one last time reminding us that perfect love endures all things.

REFLECTION:

Sometimes I think my best attribute can be quitting things! Whatever our challenges are, we have moments of quitting-- moments where we say- "I will never be perfect, so why try?" The devil whispers in our ears how easy it would be to stop challenging ourselves and give in to the lust, gluttony, or greed we struggle with. It is natural to want to stop, but supernatural to get up again.

St. Josemaria Escriva says, " —See how lovingly He embraces the Cross. —Learn from Him. —Jesus carries the Cross for you: you... carry it for Jesus. But don't drag the Cross... Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your Cross, if you carry it so, will not be just any Cross: it will be... the Holy Cross. Don't bear your Cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the Cross. When you really love it, your Cross will be... a Cross, without a Cross. And surely you, like Him, will find Mary on the way."

Sometimes life hits us out of no where. We can barely muster up the strength to wake up, let alone pray. When you are down, look at the cross. Jesus will help carry you. It is in the midst of our pain where we reach a point that we don't have another ounce of energy to fight off our struggle. When we look at the cross, Jesus fills our breath, our heart, and wipes our tears.. When we come out of our struggle, we realize that He was there. He was there all along-- carrying us, and our cross.

Reason to Sing

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION VIII: JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

The sound of crying could be heard over the taunts and the jeers. It was a wailing so passionate that it caught our Lord's attention even in the midst of His own agony. Jesus' eyes scanned the onlookers, spotting a group of women weeping for Him. And now Christ, the Suffering Servant, would reach out to ease others' suffering yet again. "Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves ... "(Luke 23:27-28).  He consoles them yet challenges them to see beyond just this moment. He offers a vital perspective to the children of God. Jesus Christ was on a mission. Love is always on a mission.

REFLECTION:

Suffering must be part of our growing. I think God allows us to make our choices, so that when we choose him, it is because we freely want to. Infertility is one of my ongoing battles in the suffering department. It isn't the only suffering I endure, but it has been a common thread for nearly four years now. A good friend once told me "Anna, throw yourself at God-- he can handle you beating on his chest-- he can handle your scream of frustration. He understands." So I did. I let him have it-- one day when I just couldn't swallow my suffering anymore. Because of that moment, and the trials I have faced, I found myself closer to him. Our love for Him is tested in our trials-- and those around us may wonder "how on Earth did you get through that trial in your life?" Our answer is merely a motion-- we signal to God.  He is our reason to sing. Suffering helps us to grow in compassion, gratitude and dependence on God, your loving Father. Sometimes we are in sickness or standing by watching as a loved one suffers. There is nothing we can do. Sometimes we don't even have the words or strength to open our mouths to pray. If we trust in Him-- we will be led to Him. Just as when we exercise, our muscles tear. It hurts, but it is necessary for us if we want to grow! So too, in suffering, our hearts tear, so they can  be mended by Him. As St. Augustine said, "God had one Son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering. He knows our pain, and can feel us suffering in our darkest night-- we must remember that after every night, comes day.

Get Back Up

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION VII: JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

The Passover crowds press against him as Jesus makes His way through the narrow city streets. Every bump or collision with the crowd sends shock waves of pain throughout his body. His open wounds clot to the wood of the Cross. His Sacred Heart races, His blood pressure drops, and Jesus falls once again. How easy it would be to give up, but He did not. Overwhelmed not by pain but by love - the Father's love for us - Jesus presses on. He slowly rises, for He knows His walk is not yet done.

REFLECTION:

Most of the time we fall, it is because we choose to fall. It is because of sin. Sin is glamorous (that excessive meal we stuffed ourselves with, that affair we thought about having to escape our reality, the shame we avoided when we purposefully skipped confession and yet received The Holy Eucharist). Sin tricks us into thinking we have control, when we really only have some-- our free will. Even when we run away from Jesus, he is waiting and following us. As we run away, we fall into the arms of sin, and our choices lead to a storm-- a storm of suffering that we can't see through. Jesus tells us to trust in him because he can mold us into perfection. We are either clay or stone-- we are either malleable or not---if we are stone he will chisel away at us-- until we reach our potential; he will always be working on us--- we will be  molded one way or another-- the choice is up to us. He turns our tears into laughter and lifts us when we fall. Sin wants us to fall-- and stay there. God wants us to come to him. So get up. Brush yourself off. You aren't perfect and THAT'S OKAY!  Head to the confessional, the adoration chapel, or just kneel where you are. Make that call to your spiritual companion. Start that group. Free yourself. Deny the urge that all of us will encounter. Pray without ceasing! It is in the lowest point of sin that we decide to become our greatest. Don't settle for the fall. Remember: every Saint has a past--- every sinner has a future!

Love Defines True Charity

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION VI: VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

Sacred blood runs down the Savior's face. Sweat drips into His swollen eyes as He sees a figure moving slowly towards Him. A woman named Veronica extends more than a cloth to her Lord, she offers a compassionate heart to a passionate soul. The Holy Spirit animates this daughter of God to offer her hands and her towel in service of the wounded Son. Evil may have spit in the face of Love, but love would now wash it clean again, if only for a moment. No gesture of love, no act of charity, however small, is forgotten in the Kingdom of God.

 REFLECTION:  

Sometimes I sit and feel that no one even remembers me, notices me, or would be phased if I was gone-- that's the devil talking-- that's depression-- that's real life for some of us. I think we all go through rough patches were we feel lonely, wondering how many people really care about us and how many only think of themselves. It's easy to feel like it's "you against the world." In those moments, I get a text from my beloved husband, my best friend and it reads: "Wipe away the tears, my love" and in that moment, the devil gets shot down-- I rise up and realize that I am something special. Even small acts of charity and kindness can be huge graces from God as we carry our cross each day. Acts of charity bring us into community, they offer us hope and keep us going. A smile, a kind word, or a text that is filled with emojicons can bring us relief! One by one, those acts of charity "wipe the face" of Jesus, hidden within all of those faces around you.

Gifts

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.


STATION V: SIMON HELPS JESUS CARRY HIS CROSS

As Jesus grows increasingly tired, a man named Simon is pulled from the crowd and pressed into service. Does he understand that the cross he is now carrying plays a part in his own salvation? Could he begin to know the blessings that would flow from this act of service? Simon the Cyrenian looks into the eyes of Mercy, and shows compassion in return. The two continue down the road together. Simon's strength eases some of our Lord's burden but only to a degree. Only one man can carry the full weight, the full burden of sin and His name is Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION:

God wants us to be successful and hears us when we cry out in failure. Regardless of what WE want, HE tries and tries again to get US to choose him. Just as God sent His Son to do what we could not, God still sends people into your life - people you don't even know - to help you along your way. Sometimes we say, "You are in my life for a REASON, a SEASON, or a LIFETIME-- we don't know when our friends and family enter our lives what role God had them playing, so we should respect HIM if our "friends" are only with us for a REASON or a SEASON-- He took someone out of your life, so find joy in that hardship. Look around your life for those who God has sent to help you on your walk, so people help us to lighten our load and to offer strength to you when you need it most-like my friend Gina. She was a theatre teacher for many years, then took time off to homeschool her children. When returning to work, she starting subbing at my high school. At the end of that semester, she got the job and we taught next door to eachother for many years! Without her 10 year battle with infertility, and now a mom of 2 teenage boys, she wouldn't be able to help me in my hardship-- she wouldn't be able to help me bear the load. She is a special friend and I hope she is here for more than just a reason or season! Be sure to thank those souls and to thank God for them.

Our Blessed Mother Mary

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION IV: JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

The only pain more intense than Jesus' own physical suffering must have been seeing the effect it had on His mother - our mother. How badly Mary must want to take His place. The deep love of the mother for her only Son reveals something about the Father's love as well. The prophecy of Mary's own suffering unfolded before her tear-filled eyes and, still, she trusts. Mary believed that God would bring joy through the sadness. Her gentleness brings Jesus temporary relief from the pain but could not save Him, for He had not yet saved us.


REFLECTION:

Sometimes we are grateful enough to feel a little how Mary felt when she saw her son in pain. Mothers lose children and have to see them suffer, parents see their children sick and unable to "fix" them. We begin to question God and his plan for us. We begin to feel that a "just" God would not bring such pain. There was nothing Mary could do, but reach out to her Son. When we are feeling like no one can understand our unbearable pain, someone can. Reach out to our Blessed Mother-- ask her intercession as you pray the Rosary. You might be hanging by a thread, but prayer asking for intercession is mighty and powerful. Sometimes non-catholics feel that catholics "worship" Mary, and look at her as an idolised figure, ignoring Jesus. They are wrong. Just as you ask your friends and family to pray for you in a hard time, we ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for us. She knows all, even before we ask. She is Immaculate, Mother of Christ, Virgin Most Powerful, Vessel of Honor, Ark of the Covenant, Queen of Peace, so as we draw near to her, she pulls us in closer to her Son. Forever she is united to Christ. "She is the most perfect and the most holy of all creatures and Jesus, who came to us in a perfect manner, chose no other road for his great and wonderful journey." Just as Jesus was her child, we are too. She is with us always, just like she was with Jesus on his final walk. I couldn't help but to share a small story with you that occurred this week, that I think is a sign from our Blessed Mother.

-- I got a message from my neighbor- I hadn't seen her in some time since she is working on her Master's Degree at Lamar and is from Saudi. I was excited to see what she was up to. She told me she had a dream the night before. In her dream, I was pregnant and I was so beautiful and happy. She told me that in the dream, I told her that my mother had helped me to find a medication that helped me get pregnant. I was showing her this medication in a magazine in the dream, but that is all she remembered. I replied with a big thank you, and told her I was unfortunately still not pregnant, but that I would tell her when it happens and that I wonder if that is a sign from above! She replied again "You were so pretty in pregnant, I hope as you say that it is a sign from above :)" I ended up forwarding the message to hubby and didn't really think about it again, until he got home. We got to talking about it and he asked me "Did you take that as a sign from above?" I told him yes, but I wasn't sure about the "mother" part. He instantly said-- that was a sign from your mother, your Blessed Mother, Mary. A tear fell, and I knew. She knows the desires of my heart. She sees my pain, she was reaching out to me, as she reached out to her Son, Jesus.

The Fall

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION III: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME

The human body is not designed for this type of physical or emotional stress. Betrayed and beaten, dehydrated and dying, His legs give out. His body succumbs to intense fatigue. Jesus' back is shredded and His limbs are weary from the beatings that had begun hours earlier. Though fully divine, Christ's humanity is clearly seen in this moment as He falls to His knees. Every exhale reveals our Lord's exhaustion. Every inhale sends shock waves of pain throughout His body. Strength slowly returns to His legs as our Lord rises to continue on the way of sacrifice.  

REFLECTION:

We can identify most with Jesus in His walk as He falls. Our life is series of falls. Sometimes when we fall, others are happy because they are waiting for it. Sometimes, even though we are practicing Christians and our friends and family know it, we come across people in our lives that find joy in us falling as a "gotcha" moment. It almost feels like they are saying "See, you aren't perfect YOU Sinner, you!" Silly people-- they do not know what it really means then to be a Christian-- for it means we will fall, we will fail, and we will get back up and try again. For Catholics, we have the wonderful opportunity to get back up again in Reconciliation. We can confess our sins that we are heartily sorry for and have a firm intention of not doing again, and we become clean. If Jesus himself fell in his struggle, then why would anyone think we as HUMANS wouldn't fall? I guess what hurts the most is feeling abandoned by those who judge us for falling, those very people that don't even practice Christianity or admit to falling themselves, are always the first to judge our humanistic ways-- but we cannot give in to them. We must get back up, go back into the confessional, go back to mass, we must continue on our climb up the mountain. It is imperitive that we make resolve to be better and thank God for such a wonderful opportunity, because he already knows that we will make mistakes. When we feel weak during our fall, look around. Sometimes people will be there to pick us back up; sometimes people will be there to turn away and mock us. But always, no matter what, Jesus is there. He is waiting in the wings. He will pick us up when we lose our strength. We must remember that we are a human, we are sinners, we are Christian, and we are loved so much by Him. Christ can only shine on others through our cracks and breaks. For us to show others His light, He has to shine through us.


“The Christian soul knows it needs Divine Help and therefore turns to Him Who loved us even while we were yet sinners. Examination of conscience, instead of inducing morbidity, thereby becomes an occasion of joy. There are two ways of knowing how good and loving God is. One is by never losing Him, through the preservation of innocence, and the other is by finding Him after one has lost Him. Repentance is not self-regarding, but God-regarding. It is not self-loathing, but God-loving. Christianity bids us accept ourselves as we really are, with all our faults and our failings and our sins. In all other religions, one has to be good to come to God—in Christianity one does not. Christianity might be described as a “come as you are” party. It bids us stop worrying about ourselves, stop concentrating on our faults and our failings, and thrust them upon the Saviour with a firm resolve of amendment. The examination of conscience never induces despair, always hope…Because examination of conscience is done in the light of God’s love, it begins with a prayer to the Holy Spirit to illumine our minds. A soul then acts toward the Spirit of God as toward a watchmaker who will fix our watch. We put a watch in his hands because we know he will not force it, and we put our souls in God’s hands because we know that if he inspects them regularly they will work as they should…it is true that, the closer we get to God, the more we see our defects. A painting reveals few defects under candlelight, but the sunlight may reveal it as daub. The very good never believe themselves very good, because they are judging themselves by the Ideal. In perfect innocence each soul, like the Apostles at the Last Supper, cries out, “Is it I, Lord” (Matt. 26:22).”

--Fulton Sheen

The Climb

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE.

STATION II: JESUS IS GIVEN HIS CROSS

The journey that began in a lonely garden has now thrust Jesus into the overcrowded streets. Thousands of people in town for Passover watch as the convicted man marches to His death. He had told His apostles of the suffering that awaited Him and Jesus now bears the weight of that Cross upon Himself. The splintered crossbeam digs into His shoulders. The wood is stained with the blood of the Lamb. Though His suffering would bring life, His walk was one of death. Jesus embraces more than the physical pain in this moment, with each step forward Christ takes on our sin - He takes our death sentence as His own.


REFLECTION:

  Our Lord not only carried his cross, but ours. He knows our deepest pains, fears, and struggles. If you frequent my blog, you already know that some of my struggles are public, but others are not. It helps me to write about my cross, because it allows my mind to rid the stress. Other crosses I bear, only my closest family members really know about, and that's okay. I think what we have to remember in carrying our cross, is that our cross changes shape and size throughout our lifetime. Also, each of our crosses may look similar, but everyone carries their cross differently. God already knows that we each have a cross, so we don't have to tell him. I think that is what I like most about going to Eucharistic Adoration-- I can just sit and be still. I know, that he knows, what I need and how I feel, since he has already carried all of our crosses before we could. Sometimes, we help others with their cross, and other times, we are are someone else's cross. Whatever your cross--infertility, weight loss, depression, disease-- invite Him into it. We do not climb this mountain alone, we climb it next to Him. I sometimes forget this myself, but going through The Way of the Cross reminds me that someone does understand. My reflections stem from another Way of the Cross idea that I am making more personal. When I read this today, I just couldn't skip over this powerful sentence in the reflection notes: "Prayer is where the cross changes shoulders." That is so very true! Prayer helps us with the load of our cross, even when our prayers are silent. As we climb through our struggle, we are reminded, that everyone's cross isn't physical or visible. As our cross digs into us, we receive our own battle scars that mold us to be more like Christ-- it is only in the tough climb of our mountain-- the mountain that looks so large we could never climb, that we can be shaped-- one way or another we will be shaped-- like the potter and the clay, it is in our struggle that we become like Christ.  


Like Miley Cyrus or not, this song seemed so fitting for this blog post! Enjoy!  

Bee Stings

***For the next two weeks, I will be steering my Lenten Blog Challenge into the direction of The Way of the Cross, also known as The Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa. These names are used to signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations. I will be posting a Station each day, then reflecting on that Station. To read more about the Way of the Cross, click HERE. Pope Francis' first sermon in the Sistine Chapel tells us the importance on meditating the Way of the Cross:

"When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord.
I would like that all of us, after these days of grace, might have the courage – the courage – to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the Cross of the Lord: to build the Church on the Blood of the Lord, which is shed on the Cross, and to profess the one glory, Christ Crucified. In this way, the Church will go forward.
My hope for all of us is that the Holy Spirit, that the prayer of Our Lady, our Mother, might grant us this grace: to walk, to build, to profess Jesus Christ Crucified. So be it."

STATION I: JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DIE

Though the Lord stands innocent, they find Him guilty. Jesus Christ, the only one with the true power to condemn humanity has now been condemned by it. Standing bloodied and broken, the Lord refuses to defend Himself. He speaks only when necessary, offering truth to any hearts open to receiving it. Pilate, confused by the man in his presence, gives in to the mob who demands Jesus be crucified. The true criminal is released as the Lord and giver of Life is sentenced to die. The decision has been made and the road to Calvary awaits Jesus.

REFLECTION:

Anytime you share your convictions and the word of God with family, facebook, the blogging world, co-workers, and friends, you take the chance of being "convicted." Following Christ isn't always the easy road, and sometimes  people criticize us for following him, be it a facebook post about praying at the abortion clinic, the Christian music blasting in our car, or that mantilla we don at mass. When those around us are too comfortable to follow Christ, they try to make us feel uncomfortable-- they try to break us. Eventually, because we do not fit into their lifestyle, they slowly (or quickly) fade away. Those bee stings of pain we feel from losing a friend or family member can come through gossip, mockery, or even betrayal. One thing we should remember as Christians, is that sometimes we are singled out and lonely, just as Jesus was when he stood before Pilate. It is in those times, however, we see who our real friends are. It is in those times that we lose the ones we thought were our friends, but gain an ultimate companion.

Habemus Papam

I am back from my excuse filled hiatus from the blogging world! I am back on track with my Lenten Blogging Challenge-- and what better day to renew my spirit this Lent, than this day 3/13/13-- when Catholics around the world met their new pappa! Pope Francis had me and hubby glued to the TV today for HOURS, but seeing the white smoke and getting a TV blessing from our new Pope was a great day for us to share! With the excitement that a new Pope brings to the Church, I felt an extra push today to make sure that I get back on track with the blogging efforts I promised during Lent. 

Last weekend hubby, with the help of some other church members, put on an RCIA retreat for the Candidates and Catechumens-- those coming home to the Catholic Church this Easter! I have to say, it was a great retreat for me, so I can only imagine what they thought! It lit a fire in me and got me thinking. It allowed me to power down from the world, so that I could power back up for Lent.

During that retreat, I felt called to really help more with RCIA next year (not just teaching a class about sexuality) but by really helping design the retreat for next year and by opening my mind to teaching more with hubster-- he is talented in his religious teaching.... that has inspired me to also teach. Also during the retreat I thought more about how I can use the rest of Lent to focus my blogs on my religious life, as well as my other personal commitments.

From one Pope to another, from one Pope to all of us....B16 reminds us-

“Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? . . . No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen.”
― Pope Benedict XVI

Although we are all nervous about this new change in our church, we can learn something from our Pope Emeritus Benedict: by giving up something significant, we allow Christ to make us beautiful.
We can take our Pope Emeritus' advice that fear comes with change, but in that change comes Christ. Change in the Catholic Church might not have affected you if you aren't Catholic, but fear through change can come by starting a new diet, a new call from God, or even a new YES to something that we previously have said No to! B16 is still with us, he is now, just as we all are, giving total obedience to Pope Francis while giving everything to Christ and finding true life in change.