Holy Week Reflection: Our Courageous Lord

Easter is coming. We look forward to announcing that joyful battle cry of the Church Militant, “He is Risen!” But before we may taste this joy, we must taste the bitter waters of Good Friday. We must reflect on the Via Dolorosa and the Death that shook the world and blotted out the sun.

G.K. Chesterton writes, “Christianity is the only religion on earth that has felt that omnipotence made God incomplete. Christianity alone has felt that God, to be wholly God, must have been a rebel as well as a king. Alone of all creeds, Christianity has added courage to the virtues of the Creator. For the only courage worth calling courage must necessarily mean that the soul passes a breaking point — and does not break.”^[1]

Chesterton is right to point out that the Christian God has known fear and doubt and pain. He has endured mockery and hate and every kind of isolation, not excluding the dark night of the soul—what else can “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mk 15:34) mean? And in the end (though, thankfully, not the real end), He experienced death.

Considering all this, it feels like a profound understatement to say that, during the Passion, our Lord passed a breaking point and did not break.

Upon witnessing our Lord’s courage (as well as His perfect love), that Roman centurion’s faith was awakened. “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (Mk 15:39). As Easter approaches, may we remember how our Lord rebelled against Satan, the spiteful usurper of this world. May we join this great rebellion against him. May we deny the spiteful usurper any power over our souls. May we not let him separate us from the God Who won our redemption, the God Who is Glorious Rebel and True King.

As Easter approaches, may we remember our Lord’s courage, and may our faith be awakened. May we always yearn to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. May we always strive to be courageous as our Lord is courageous. May we always seek to be joyful as the Spirit is joyful.

^[1] G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, page 103 in online version.

Anna Maria

Anna Maria is your friendly neighborhood curmudgeon who strives to be a good Catholic. She feels called to study the anti-Christian philosophers (especially those who have helped to shape Western Civilization) because she is a firm believer in knowing one’s enemy as well as praying for them. Most importantly, she loves God and His saints (especially Mother Mary, Saint Anne, and Saint Jude Thaddeus), her family, and her country. Oh, and she is also a PhD candidate.

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