The Monthly Note
March 2008
A transfigured cross?
by Fr. Jean-Louis Larochelle, OP
Almost everyone, at a moment or another of their existence, feel crushed by the weight of tragedies that literally come and shake up their life. For some, it is a serious illness that afflicts them and that incapacitates them the rest of their lives. For another, it is the end of a 20 year marriage. For another, it is seeing death strike one of his children. In such moments, these persons find that life is unfair. They rebel. They even say that God is inhuman. And when they finally pray to Him, they start by accusing Him of imposing them too heavy a cross to bear. The request that follows is that of lightening the weight of their suffering and, if possible, to deliver them from that weight.
When we look at Holy Week, which we are about to celebrate, Jesus’ attitude towards suffering makes us think. Before the tragedy that was in motion, before His imminent and unjust death, even Him prayed His Father in Heaven. Even Him, in the garden if Gethsemane, asked that the events changed their course: « My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me! » (Mt 26,39) Notice these words: « if it is possible », followed by: « yet, not as I will, but as you will. » (Mt 26,39) We know the rest of the story. Jesus did not have the possibility of choosing the hardship He had to go through. He had to accept His cross.
This experience of Jesus is clarifying for us. Just like Him, we are faced with hardships that make us react. They are more or less heavy to bear, more or less dramatic. However, we do not have the leisure of choosing them. Of course, we can rebel when facing some of them, especially those that make us suffer a lot, psychologically or physically. We can find the heavy to bear, unjust and we can rebel. But, Jesus’ experience can lead us to another attitude. Because His experience did not end on the Cross of Golgotha. On Easter morning, it is the light of Life that burst out. In fact, Jesus’ trust towards His Heavenly Father, and his obedience, lead to a bright life, free of the chains of evilness and death, to a life in full communion with God. In an instant, the cross changed its aspect. It was not only overwhelming and unjust suffering. The cross of suffering accepted in the obedience to the Father became a passage that lead to life and fertility.
What a road that Jesus took, in faith. It is the same road that He invites us to take during this time of preparation to Holy Week. Not a simple abandonment in front of suffering. No. But an acceptance, in confidence and hope, of our crosses that will lead us to the shining light of Life, presented to us by God.
