Lenten Reflection Day 3 ~ Friday after Ash Wednesday

Opening Prayers:

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Confiteor (see Day 1).

Scripture Reading (Matthew 16:24-25):

“Then Jesus said to His disciples: If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For he that will save his life shall lose it; and he that shall lose his life for My sake, shall find it.”

Reflection:

On this first Friday of Lent, our hearts turn to the Cross of Christ. Fridays are always a special day to remember Jesus’ Passion and death (for on a Friday He died for us). In Lent, every Friday carries a penitential character, inviting us to unite our little sacrifices with the infinite sacrifice of our Savior on Calvary. Jesus calls each of us: “Take up your cross and follow Me.” This is perhaps the most fundamental call of the Christian life. Lent helps us live it in a focused way – by self-denial (“deny himself”) and by embracing the sufferings or trials permitted by God (“take up his cross”).

What does it mean to take up our cross daily? It means to accept – with faith and even love – the hardships, inconveniences, and sorrows that come our way, offering them to God in union with Jesus’ suffering. It also means imposing on ourselves some voluntary penances as a way of sharing in the cross. As St. Paul said, “I rejoice now in the sufferings I bear for your sakes, and I fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh, for His Body’s sake, which is the Church” (Colossians 1:24). Of course, nothing is “lacking” in Christ’s sufferings objectively – they are all-sufficient. But in God’s mysterious plan, He wills that we, the members of Christ’s Body, participate in the redemptive work by uniting our sufferings to Jesus’ and applying the fruits to souls. This is what Catholics mean by “offering it up.” Every pain or annoyance, offered to Jesus with love, becomes powerful intercession for the conversion of sinners or the relief of the Holy Souls or the needs of the Church. What a glorious calling!

Today, consider some aspect of your life that is a “cross” for you. It might be a physical illness or ache, a difficult person in your life, frustration at work, or an emotional sorrow. Rather than simply asking God to remove it, try to consciously offer it to Him: “Lord, I accept this cross; I unite it to Your Cross for [a specific intention].” This transforms suffering into a loving sacrifice. St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, adopted as her motto: “To suffer for Love is joy.” She learned that when we see the cross as a gift to prove our love for God, it loses its bitterness. Of course, this is not easy, and we often falter. But each time we make an act of acceptance – “Yes, Jesus, I carry this with You” – grace flows.

Additionally, we can practice denying ourselves in small things to train for bigger crosses. Our Lord’s words “deny himself” mean saying “no” to our selfish impulses for the sake of a higher “yes”. For example, we might deny ourselves the last word in an argument, or the curiosity to watch a frivolous TV show, or the extra helping of a favorite food. By these little deaths to self-will, we imitate our crucified Lord and keep our self-love in check. St. Francis of Assisi once said to his friars: “While we have time, let us do good and give up our will, not put it off; for that is the excellent penance that God expects from us… self-will is what makes the soul impure.” Dying to self-will, paradoxically, brings greater freedom and purity of heart.

The saints also teach that acceptance of the cross brings spiritual resurrection even in this life. Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.” By “losing” our life – i.e., letting go of ego and comfort – we find a richer life in God. One finds deeper peace when not clinging to self. St. John of the Cross wrote: “By giving up your own will, you will gain God’s will and find in it the fulfillment of all your desires.” He also famously advised: “Endeavor to be inclined always, not to the easiest, but to the most difficult… not to what you want, but to what you do not want”, as a way of union with the crucified Christ. This is hard counsel! But even a moderate application of it (choosing discomfort when we could choose ease, for love of Jesus) is very fruitful.

Consider the example of the saints who bore heavy crosses joyfully. St. Padre Pio, who bore the wounds of Christ (the stigmata) in his body for 50 years, said: “The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of suffering.”. He understood that each cross was purifying and beautifying the soul. He encouraged souls never to be discouraged by suffering, but to embrace it in union with Jesus, saying: “Do not fear your trials. The Lord sometimes makes you feel the weight of the cross. This weight seems unbearable, but you carry it because the Lord, in His love and mercy, helps you.” St. Thérèse also confidently stated: “Sufferings gladly borne for others convert more people than sermons.” If we carry our cross patiently, it can obtain grace for the conversion of sinners dear to us.

It is helpful on Fridays to meditate a bit on Christ’s Passion. Perhaps pray the Stations of the Cross or sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary, if you can. When we contemplate Jesus carrying His cross, falling under its weight, meeting His sorrowful Mother, being stripped and nailed to the wood – our hearts become contrite and our love inflamed. We realize “He loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). How can we refuse any cross He allows, when He accepted so much out of love for us? Moreover, He carries our crosses with us. We never suffer alone. Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross on the road to Calvary, and in a mysterious reversal, Jesus now helps each of us carry ours. He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened… Take My yoke upon you… and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is sweet and My burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30). The “yoke” is made for two – Jesus and you together carrying what would crush you alone. With Christ’s strength, the heaviest cross becomes light.

One way to unite with Jesus today is to frequently kiss or gaze upon a crucifix. This pious act can obtain an indulgence (a remission of temporal punishment due to sin) when done with devotion. Even simply repeating quietly, “We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world,” (the prayer used at the Stations of the Cross) can stir love in our hearts.

As we progress through Lent, the crosses we face may even increase – sometimes our resolutions get harder to keep, or unforeseen difficulties arise. Do not be discouraged. This is a sign that we are truly engaging in the spiritual battle. Remember Christ in the desert: after 40 days of fasting, the tempter came. You too might experience temptations to abandon your penances or to grumble under inconvenience. Stand fast with the help of grace. Invoke the Lord: “Jesus, by Your cross, give me strength.” Also invoke Our Lady of Sorrows, who stood faithfully at the cross; she obtains for us the grace of perseverance in trials.

Today’s path is clear: find Christ in your cross. Carry it for His sake, and you will find that He carries you. Reflect on the promise: “If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:17). The cross we embrace today leads to the crown of glory He will share with us. In this is our hope and our joy.

Closing Prayers:

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

V: Let us bless the Lord.

R: Thanks be to God.

V: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R: Amen.