Mark Dohle
Well-Known Member
The human journey and Holy Week
The human journey is often a difficult one. With stops along the way, of true joy and hopefully, of love, that rejuvenates us. In the last week of Jesus’ life, he knew what was coming, was distressed, but still believed in his Father's loving presence in his life. His humanity had to deal with all the anxiety that went along with this journey. He did not try to escape but went forward in faith.
All of us will have our 'Holy Week' as well, as our Gethsemane, with all of its physical, emotional, and mental sufferings and anguish. Many cry out that the cup be lifted, but it seldom is. When our time comes for the journey towards our ultimate Resurrection to commence, it has to be borne. All the sufferings of Christ came not from some angry deity, no, it was from his human brothers and sisters. It is the same for us. He shows us that being fully human is about keeping oneself open, loving, and showing mercy, often to those who can't return it.
It is a difficult journey and like Jesus on his way to Calvary, we will fall, but we can arise and move forward once again. There is no answer that convinces me of the reason for so much suffering in the world, yet I believe that the life and death of Christ Jesus help to illuminate this mystery for me.....a bit at a time. It is a lifelong journey of pondering, learning, and making the choice to trust, even when things seem otherwise, and it is easier to despair or to let go of faith. It is about facing life without seeking to escape what comes to us, but move one step at a time, knowing that we are accompanied by the One who went before us and bears our sufferings with us now. Such is infinite love, who can understand it?--BrMD
