Holy Cross

Embracing the mystery

Routine is the enemy of mystery, especially when it comes to God. While it is important to set time aside daily for God, it can easily fall into a routine habit that we check off as completed. However, if during our scheduled time with God we sit in wonder and awe, there may be a surprise that awaits us. Recently my reflection on the Sign of the Cross took me deeper than I ever expected.

While Catholics begin and end every prayer session with the Sign of the Cross, it is truly a prayer, prayed in both word and deed. It is through both action and voice that we enter deeper into the mystery of God. We do all things through this sign.

As we begin “In the name of the Father…,” we touch the top of our head. It’s not just mimicking where we would start if we are drawing a cross on paper, but rather an indication that He is above and beyond all else there is. It is also a reminder to ourselves to keep Him ever in mind, present to us at every moment in the day.

From the top of the head we bring our hand down to touch our heart as we say, …“and of the Son… .”  That gesture speaks of a Love so grand, it came down from Heaven to Earth, to dwell amongst us in our humanity. Yes, Jesus has a beating heart just like all of us. He took on flesh for us and He shed His most precious Blood for us on the cross. Allowing the centurion to pierce through his side, both His Blood and water flowed from His Body, a one-time act that forever lives on in the love and mercy that flow from His Divine Heart. 

As we say, “… and of the Holy Spirit,” we touch first our left shoulder and then the right shoulder. The gesture of touching shoulder to shoulder reminds us that we are never alone in this world, no matter where we find ourselves. The Holy Spirit’s reach is as wide as all of creation (yes, every single universe that is out there!). He hovers over all, between heaven and earth. This  shoulder-to-shoulder touch is almost like a heavenly hug, embracing us and welcoming us into the mystery of God. 

Lastly, we bring our hands together and say, “Amen.” This is our simple response to the amazing mystery that we just traveled through. This response means, “truly” or “so be it.” It is our assent that what we have declared and acted is true. For me the word is similar to “thank you,” since it means so much more at so many levels: intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, etc. I’m just glad that our response is scripted for us; after reflecting on the power of this prayer, I don’t think I would be able to find adequate words to complete the prayer.

We may never completely understand the Trinity, but if a simple, little prayer can speak volumes, how much more can we learn if we but open our heart, our minds, and our wills to God?

Catholic Girl Journey

Walking with the suffering

Holy week represents the most drastic combination of humanity’s high and low. It begins with Jesus’ celebratory entrance to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and descends to His crucifixion on Good Friday.  For those who are able to participate in the Good Friday liturgy and/or Stations of the Cross, being immersed in Jesus’ passion and death can be overwhelming. What purpose does it serve to participate in these events?

Suffering is something that no human ever wants to go through; yet whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, there will be times when we will experience pain. What is our reaction when we see someone in pain? Is it to avoid them, so that we don’t end up like them, to pity them and their circumstances, or is to walk with them to take some of their suffering on ourselves and in the process perhaps provide them some comfort?

While staying with my sister during my transition to Virginia, I’ve witnessed both family and professionals as they care for my Parkinson’s suffering Dad, who is also living with her. It takes two to three people to move him from his chair to the wheelchair, all so that the basic necessities can be achieved. He is relying on us to assist him safely, and in doing so, we are taking on the weight of his body.

When we participate in the passion liturgies or pray the Stations of the Cross, we may not physically be taking up the cross, but we are taking up the mental, emotional and spiritual weight. We are like Simon of Cyrene, helping Jesus carry the cross to Golgotha. If you’re thinking that Jesus carried His cross over 2,000 years ago so how can our participation and prayers help, keep in mind that Jesus is both God and man. While He in His manly form physically carried the cross in the past, as God the Son, He is outside time and space and receives our efforts no matter what the calendar says. He may have channeled our support, past, present, and future, to His manly form as He was experiencing His Passion and death.

When we walk with the suffering, be it Jesus, our family members, or complete strangers,  it is not about us and how we feel; it is about being present to those we are assisting. It is in the present that we feel pain. Once we pass from this life, there will be no more suffering. Let us be in the present moment, assume the weight of the suffering and support them in a special way during this most holy of weeks, with prayers and participation in the sacred liturgies offered.