Lent

A special time to learn to embrace the cross like Jesus

Lent is a time of conversion, of preparation for the great celebration of Easter. In this Lenten journey, meditation on the Way of the Cross takes center stage, allowing us to accompany Christ in his Passion, understand the profound meaning of his sacrifice, and renew our Christian life. Jesus himself tells us: “Unless a grain of wheat dies, it remains only a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:24). In this mystery of death and resurrection, we find the profound meaning of the Way of the Cross and its importance for our lives.

The Way of the Cross helps us contemplate the unconditional love of Christ, who, with his total surrender, fills us with hope through his resurrection. During Lent, this spiritual exercise leads us to a profound conversion of heart, helping us recognize our failings and experience divine mercy. Through the seasons, we remember how Jesus was condemned, carried the cross, fell, was helped by Simon of Cyrene, found his mother, and was crucified, surrendering his spirit in the supreme act of love and obedience to the Father.

However, Christ's passion is not the end of the story. Let us not be afraid, because Jesus has conquered death and has risen. He is not in the tomb, he is alive! This is the great news we must proclaim to our people. The Way of the Cross not only leads us to meditate on Christ's suffering, but also leads us to recognize it in our own lives, in our families, and in our society. It reminds us that pain and the cross are not the final destination, but rather the necessary step toward a full life. It is a call to hope and trust in God's redemptive power.

This message of hope is urgent. Our people, marked by the suffering of violence, forced displacement, poverty, and injustice, need to find a path of light in the Stations of the Cross. Each Station reflects the reality we live in: Christ is condemned to death when our society violates the dignity of so many innocent people; he carries the cross when the weight of corruption, lack of opportunity, and the pain of the victims becomes unbearable; he falls again and again, as do those who fight for a better life, only to be struck down by inequality and indifference.

Yet, in the midst of these crosses, the Way of the Cross reminds us that we are not alone. As Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross, we too are called to be a support for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. As Veronica wiped his face, we are invited to be faces of tenderness and mercy in a wounded world. Mary, at the foot of the Cross, teaches us faithfulness and unyielding love. At each station, we discover that shared pain is transformed into hope and that the cross is not the end, but the path to resurrection.

The encounter with the Risen Lord transforms our existence. As disciples, we are called to seek him unwaveringly, in the Word, in the Eucharist, and in all the sacraments. The Holy Way of the Cross is, therefore, a journey that teaches us to carry our cross with love, knowing that, united to Christ, our lives will bear abundant fruit. Each time we meditate on its stations, we reaffirm our faith in the new heavens and the new earth that He promises us. Just as Mary was with Jesus until the end, accompanying him in his suffering, we too are called to accompany those who suffer today, to be a living presence of love and mercy in the world.
From a Pauline perspective, this way of the cross challenges us to be communicators of the Good News, like Saint Paul, who did not hesitate to proclaim Christ crucified and risen. Paul understood that the cross is the center of the Gospel and the source of salvation for all who believe. In the way of the cross, we find the pedagogy of love that drives our evangelizing mission through the media and contemporary culture. Now, each of us is called to be witnesses of the Risen Lord with boldness, creativity, and a profound passion for the Word, bringing his light to every corner of the world. Our mission is to proclaim that Christ has conquered death and that in Him we find true life.

Following the example of St. Paul, we must make the cross of Christ known and loved, transforming our own lives and those of those around us with the power of his resurrection.
The Way of the Cross is, therefore, an invitation to walk with Christ in our own reality. It calls us to look at our wounds with faith, to carry our crosses with hope, and not to falter in our search for the Risen One. In our communities, in the streets, in the fields, and in the cities of our country, the message of the Way of the Cross is a call to reconciliation, justice, and peace. It is the certainty that love is stronger than hate, that life conquers death, and that, with Christ, all suffering united can be transformed into redemption.

It is very important to remember that the Way of the Cross is not only a devotional act, but a path of transformation and hope. Lent helps us prepare our hearts for Easter, renewing our faith and Christian commitment. In our daily lives, it reminds us that suffering united with Christ leads us to the glory of the resurrection. Let us walk with Him, trusting in His promise of new and abundant life. As Saint Paul teaches us, let us courageously carry the message of the Cross, knowing that in it lies the source of our salvation and the certainty that Christ lives and reigns forever.

In conclusion, we recall the words of Pope Francis, who invites us to live this time with a profound interior disposition, in prayer, reflection, and joy. This last virtue might seem unexpected to us, since we tend to associate this liturgical season with nostalgia and penitence. However, the Pope tells us: “I invite every Christian, wherever they may be and in whatever situation they find themselves, to renew right now their personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least to make the decision to allow themselves to be encountered by Him, to strive tirelessly every day.”

There is no reason for anyone to think this invitation is not for them, because "no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord." The Lord does not disappoint those who take risks, and when someone takes a small step toward Jesus, they discover that He was already waiting for their arrival with open arms.