Holy Week All Year Through

This week leading up to Easter is the holiest of the year.  In these days we remember Our Lord's Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  We follow Him on His road to Calvary.  We attempt to remain close to Our Redeemer in thought, word, and deed.  The trials, scourging, buffeting, pain, humiliation, and mockery that He endures for our sake is brought right before our eyes.  But do we really accompany Him?  Do we follow the example of Veronica or Simon?  Do we heed Christ's words?

"Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children." -Luke 23:28

Do we really weep for our sins?  Have we truly amended our ways this Lent?  Even though we have offered up little trials and beefed up our spiritual life for a time, we must continue; we have to press on.  How many of us, after the Easter festivities, will continue to complain, slack in our duties, forget to pray our daily Rosaries, and drag our crosses along behind us begrudgingly?

"Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak; I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for comfortors, and I found none.  Rather they put gall in my food and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." -Psalm 69:20-21

We cannot ignore Our Lord's silent pleas for love.  He thirsts for souls.  On Spy Wednesday, Judas betrayed Him; on Holy Thursday, the Apostles fled; on Good Friday, Peter denied Him; we too often abandon Jesus as well.  We must try to console Him; we must make reparation for our sins and negligences.  Our Lord told st. Margaret Mary Alocoque,

"I so ardently thirst to be loved by men in the Most Blessed Sacrament that this thirst devours Me."

And St. Jean Marie Vianney said,

"We can very well say that the Passion which the Jews made Christ suffer was almost nothing compared with what Christians make him undergo with their insults of mortal sins...what horror there will be when Jesus Christ shows us the things for which we have abandoned him!" 

Do we meditate on what our sins have done to this Most Precious Savior?  Do we truly try to avoid sin so as not to offend Our Lord?  Too often do we attend Mass regularly, meditate on His Passion for a time during Lent, and then we go back to our merry ways neglecting or offending Him.  We claim to accompany Our Lord on His road to Calvary during Lent and Passiontide.  But do we really?  

"What does he gain who refuses the cross?  He increases its weight."  -St. Alphonsus Ligouri 

We cannot neglect the cross.  We call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ.  Well, if we really are following Christ, we will follow Him right up to Calvary.  We must carry our crosses daily with the love and resignation Jesus demonstrated for us.  He has called us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and suffer silently for love of Him.  Yes, sometimes we remember this when our mortal enemies offend us but do we pick up our cross silently when a sibling offends us or when our parents charge us with a task?  Not very often.  Look to the silent suffering God on the cross.  Unite yourself to Him.

"Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent." -St. John of the Cross

This Triduum, let us reflect on our shortcomings, repent of our sins, and make a firm resolution to avoid the occasions of sin.  Let us resolve never to hurt Our Lord again.  Take up your cross today, tomorrow, and every day of your life.  Live Holy Week all year through.

"Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to Heaven."  ~St. Rose of Lima