THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Once again, we come to what many consider to be the most significant week in the Christian Calendar. For the next seven days we journey through the last week of Jesus’ life, through the conflict, rejection, execution and burial of Christ. What makes this journey so important is that it reveals the true values of God’s Reign. What appears as failure and death to human beings, is victory and life in God’s eyes. What looks like the triumph of power, wealth and human systems, actually exposes the poverty and destruction of human competitiveness and self-protection. It is not Jesus on trial this week, but the desire for accumulation, power, and instant gratification that resides in each of our hearts. The cross shows what happens when we reject the way of love and justice, when we choose power, pleasure and possessions over the generous and compassionate ways of God’s Reign.
For most of us, the battle between our worst selves and our best selves is not waged on large public platforms. It does not impact global issues or affect millions of people. But, as we each face our own temptations and demons and overcome them by the grace and love of God, so we make the world a better place for ourselves and those whose lives we do touch – our families, friends, co-workers and neighbours.
This week we meditate on Christ’s sacrifice and how it teaches us to find life by giving our lives for the sake of God’s Reign.
To download this week’s reflections in PDF format, click here.
