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.
