"For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life." (Romans 6:3-4)
Among the events of the 2022 Easter Triduum there were two remarkable activities: the public Way of the Cross, and the dramatization of the Passion and Death of Christ. It was amazing to see that so many Christians took part in the events. It was also interesting to observe the public reactions - of both compassion and indifference - to the Way of the Cross. Finally the feast of Easter was a hectic and crowd-pulling ceremony.
This post relates each step and event of Jesus Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection to the life of a Christian. It leads us to personally accord with these steps and events, so as to reap the spiritual and material fruits of our own passion, death and resurrection in Christ. Now follow me, to meditate on these 20 Bible verses. You will Know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8 :32).
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THROUGH BAPTISM, PASSION AND DEATH WE RESURRECT WITH CHRIST |
1. BETRAYAL
"The traitor had given the crowd a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Arrest him!” (Matthew 26:48)
As humans, believers or unbelievers, our words, actions and inactions betray our sins. They are the signs of the unclean thoughts and wicked feelings we have. No matter how much we may pretend, they do not stop kissing the sinner - whom we are.
2. ACCUSATION
"Above his head they put the written notice of the accusation against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:37).
The accuser is your conscience - whether your sin is exposed to the public or not. In hearing the sermon in church, sharing the Word of God in the group or reading the Bible, the voice of God accuses us of our sins and wrongdoings.
3. ARREST
"Jesus answered, “Be quick about it, friend!” Then they came up, arrested Jesus, and held him tight." (Matthew 26:50)
Never ignore or rebuke the voice of your conscience, the advice of a friend, or the Word of God, which accuses you. Rather be quick to accept it and to abide to it. So it is written: "When you hear the voice of God, harden not your heart" (Hebrews 3:7-8).
4. SURRENDER
"One of those who were with Jesus drew his sword and struck at the High Priest's slave, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who take the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:51-52)
Many times we find excuses to disobey or to break the Commandments of God. The excuse you use to disobey God will be the sword that the devil will use to destroy you - by aggravating your sin and, then, using it to accuse you before God. Never find reasons to justify and defend yourself or take excuses to continue to do what you know it is evil or wrong to do.
5. SUFFERING
"He went out, carrying his cross, and came to “The Place of the Skull,” as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called “Golgotha.”). (John 19:17)
Once you are arrested by the Word of God, you get in to the track of Salvation. But conversion is not done on a "bed of roses" - it may be achieved with much suffering. For by renouncing sin you also forgo the facilities, comforts and advantages you benefited in your sin. This is the sacrifice or price you have to pay to follow Christ Also, the spiritual and material effects of your past sins may continue to haunt you for long. They may only be lifted slowly by your penance and spiritual sacrifices.
6. PERSECUTION
"There they crucified him; and they also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus between them." (John 19:18)
The change of your ways would bring you hatred, rejections and persecutions. Your former friends and accomplices in sin will stand against you, just at the same time when the Christians may be doubting you. So you may face persecution from both sides. Stand firm by your conversion and persevere. This is just one of the trials which Paul suffered after his conversion (Acts 9:22-26). But he did not give up.
7. PARDON
"Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
No matter the injustices, persecutions and torments that you may suffer, do not condemn anybody. Rather, forgive them that oppress you and pray for them that persecute you - so that God's mercy may remain with you. (Matthew 6:14-15)
8. HUMILIATION
"When they had finished making fun of him, they took the robe off and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him." (Matthew 27:31)
Beside your suffering and misery, there may be many humiliations and mockeries that people will bring you. But the lower they take you down, the higher God will lift you up. Always thank God for those who humiliate you - the mockeries from your neighbors are prayers for your blessings.
9. SILENCE
"So Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus made no answer." (Luke 23:9)
Silence is a virtue. Ignore those who ask about you in order to get information for gossips, and for use to concoct plots to accuse or mock at you. Surrender to God and pray always. He will tell you whom to tell your story.
10. SUPPORT
" As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross." (Matthew 27:32)
God speaks to us when we pray with fervor and submission. He will reveal to us those who are able and willing to help us. Sometimes, the helpers identify the needy, on their own, and come to their help. God will not abandon the converted sinners, while he prunes them to bear fruits. Thank God for your benefactors - be grateful to, and pray for, them always.
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF CATHOLIC FRONT |
11. DARK NIGHT
"At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours." (Matthew 27:45)
The dark night or shadow of death is the most delicate and critical stage of the Christian life. It is the time in life when everything is out of its place, and nothing seems to work - no matter what you do. God appears to be too far away, because all efforts you make and all prayers you offer are in vain. At this time so many people abandon the faith and revert to their old ways. But do not do this, or curse God. Rather, remain faithful and thankful to him - and he will answer your prayers at the right time. This is the testimony given to us by Lazarus - beyond the dark night there is a miracle (John 11:1-44).
12. SUPPLICATION
"At about three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (Matthew 27:46)
As you walk through the tough journey of conversion and restoration, never stop to fast and offer your prayers and sacrifices to God - the Holy Mass is the perfect sacrifice. For the LORD says: "Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me.” (Psalm 50:15)
13. ABANDONMENT
"Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died." (Luke 23:46)
In your trials, torments and tribulations, abandon yourself totally and patiently to Christ Jesus, who saves whoever believes in him (John 3:14-17). The scripture says, about faith in Christ: "Faith that is firm is also patient" (Isaiah 28:16).
14. MORTIFICATION
"Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died." (Luke 23:46)
When you have abandoned yourself to Christ, then mortify your flesh and detach from the world. These are the objectives of the lentern practices of fasting, prayer and sacrifice. For it is written: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires." (Galatians 5 :24)
15. REDEMPTION
"Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, he said, “I am thirsty.” A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips. Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!” (John 19:28-30)
Through your detachment, mortification and abandonment you become united, in the Holy Spirit, with Christ. This is how his Salvation is accomplished in you. So it is written:"Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17).
16. BREAKTHROUGH
"Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart." (Matthew 27:51)
It is in our union with Christ that we start to experience the mighty power of Christ's death on the Cross. This is done by the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sends to help those who are united with him (John 14:16). The first thing is that, by his death on the Cross, Christ opened the doors of heaven to sinners who repent (Luke 23: 42-43). On the material plane this open door experience is, breakthrough, success and achievement (Zechariah 4:6-7).
17. DELIVERANCE
"The graves broke open, and many of God's people who had died were raised to life." (Matthew 27:52)
When the doors of heaven are open for us, God comes down in the Holy Spirit to set us free from all forms of limitations and bondages - physical, material, demonic or ancestral and cultural practices - which have kept us out of the glory of God (Matthew 3:16; John 15:26; Acts 2:2-4). This is how the death of Christ destroys the power of our sins which he carried in him onto the Cross and, also, destroys the power of Satan who held us in bondages (Colossians 2:12-15).
18. UPLIFT
"They left the graves, and after Jesus rose from death, they went into the Holy City, where many people saw them." (Matthew 27:53)
In fact, as the power of Christ's death on the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:18) overcomes the physical death of God's people - still to come on the Last Day - so also does it overcome their material death in this life, that they live now. In other words, it is by the merits of Christ's death that believers inherit the will of God and are established in, or restored to, his eternal blessings. (Hebrews 9:15-17). Thus, the resurrection of the faithful, are baptized into the death of Christ, actually occurs on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday they come but to testify.
19. ACCLAMATION
"When the army officer and the soldiers with him who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and everything else that happened, they were terrified and said, “He really was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)
After going through your painful passion of mortification and humiliation, and of detachment and death to sin, you are finally lifted up by the Holy Spirit to a new life. As the scripture says, "Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17). Then people will start to recognize and praise you, others will envy you. But those who used to mock at you will not be able to stand your sight - because they are ashamed. As it is written, "All who once despised you will worship at your feet" (Isaiah 60:14). Through you many people will come to know, to believe and to trust in God.
20. TESTIMONY
"They left the graves, and after Jesus rose from death, they went into the Holy City, where many people saw them." (Matthew 27:53)
When we are established in, or restored to, the glorious blessings of God - spiritual, material or both - we become the living testaments of the passion, the death and the resurrection of Christ. Our lives and the testimonies we give become both the means to convert others and to glorify God.
After reading and meditating on this post may the Feast of Easter become, for you, a personal and permanent experience, Amen.
Author: Aying Godman, is a Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger of the Roman Church; Founder of CATHOLIC FRONT MEDIA.
Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com or frontcatholic@gmail.com
Copyright (c) Aying Godman - Catholic Front Media (2021-2022) All rights reserved.
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