Crux et Gloria

Faith and hope are inseparable companions on the journey of the Christian life. Without faith, there can be no true hope. St Paul reminds us: “Do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thess 4,13). Without belief in eternal life, death appears as a final destination; a soul extinguished like a candle, with no promise of resurrection. But the Christian message offers something greater. Jesus Christ taught us that at the end of time, all people shall rise again and both the good and the wicked shall be gathered for the final judgement. This teaching, grounded in the resurrection of Christ, offers hope that reaches beyond the grave. When God told Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3,6), these patriarchs had long since died. Yet God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Their lives did not end in death, but continued in the mystery of the life to come. St Paul reflects on the nature of the resurrected body: “It is sown a perishable body, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory” (1 Cor 15,42). Our bodies, weak and mortal, will be raised in strength and glory. The person who lives a good and faithful life will resemble Christ in the resurrection, not just in spirit, but in a glorified body. Many believe this truth without seeing. Christ praised such faith when he said, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and have yet believed” (John 20,29). To believe without visible proof is an act of faith and hope rooted in the assurance that God is faithful. The risen Christ fills our hearts with hope. And because hope does not deceive us, we live with the confidence that we will one day encounter face to face the one who loves us beyond measure.

When we gaze upon Jesus Crucified, we witness the boundless love he has for us. He calls us to follow His example, placing God's will above all else. Jesus Crucified invites us to love God and our neighbor wholeheartedly while rejecting sin, our greatest enemy. In moments of suffering or sorrow, turn to the Crucifix for peace and comfort. Hear Jesus speak to your heart: "Look upon Me and be still. I have done good, yet I was repaid with cruelty. Innocent, yet immersed in a depth of pain and sorrow. I am God, hung on the cross, utterly deprived, ridiculed, and scorned". If your heart desires to love and follow him, express with unwavering faith: "Hail, O Christ Crucified!"

We wish to see Jesus. This longing reflects the universal desire to encounter the divine, and the desire to see Jesus often comes with expectations of strength, triumph, and clarity. Yet in the Gospel of John, we encounter Jesus in a moment of deep inner turmoil, facing the reality of his coming passion. He does not hide his fear: “Now my soul is troubled” John (12,27).  Still, rather than fleeing from this hour, he accepts it, saying, “Father, glorify your name.” His path to glory is not through escape, but through surrender, through suffering, death, and ultimately, resurrection. This mystery lies at the heart of the Lenten journey. Lent invites us to walk with Jesus as he approaches his hour, the time of testing, surrender, and obedience. As St George Preca teaches, while human nature recoils at the thought of suffering, grace, on the contrary, loves and cherishes it, seeing in it a greater good. Suffering, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, is where faith is tested and deepened. Jesus did not avoid these trials, and neither can we, if we truly choose to follow him. “Whoever serves me must follow me”, Jesus says, and during Lent, this call becomes especially urgent. It is a season for choosing light over darkness, humility over pride, and sacrifice over comfort. St George Preca reminds us that the spirit of Christ is inseparable from the cross. Yet Lent is not only a time of hardship, but also a season of hope. Jesus does not abandon us in our trials; he walks with us. And through every moment of surrender, he transforms our weakness into glory, and our suffering into the promise of Easter.

"I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be cleansed from all your impurities… and I will place My Spirit within you" (Ezekiel 36:25, 27). How has your Lenten fasting journey been so far? What do you notice within yourself as you experience the absence of what you have given up? If we take a closer look, we often find a blend of emotions and reactions. Sometimes, when we sense a longing in one area, we try to compensate for it elsewhere, avoiding the discomfort rather than sitting with it. Alternatively, we may choose to suppress the ache, pushing through it without truly reflecting on what it reveals about our hearts, what it is inviting us to see and understand more deeply. In this fasting journey, you may be uncovering areas of your heart that are fragile and in need of God’s love and truth. Our hearts are always speaking to us, offering insights into the deeper parts of our lives. What has fasting shown you about your own tendencies? Jesus, may my hunger today draw me closer to You. May my longings lead me to seek You, so that You may fill me with your spirit. Amen.

Sin separates us from God, yet his love calls us back. Christ suffered and died to reconcile us with the Father. St. Paul reminds us that God did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all (Rm 8:32). If Christ’s passion was required to atone for sin, how can we remain indifferent to our offenses? True reconciliation requires a sincere return to him. Reconciliation is not just regret but a transformation of the heart. It follows five essential stages: Contrition – We must recognise our sins with sincere sorrow. True contrition is not just fear of punishment but regret for offending God’s infinite love. Confession – By confessing our sins to a priest, we humble ourselves and admit our need for God’s mercy. This act of faith brings peace to our hearts. Absolution – Through the priest, Christ grants us absolution, lifting the burden of sin and restoring our souls to grace. Penance – Reparation follows confession. Acts of prayer, charity, and sacrifice help restore our relationship with God and strengthen our spiritual discipline. Resolution to avoid sin – True repentance requires a firm commitment to change. Jesus warns, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Lk 13:5). We must strive to avoid sin and seek virtue. The time for conversion is now. The world tempts us with fleeting pleasures, but true peace is found only in God. Let us return to the merciful embrace of the Father, sincerely repent, and embrace his grace through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where we find true renewal and joy.

On the 25th of March, nine months before Christmas, we commemorate the moment when the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced to her that she was to become the Mother of God. God, whom even the heavens could not contain, chose to humble Himself and take on the human nature in her womb. Mary accepted her calling from God with the beautiful words: "Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word". It is worth noting how the archangel encouraged Mary to cast off all fear: "Do not be afraid!" Pause for a moment... have you ever experienced fear, of illness, of the future, or of a particular situation? Remember that you are a child of God! Know that God longs to be with you as well. Do you ever speak with God about what frightens you? Do you ask him to let his Word take root in you, as Mary did? Turn to God and ask him to take control of your life! Let him lead you! O God, how I long to have a heart like Mary’s, ready to listen, understand, and cherish your Word in every circumstance of my life! St George Preca had a deep devotion to Mary, the Mother of the Verbum Dei. Let us continue to spread the devotion to the powerful words: "The Word of God became flesh" which instil within us hope and courage!