Journeying to the Cross: Engaging with Jesus in a Fresh Way
Dear Friends,
As we step into Lent, we enter a season that calls us to slow down, reflect, and walk alongside Jesus on His journey to the cross. Too often, our Lenten focus is on what we can “give up” or “do better,” but what if this year, we approached it differently? What if, instead of striving, we learned to pause, to see the beauty in the unexpected, and to embrace the grace in our stumbles?
One of the most striking moments in Jesus’ journey to Calvary is His encounter with Simon of Cyrene. Jesus, the Son of God, who came to bear the weight of the world’s sin, stumbles under the burden of His cross. He falls. And yet, in that fall, God’s plan is still unfolding. Simon is called to carry the cross, showing us that when we feel weak, when we feel as though we cannot go on, God provides strength—sometimes in unexpected ways.
How often do we view our own struggles as failures? How often do we resist the moments when we must pause or even accept help? This Lent, I invite you to reflect on these pauses—not as failures, but as invitations. Invitations to lean on Christ, to listen, and to allow His strength to meet us in our weakness.
Lent is not just about discipline; it is about transformation. As we journey toward Easter, let’s open ourselves to engaging with Jesus’ story in a fresh way. Perhaps this means:
– Taking a moment each day to be still and simply be in God’s presence.
– Walking through the Stations of the Cross and reflecting on what each moment reveals about Jesus’ love.
– Allowing ourselves to embrace the grace found in pauses, stumbles, and even moments of weariness.The road to the cross was not a straight or easy path for Jesus, and neither is ours. But in every step, we are reminded that we do not walk alone. Christ has gone before us, and He walks with us still.
As we move toward Easter, may we find renewal, hope, and joy in knowing that even when we stumble, even when we fall, God’s love carries us forward.
Blessings,
Andrea Colbrook, Rector